Seriously need HELP--Getting Married

[bekahg126 0]

Ello everyone! Just like SO many of you my fiance and I just want to be TOGETHER. We are both currently in the UK until May 22nd. He is from Scotland and I am from Iowa. We want to get married when we are in the states, and we are hoping to do so on June 2nd. Is there any help anyone can offer as to what the heck we're supposed to do? I'm assuming we need to fill out the K1 visa - but how long does that take? Would it be easier if we just got married by an official while we are here in Scotland? Or, should we go the states like we had planned in May - just say he is visiting - and get married there? Would we be separated after that? I don't know what road we should take. We just want to be TOGETHER and it feels like we have fought for this our entire relationship. This site is so wonderful, and it is comforting to know there are so many people fighting for the same thing - - LOVE. Thank you for any help you can provide!

[Wishing on a Star 4]

Congrats on the engagement! My fiance and my K-1 visa process has taken about 7 months from application to visa approval. That is about typical for London. SO, realistically, a June wedding on a K-1 visa isn't likely. If he came here on a tourist visa and you'd get married, he'd need to go back to Scotland afterwards and you would have to file for a CR-1 visa. I don't know anything about that kind of visa. I hope that is somewhat helpful!

[skiptex 225]

first of all... SETTLE DOWN! relax.. it will be ok.. you are not the first to be in this position.. nor the last.. you are just next

you need to read the GUIDES>.

here is link.. that compares your options..

start here.. read it then read it again..

http://www.visajourney.com/content/compare

[Mad_Scottish 0]

I just completed the K1 visa process today got the approval down in London. It took us 9 months but that was due to problems with getting a police certificate from Malaysia as I lived there for more than a year after the age of 16. ANYWAY, it is pretty straight forward as long as you can your hands on all the information.

If you want to get married in the US and he comes back then yes he has to file for the CR1 visa. If you want to wait and you guys file the k1 visa you should get it around 7 months as said above.

But do not under any circumstances lie about why he is over in the US because it can cause some serious problems later on. If you want to get married in the US be honest and then say that you will file for the CR1 visa etc

Just to dispell this as an option, he cant come over with you, you guys get married and then stay in the US. He has to leave and come back to the UK and complete the process here. If he stays in the US or files for the AoS he will face deportation on the grounds that he lied about why he was in the US and over staying his visa (the 90 days given by the VWP). That seems dire, it isnt meant to be. My fiance and I stomped around the process and had a lot of ideas most of which were completely stupid.

The process is what it is and is by and large straight forward. If you can get through the visa process you have a good relationship

Edited January 25, 2012 by Mad_Scottish

[Pitaya 2,577]

[Adriene H 89]

Ello everyone! Just like SO many of you my fiance and I just want to be TOGETHER. We are both currently in the UK until May 22nd. He is from Scotland and I am from Iowa. We want to get married when we are in the states, and we are hoping to do so on June 2nd. Is there any help anyone can offer as to what the heck we're supposed to do? I'm assuming we need to fill out the K1 visa - but how long does that take? Would it be easier if we just got married by an official while we are here in Scotland? Or, should we go the states like we had planned in May - just say he is visiting - and get married there? Would we be separated after that? I don't know what road we should take. We just want to be TOGETHER and it feels like we have fought for this our entire relationship. This site is so wonderful, and it is comforting to know there are so many people fighting for the same thing - - LOVE. Thank you for any help you can provide!

I think it'd be incredibly romantic to be married in Scotland!

[Robert&Karen 264]

I think it'd be incredibly romantic to be married in Scotland!

We considered that, to include jumping over the anvil. We may renew our vows that way!

[Dan & Jenni 457]

I think it'd be incredibly romantic to be married in Scotland!

scotland is very beautiful... just a shame it is full of scottish people

[Boiler 45,658]

If you were looking at doing it in 2013 those dates would work.

[Adriene H 89]

scotland is very beautiful... just a shame it is full of scottish people

And gingers! Silly mutants

[Dan & Jenni 457]

And gingers! Silly mutants

[ceadsearc 516]

You could also marry in Scotland now and file for the CR-1 spousal visa now. It takes 7-9 months (similar to the K-1). He could visit you in the US after you return so long as he doesn't overstay and has proof of strong ties to his country. Once the CR-1 is complete (think Septemberish), he will enter the US as a permanent resident. It is cheaper than the K-1 and there is no AOS to complete so he can work immediately when he arrives.

Unfortunately, there is no way for him to come to the US in May or June and stay at that point.

[Helen Louise Pile 80]

Spend some time reading the guides so you can decide what to do to best fit your plans.

My husband and I were in your situation this time 2 years ago and we decided to go the K1 route. At that time the home office required any non-resident (my husband, then fiance was in Scotland on a student visa) to obtain a certificate of approval before they could get married.

That is no longer required so you could get married in Scotland then you could come over to the US to get a job and get set up and he would join you in 9ish months (check current processing times for a good estimate). Or you can go to the US to get married and he could fly back to the UK. He could visit you on the VWP during that time. He'll have to have a medical and interview in London and you have to provide proof that you can support him or have someone agree to sponsor him if you do not meet the income requirements.

You can also do a fiance visa (K1) and you'd apply and you'd move back while it was being processed (6-8ish months - check current processing times) and then he'd have a medical and interview in London and you have to prove you can support him, then he'd come over to get married to you and then he'd apply for adjustment of status and he'll be able to wait in the US while that is processed. The down side to the K1 is that when he arrives in the US he cannot work or leave until he gets certain documents and they can take months.

Reading the step by step guides is really useful. There's a lot to learn and vj is a great place to learn it!

Your choice is down to what works best for you and your fiance. We chose K1 because we didn't want to be apart after we were married, so we chose to spend the extra money and have to wait for a few months after I arrived until I could work.

Congratulation on your engagement and on starting your journey!

[Mark + Melissa 49]

Ello everyone! Just like SO many of you my fiance and I just want to be TOGETHER. We are both currently in the UK until May 22nd. He is from Scotland and I am from Iowa. We want to get married when we are in the states, and we are hoping to do so on June 2nd. Is there any help anyone can offer as to what the heck we're supposed to do? I'm assuming we need to fill out the K1 visa - but how long does that take? Would it be easier if we just got married by an official while we are here in Scotland? Or, should we go the states like we had planned in May - just say he is visiting - and get married there? Would we be separated after that? I don't know what road we should take. We just want to be TOGETHER and it feels like we have fought for this our entire relationship. This site is so wonderful, and it is comforting to know there are so many people fighting for the same thing - - LOVE. Thank you for any help you can provide!

I'm at 6 1/2 months approximately from k-1 file date, and NO approval to apply for even apply visa and go for interview (which takes another 1 1/2 to 2 months). I wouldn't count on a June wedding =/ that route

[Stefaan_Leslie 10]

And gingers! Silly mutants

pssshhh