Quick question about when to book wedding stuff..

[justicejs 0]

When you get your Visa, do you have to enter the USA right away? Or could you stay in your home country for a few months to book your wedding venue, etc.

I know you have 3 months once you enter the states to get married, but 3 months doesn't seem long enough to make solid wedding plans.

[charlie1 4]

they give you 6 months in your home country after issuing the visa and 90 days in the US

[Caryh 5,206]

You're limited by the expiration date on the visa and the date of the medical. You get 90 days to get married when you arrive. The medical cannot be over a year old. You also need a medical that is not over 12 months when you adjust status. Getting a new medical with a CS can be expensive, and the fee for the AOS is high enough as it is. Many people go for a quick wedding when doing the K-1, then plan a more formal affair later on. My wife an I threw together a wedding in one month, it was rushed, it was somewhat simple, it wasn't perfect, but it was pretty nice to. It helped we had our wedding garments, made before she got here.

[Penny Lane 8,159]

When you get your Visa, do you have to enter the USA right away? Or could you stay in your home country for a few months to book your wedding venue, etc.

I know you have 3 months once you enter the states to get married, but 3 months doesn't seem long enough to make solid wedding plans.

You have six months to use the visa and 90 days after entering the US.

[justicejs 0]

Okay, thanks!

[rocks 494]

You're limited by the expiration date on the visa and the date of the medical. You get 90 days to get married when you arrive. The medical cannot be over a year old. You also need a medical that is not over 12 months when you adjust status. Getting a new medical with a CS can be expensive, and the fee for the AOS is high enough as it is. Many people go for a quick wedding when doing the K-1, then plan a more formal affair later on. My wife an I threw together a wedding in one month, it was rushed, it was somewhat simple, it wasn't perfect, but it was pretty nice to. It helped we had our wedding garments, made before she got here.

If you are planning a big wedding you can always get married at the courthouse and file for AOS quickly after. You can then plan for a non-legal ceremony with friends/relatives at your leisure. Plus you get two anniversaries to celebrate!

[wizardfitz 13]

we did a JP wedding first then did the "wedding with reception" thing after we had time to plan it, that way you fulfill the requirement to get married within 90 days but do no feel rushed to plan your wedding afterwards

[Cori and Rob 55]

I've actually begun wedding planning for a wedding near the end of the year, which is definitely risky, but the way I look at it, the fun wedding is most likely going to be for show no matter what. Either my fiance will be approved beforehand and we'll have a courthouse wedding before the fun wedding to make it official and legal, or he won't be approved yet and he'll visit here for a non-legal wedding ceremony with a courthouse wedding to follow after he is approved. Stupid? Maybe. Am I having fun planning a wedding? Absolutely!

[Hugglebuggles 60]

You can apply for a K-1 and have the wedding you want! That of course means something different for different people. Some do a courthouse wedding now, and a bigger celebration later, some decide against the big celebration all together and elope, some throw together a wedding fairly quickly, and others take their time before moving and plan.

We did the thing everyone will advise you against- planned a wedding while the visa was processing. I think there is no harm in this as long as you give yourself plenty of time to have the visa issued, and also make sure anything you book can be refunded, or make sure they will let you move the date if needed.

Cori- I like your attitude! I think your plan sounds just fine.

[pocheros 101]

You can always just sign the papers when you enter the US and then throw your celebration a few months later. This is what I'm doing- I got married in September and we're planning on having our real wedding sometime at the end of the year. It would've been sooner except hubby got laid off :S

Edited May 2, 2012 by pocheros

[CANbirdUSman 11]

When you get your Visa, do you have to enter the USA right away? Or could you stay in your home country for a few months to book your wedding venue, etc.

I know you have 3 months once you enter the states to get married, but 3 months doesn't seem long enough to make solid wedding plans.

What others & you have said: K1/Fiance VISA is valid for 6 months, from the date of issue.

Once you enter the USA on that VISA, you must get married within 3 months or 90 days.

Do what's best for you.

We were trying to plan a wedding, but have since changed our minds. When the time comes, we just want to make it legal, and have a celebration ceremony another time. Listen to your heart, and do what's best for you.

Good luck & Happy Journey!

[satchmo 0]

We did the thing everyone will advise you against- planned a wedding while the visa was processing. I think there is no harm in this as long as you give yourself plenty of time to have the visa issued, and also make sure anything you book can be refunded, or make sure they will let you move the date if needed.

Same! But that's because our lawyer insisted the visa would arrive in January (she was way, way off - no idea where she got January from (probably the cereal box she got her law degree from *grumble grumble*). Got my passport on Monday and the wedding is in 10 days! Cutting it close, for sure!

[MTLNB 0]

You're limited by the expiration date on the visa and the date of the medical. You get 90 days to get married when you arrive. The medical cannot be over a year old. You also need a medical that is not over 12 months when you adjust status. Getting a new medical with a CS can be expensive, and the fee for the AOS is high enough as it is. Many people go for a quick wedding when doing the K-1, then plan a more formal affair later on. My wife an I threw together a wedding in one month, it was rushed, it was somewhat simple, it wasn't perfect, but it was pretty nice to. It helped we had our wedding garments, made before she got here.

Wow, how did your process go so quickly? Looks like the whole process took 6 months! Lucky you! Did you do anything special?

[canada_socks 97]

You can always just sign the papers when you enter the US and then throw your celebration a few months later. This is what I'm doing- I got married in September and we're planning on having our real wedding sometime at the end of the year. It would've been sooner except hubby got laid off :S

We are doing this too June 2nd is our Canadian wedding date! Coming up so fast!!

[Flames9_RN 358]

We are doing this too June 2nd is our Canadian wedding date! Coming up so fast!!

June 2nd is a huge date for me as well--Will be my first tim hortons coffee in nearly a yr!! Can't wait!!