Getting Married what happens if my visa doesnt come through in time???

[Lisa-O 8]

Hey Guys,

Just found this website today, and it's a god-send. My fiance is American and I am from the UK looking to move over and get married on 26th October 2012. We filed the paperwork the middle of January, received acceptance of paperwork 6th Feb and have received the reference number to check progress 13th Feb. I understand it takes aprx 5 months...so we are eagerly waiting 6th July for more word. I'm hoping the process after this would be pretty quick and smooth, as I'm expecting to book a medical and with the results get an appointment with the embassy...and aiming for the process to be completed realistically by Auguest, September the latest.

My worry is that the visa wont be ready before we get married on 26th October 2012, what would happen if this was the case? Would I need to start a whole new petition, or would the existing one suffice. We did say we wanted to marry in October in our application, but Im sure this wont affect anything?

Thanks for any advice or similar experiences!

[LeftCoastLady 441]

Hey Guys,

Just found this website today, and it's a god-send. My fiance is American and I am from the UK looking to move over and get married on 26th October 2012. We filed the paperwork the middle of January, received acceptance of paperwork 6th Feb and have received the reference number to check progress 13th Feb. I understand it takes aprx 5 months...so we are eagerly waiting 6th July for more word. I'm hoping the process after this would be pretty quick and smooth, as I'm expecting to book a medical and with the results get an appointment with the embassy...and aiming for the process to be completed realistically by Auguest, September the latest.

My worry is that the visa wont be ready before we get married on 26th October 2012, what would happen if this was the case? Would I need to start a whole new petition, or would the existing one suffice. We did say we wanted to marry in October in our application, but Im sure this wont affect anything?

Thanks for any advice or similar experiences!

Welcome to VJ!

October 26 is cutting really close, alas. There's a saying on VJ, especially with the K-1 to not make any firm wedding plans until the visa is in your hands.

There are many petitions that take longer than five months and if your fiancé receives an RFE (request for further evidence), that could further delay the process. Right now, it's taking about three months from receipt of NOA2 to the interview in London. So, assuming you receive an approval of the petition by July, you're looking at October for the interview.

If the K-1 visa isn't issued by the wedding date and you opt to not move that date to accommodate the K-1, then your then-husband would need to restart the process and file an I-130 spousal petition. You would need to return to the UK while that is in process, so I would definitely recommend moving the wedding date if possible to avoid having to start over again. You can read up on the I-130 process here: http://www.visajourney.com/content/i130guide1

Good luck!

[brooklyn 0]

Hey Guys,

Just found this website today, and it's a god-send. My fiance is American and I am from the UK looking to move over and get married on 26th October 2012. We filed the paperwork the middle of January, received acceptance of paperwork 6th Feb and have received the reference number to check progress 13th Feb. I understand it takes aprx 5 months...so we are eagerly waiting 6th July for more word. I'm hoping the process after this would be pretty quick and smooth, as I'm expecting to book a medical and with the results get an appointment with the embassy...and aiming for the process to be completed realistically by Auguest, September the latest.

My worry is that the visa wont be ready before we get married on 26th October 2012, what would happen if this was the case? Would I need to start a whole new petition, or would the existing one suffice. We did say we wanted to marry in October in our application, but Im sure this wont affect anything?

Thanks for any advice or similar experiences!

If you did a fiance visa and you get married on that one before you get ur visa .You will have to start ALL over again .

[bt1 42]

Hey Guys,

Just found this website today, and it's a god-send. My fiance is American and I am from the UK looking to move over and get married on 26th October 2012. We filed the paperwork the middle of January, received acceptance of paperwork 6th Feb and have received the reference number to check progress 13th Feb. I understand it takes aprx 5 months...so we are eagerly waiting 6th July for more word. I'm hoping the process after this would be pretty quick and smooth, as I'm expecting to book a medical and with the results get an appointment with the embassy...and aiming for the process to be completed realistically by Auguest, September the latest.

My worry is that the visa wont be ready before we get married on 26th October 2012, what would happen if this was the case? Would I need to start a whole new petition, or would the existing one suffice. We did say we wanted to marry in October in our application, but Im sure this wont affect anything?

Thanks for any advice or similar experiences!

Or...you could possibly just have the wedding party without the ceremony and then just get married once you have the visa.

[VadnVince 24]

All of the above replies are good and applicable. The number one "mistake" is setting a date because "Murphy's Law" can always mess things up. I filed the 129-F in January of 2011 and we weren't approved until late October. It also included an RFE which delayed things for just a week. I sent the reply by FedEx to make sure it got there ASAP. We ended up just going to court, here in the U.S. and are planning a Blessing ceremony in the U.K. this Fall, AFTER going through the AP process! Just as a watched pot never boils, a watch visa won't come quicker! Peep other time-lines to get an idea of what the scenario will be.

[JohnR! 5,495]

1340279029[/url]' post='5469200']

Hey Guys,

Just found this website today, and it's a god-send. My fiance is American and I am from the UK looking to move over and get married on 26th October 2012. We filed the paperwork the middle of January, received acceptance of paperwork 6th Feb and have received the reference number to check progress 13th Feb. I understand it takes aprx 5 months...so we are eagerly waiting 6th July for more word. I'm hoping the process after this would be pretty quick and smooth, as I'm expecting to book a medical and with the results get an appointment with the embassy...and aiming for the process to be completed realistically by Auguest, September the latest.

My worry is that the visa wont be ready before we get married on 26th October 2012, what would happen if this was the case? Would I need to start a whole new petition, or would the existing one suffice. We did say we wanted to marry in October in our application, but Im sure this wont affect anything?

Thanks for any advice or similar experiences!

The applicable answer, and that which I suspect you do not want to hear, is you may need a plan B in case your visa does not come through. If you get married in GB your circumstance will change and so will your visa, meaning you will be back to square 1 almost.

One alternative, if you allow me, would be to have a religious ceremony, if that is your persuasion, so long as you make sure such ceremony is not legally binding. So long as you are not legally married as a result, you're OK with your K visa.

Good luck!

[Bryan and Isabel 29]

k-1 visa is for fiancee ONLY

if you get married your are no longer a fiancee, now a spouse. Whole different application, whole new process, whole new waiting game.

Final Thought: Move the Wedding date, play it safe and you won't be sorry.

Good Luck!

[Lisa-O 8]

Thanks guys, I thought this may be what I would be faced with, and seems the most sensible option, as having to return to the UK waiting for the spouse visa would be too much. Thankyou all for your replies...I think I need to speak to my fiance

[Lisa-O 8]

Hey everyone...

Just to follow on from my first post about timing...I've had a look at a lot of other couples' timelines, and they seem to be getting approved for the visa in around 8 months sometimes shorter. I should be receiving my NOA2 in the next week or so, the general time for approval after this date is 2-3 months, which would take me to beginning of August/Sept...so I'm thinking I could be OK for the wedding in October...or do you guys think this is too close and could end in disaster??

Thanks for your input, and good luck with your own applications.

[Peter_Pan 661]

You should be fine, took me under 7 months to get it, and the NOA2 took 5 months to arrive.

[Lisa-O 8]

You should be fine, took me under 7 months to get it, and the NOA2 took 5 months to arrive.

Thanks, Im getting a little anxious, as Im also selling my home for the move and dont want to end up living with my parents again if anything is delayed...Im thinking about pushing the wedding back 2-3 weeks if the venue will let us do this. It's all such a rollercoaster, but definately worth it!!! Congratulations on your visa

[*Snowdrop* 603]

Thanks, Im getting a little anxious, as Im also selling my home for the move and dont want to end up living with my parents again if anything is delayed...Im thinking about pushing the wedding back 2-3 weeks if the venue will let us do this. It's all such a rollercoaster, but definately worth it!!! Congratulations on your visa

If you can move the wedding back to give yourself more time then do it. You want to be able to relax enjoy your wedding (and the time just before it) and not be a bag of nerves and stressed in the run up to it.

[Lisa-O 8]

If you can move the wedding back to give yourself more time then do it. You want to be able to relax enjoy your wedding (and the time just before it) and not be a bag of nerves and stressed in the run up to it.

Thanks Lynne, yeah I agree, theres a lot of variables for it to end in tears...pushing the date back a bit would make things easier

[LeftCoastLady 441]

Hey everyone...

Just to follow on from my first post about timing...I've had a look at a lot of other couples' timelines, and they seem to be getting approved for the visa in around 8 months sometimes shorter. I should be receiving my NOA2 in the next week or so, the general time for approval after this date is 2-3 months, which would take me to beginning of August/Sept...so I'm thinking I could be OK for the wedding in October...or do you guys think this is too close and could end in disaster??

Thanks for your input, and good luck with your own applications.

According to the VJ estimate based on your timeline info, your case may be adjudicated as late as July 9. (And of course, fingers crossed your fiancé doesn't receive an RFE!)

Considering there are a number of VJers with petitions at the Vermont Service Center, who also filed in January and are past the five-month mark, I'd recommend erring on the side of moving the wedding date. This process is pretty much out of your hands at the moment, so I would do what I could to control the things I can.

[Molly&James 0]

Hello!

I'm a USC and my fiance lives in the UK. We initially filed the paperwork in November and his interview date is next week. So that's about 7 months from start to finish. We set our wedding date months in the future seeing as you have 6 months to use the visa once you get it. Our wedding date is October 27th! The one thing you want to be careful of is that because of the Olympics in London this summer there is going to be more traffic through the embassy which can mean a delay in the process. I would say play it safe and move the wedding date or as others suggested. Have a reception and get officially married at a later date if that's what you want. You can never be sure of the processing times.