Wedding Plans (Cancel?)

[baron555 934]

I think it is absolutely inexcusable that USCIS cannot keep to a reasonably timed schedule to allow international couples to be comfortable making wedding plans according to their chosen schedule.

Immigration of a foreign spouse to the US is a privlidge not a right.

You have 90 days in which to make plans; what's wrong with that? We did it, took one day to go to the County Clerk and another day a week later to see the judge and we became married. Only witnesses were the judge, our 2 year old and the other couple that was there to be married just after us.

Was either of our family or friends unhappy about our plans? NO

Are our families and friends totally happy for us and our new family? YES for sure!

Do they understand the unique circumstances and requirements? YES

Do they particularly agree or like them? NO, but they understand. We had our "reception" later. They understood what we had to do and all are adult enough to also understand that our getting together and OUR happiness is most important, not what they would want to happen.

[Hugglebuggles 60]

We pulled this off in 2009. We knew it was risky but we took a chance. Worse case scenario, you move the date and lose your deposits. Risk it or don't, its up to you and what you're comfortable with.

What part of Canada is your fiancee in? If she is in the west she will interview in Vancouver, which is very quick. But if she is east of Manitoba she will have her interview in Montreal. Montreal can be painfully slow depending on the time of the year and how busy they are... you may end up waiting 3 months for an interview date. So definitely watch time lines to give you an idea. If you wont make the date you will likely know months in advance.

[USA-ALG 63]

Man proposes, God disposes.

We got married on the day we NEVER planned or never entered in our thoughts, never had any reservations or made any deposits.

Now, we are married for 2 years!

Hey... the visa process is VERY unpredictable. Anything can happen to you or your fiance in between.

Suggestion:

Make reservations and deposits that YOU can change without additional fees.

Hope that works for you.

E

[Rob & Monika 87]

What part of Canada is your fiancee in? If she is in the west she will interview in Vancouver, which is very quick. But if she is east of Manitoba she will have her interview in Montreal. Montreal can be painfully slow depending on the time of the year and how busy they are... you may end up waiting 3 months for an interview date. So definitely watch time lines to give you an idea. If you wont make the date you will likely know months in advance.

Someone posted in the Canadian forums that the current wait time in Montreal is at 4 months for a K-1, the timelines seem to agree. At the current rate (which could easily change) Vermont + Montreal is 6 months + 4 months, that is 10 months, + NVC and packet 3 processing.

[virola 4]

I also want to point out that, even if VSC is the "slowest" office right now, it may not remain so for the duration of your application's wait. When I applied (also to VSC) it too was the "slowest" and by the time my petition was approved (a relatively quick more or less 4 months after we submitted it), it was spitting out acceptances right and left and the CSC was the "slowest." The waiting times do seem to fluctuate quite a bit.

[SweetDelish 38]

I also want to point out that, even if VSC is the "slowest" office right now, it may not remain so for the duration of your application's wait. When I applied (also to VSC) it too was the "slowest" and by the time my petition was approved (a relatively quick more or less 4 months after we submitted it), it was spitting out acceptances right and left and the CSC was the "slowest." The waiting times do seem to fluctuate quite a bit.

I was about to say the same, however while VSC is behind at the moment this might interest you (referring to the OP, not you 'virola')

in the last 2 weeks, since the 25th of October, until right now approvals for K1 between the 2 service centres, based on VJ filers is:

CSC = 12

VSC = 70

so.. VSC is faster at the moment, and that could switch at any time.

CSC filers on VJ, have seen 1 approval this week so far. thats right. 1. for now.. be glad you are at VSC as they are going to catch up very quickly to CSC's rate of approval.

The point being, this is a very unpredictable process, if you choose to make arrangements now, request that your caterer etc be flexible with your dates, tell them upfront, you should have a better indication once you have your NOA2.

Edited November 8, 2012 by SweetDelish

[agrabs 237]

I submitted our 129F this time last year - you can check my time line on how things played out. The NVC stage to interview took longer than we thought it would. We got married end of August. However, it was a civil ceremony that I did not plan until the visa was in hand. Honestly the process is stressful enough because so much of it is out of your control. There were so many things to take care of just getting my fiance here and settling in that I am glad I didn't have the stress of a big wedding to worry about on top of it.

[Love's JAA 100]

What about this option. If you can cross the border when ever you want as you are coming from Canada. Then why don't you go ahead with your plans for your wedding and depending on if you have your visa the wedding will be a symbolic one meaning you are just having the ceremony but it is not legal, and return to Canada to finish waiting. Then once you have your visa you can just go to the justice of the peace and make it legal. Just a suggestion.

This sounds potentially problematic when you have to start explaining to the CO that you only had a symbolic wedding and not a legal marriage. If they suspect you have gotten married, which has happened to others from what I have read here, they may reject the application. I would just suggest to postpone your plans, wait until you get the visa and then first have a civil wedding performed in order to fulfill the visa requirements and then plan your religious/spiritual wedding celebration since then you will have plenty of time to plan that.

[Aya820 33]

This sounds potentially problematic when you have to start explaining to the CO that you only had a symbolic wedding and not a legal marriage. If they suspect you have gotten married, which has happened to others from what I have read here, they may reject the application. I would just suggest to postpone your plans, wait until you get the visa and then first have a civil wedding performed in order to fulfill the visa requirements and then plan your religious/spiritual wedding celebration since then you will have plenty of time to plan that.

married is married whether you call it legal or before the eyes of God...

[reese1 68]

This sounds potentially problematic when you have to start explaining to the CO that you only had a symbolic wedding and not a legal marriage. If they suspect you have gotten married, which has happened to others from what I have read here, they may reject the application. I would just suggest to postpone your plans, wait until you get the visa and then first have a civil wedding performed in order to fulfill the visa requirements and then plan your religious/spiritual wedding celebration since then you will have plenty of time to plan that.

The situations I read on here were this was an issue was because the couple had actually gotten there marriage license however in their religion/culture that only meant they were engaged and it was not til they had their ceremony was it official. There for when the marriage license was submitted with there k1 visa petition of course it was denied as according to US law they were already married therefore did not qualify for that type of visa. That is not was I was suggesting here, as there would be no license to obtain, and nothing to explain because they are not legally married.

[pieroot 43]

why don't you guys get married and then file for CR1?

[John&Evalyn 0]

Yes I do agree with getting your deposit back. However, if your vendors are willing to work with you. There's plenty of time to move your date. Just remember that we are talking about a peek season for weddings.

[mickeymousedd 0]

Your answers were rude & not helpful at all!

I sent my paperwork in March 2012, through the CSC (where it goes depends on where you live, you have no control over that)... He received the visa in October, & we are getting married in December. My other VJ friends who had interviews on the same day had their paperwork routed through the VSC, & their timeline was a month or more longer than mine. That is a huge gamble to take, and one that's not recommended. It's a little harder planning a wedding in a short amount of time, but it's well worth it, & I can't wait!! Good luck during your process!!

Hi everyone. I just recently joined VJ and really appreciate all the help and knowledge that is provided on this site. I was hoping someone of you could give me some ideas about my situation. I am a naturalized US citizen who is trying to get my fiancée from Canada over here. I have submitted my I-129F packet to USCIS and just got notified it has been sent to VSC (which I'm not thrilled about, hearing their processing times).

Overall figure 9 months....so from this month, November, 2012, best bet would be July, 2013 to August, 2013.

Here is the problem: We have plans to get married August 24, 2013. Do you guys think it is even possible given the time constraints to get her K-1 visa and arrive in time or do you think we should just try to move the wedding to 2014?

Please keep in mind that we have made deposits already for the venue, photographer, caterer, and DJ.

No you keep in mind that you made all these deposits and may have to resked or cancel if you don't get the visa in time. It's you gamble alone.

I really just want to marry her as soon as possible so we can start our lives together but we're both losing sleep wondering if her K-1 visa will arrive in time. Any advice or suggestions are helpful!

Stop worrying or cancel all now.

[Love's JAA 100]

The situations I read on here were this was an issue was because the couple had actually gotten there marriage license however in their religion/culture that only meant they were engaged and it was not til they had their ceremony was it official. There for when the marriage license was submitted with there k1 visa petition of course it was denied as according to US law they were already married therefore did not qualify for that type of visa. That is not was I was suggesting here, as there would be no license to obtain, and nothing to explain because they are not legally married.

Do you really want to have to explain that to the official? You want to prove something you don't have (marriage license, wedding certificate). Then you want to explain to all your guests that they are invited to your non-wedding. It's best to avoid both the actual impropriety as well as the appearance of impropriety. In simple terms, keep it clean.

[Amy&Raul 0]

Thanks for all your advice, everyone! @Penguin, we had originally wanted to marry June 15, 2013 and had switched it to August 24, 2013 hoping it was enough time. Given what everyone is saying, it may be wise to move it to 2014 and get married at a Justice of the Peace in the meantime. I guess there is no way to expedite the process or have it moved to the California Service Center, huh?

We applied at the beginning of December last year, wanting to get married at the beginning of August. Interview didn't happen until September so we moved wedding back to Nov 10. He is actually scheduled to arrive on Nov. 10 so wedding is now Dec. 1. We had quite a few setbacks and I saw other cases go so much more smoothly, but the point is, ya just never know!