Plan for wedding?

[member523 0]

I-129F sent (1/10/13)

NOA1 (1/17/13) Vermont Center

Should we start planning for our wedding? What if we plan for the wedding and the paperwork takes too long, and our wedding date comes before our paperwork is done? Is it ok to have the wedding even though the paper work is not done?

I want to be able to plan ahead, but its hard with the future unknown.

[kzielu 1,149]

If you get married before papework is done you are going to waste all the waiting time till that date since you will have to start all over again with spousal petition. Other choice will be to not get married and waste everything you paid so far for.

Bottom line - don't make any plans until you have a visa.

[lost_at_sea 995]

Is it ok to have the wedding even though the paper work is not done?

No. If you get married before you get the K1 visa, you'll nullify the whole process and have to start over with a spousal visa (CR-1). You can have a wedding that is only ceremonial and not official (some people have blessings etc.) and wait and do the actual marriage until you have your visa. You must not be legally married before your K1.

It's best to just not plan a wedding until you've had your NOA2 at the very soonest - at least from that point you'll have a vague idea of how long it may take from NOA2 -> NVC -> Local consulate for medical and interview (it varies, around 3-4 months, see your local consulate reviews or timelines). I wouldn't put serious money down on anything you can't move/cancel/change until you've got a visa in hand.

If you want to start planning - start planning the things that *aren't* set in stone, like wedding dresses and colour schemes for flowers... that sort of thing.

Edit: Also, if you complete your timeline data, the VJ system will give you a prediction on when you may receive your NOA2 approval. See this link for more: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/102797-create-a-vj-timeline-to-track-your-case-and-get-estimated-approval-dates/

Edited April 2, 2013 by lost_at_sea

[Pitaya 2,577]

The general recommendation is to NOT make any wedding reservations, deposits, etc., until the visa is in your passport, and your passport is in your hands.

[member523 0]

Thanks a bunch! This helps a lot! =)

[moemac59 192]

The general recommendation is to NOT make any wedding reservations, deposits, etc., until the visa is in your passport, and your passport is in your hands.

Sound advice. Anyone on this site will tell you that. There may be unforseen circumstances beyond your control. It takes awhile to schedule your interview and even then you still have to get thru the interview process in which your visa can still be denied at that point. Once you have your passport with the visa in it, then feel free and plan away.

You have six months from the date of issuance to activate your visa which is good for a one time entry only at your point of entry (POE). Once you cross over, you have 90 days to get married. If you do not get married within that time frame, the visa becomes null and void. Remember, once you cross over and activate your K1 visa, you cannot leave the US until you have your Adavanced Parole approval (file this with your AOS application after you get married).

Good luck

[cereal 84]

My question is, what if it's a church wedding? You wouldn't be civilly recognized as a married couple, but you would under whatever religion it is you practice, which may help the relationship progress despite waiting for the visa. I'm thinking about doing that, although I'm worried about the possible ramifications that may have on my current K-1 petition.

Edited April 2, 2013 by cereal

[Pitaya 2,577]

My question is, what if it's a church wedding? You wouldn't be civilly recognized as a married couple, but you would under whatever religion it is you practice, which may help the relationship progress despite waiting for the visa. I'm thinking about doing that, although I'm worried about the possible ramifications that may have on my current K-1 petition.

You could try it. However, there are numerous threads on this forum about folks that had church or ceremonial weddings, prior to issuance of their K-1 visa, only to result in denial of their K-1 application at the interviewing embassy/consulate. The CO determining that the couple are married and NOT eligible for a fiancee visa, which may result in having to start all over for a spouse visa. IMO, I wouldn't risk it, but it is your immigration journey.

YMMV.

[Shannon28 1]

My question is, what if it's a church wedding? You wouldn't be civilly recognized as a married couple, but you would under whatever religion it is you practice, which may help the relationship progress despite waiting for the visa. I'm thinking about doing that, although I'm worried about the possible ramifications that may have on my current K-1 petition.

I think if you allow yourself enough time, it's okay to make plans. Don't make any plans based on the 5 month estimate. We basically took the 5 month estimate, added 3 months onto that, and then added another 3 months onto it for insurance and visa interviews, and picked a date VERY far off. We also booked all venues and vendors that put on paper with us that they would be completely flexible with our situation.

[cereal 84]

I made wedding plans based on a 6-month estimate, added 4 for assurance, and had to cancel it all because now we've hit the 8-month mark and haven't heard a thing. Keep in mind you have about another 3 months after you get your approval to sort out interview, paperwork, medical matters. At this point, through the CSC, I don't even think a year out is enough time to get it all sorted.

[kfischm1 18]

I don't want to be a pessimist, but I wouldn't even start thinking about wedding planning until you have the NOA2 at least. Maybe that wasn't the case in the past, but at the rate things are now, it would be a waste to plan in advance, especially if your file is sent to CSC. I filed and receive my NOA1 on July 26. At that time the average processing time was 5 months, though many people were approved in 3-4. Thank God I didn't make any wedding plans. I am now at 8 1/2 months and like many CSC July filers, have heard nothing, and we have no idea when we might hear. It is sad not being able to make any plans, but at this point we can't guarantee when we will have our visa, and at least we aren't worrying about all the money we are losing for the planned wedding we can't have yet.

[Shannon28 1]

I don't want to be a pessimist, but I wouldn't even start thinking about wedding planning until you have the NOA2 at least. Maybe that wasn't the case in the past, but at the rate things are now, it would be a waste to plan in advance, especially if your file is sent to CSC. I filed and receive my NOA1 on July 26. At that time the average processing time was 5 months, though many people were approved in 3-4. Thank God I didn't make any wedding plans. I am now at 8 1/2 months and like many CSC July filers, have heard nothing, and we have no idea when we might hear. It is sad not being able to make any plans, but at this point we can't guarantee when we will have our visa, and at least we aren't worrying about all the money we are losing for the planned wedding we can't have yet.

I'm so sorry you are still waiting for your NOA2, that's terrible! You're definitely right about not getting ahead of yourself with planning. I have booked a few things BUT every vendor I've booked thus far has it written in my contract that if my immigration situation requires me to switch dates, I can do so at no extra cost. So I've basically booked their services but not a firm date, which I appreciate.

[Brad & Kat 2]

I would say that the safest thing to do is not plan until NOA2.

We've planned a July 6, 2013 wedding based on an August 2012 K-1 filing, and now we have decided to abandon the K-1 visa and go the CR-1 route (another story in itself) as with 3 months left to go until the wedding, there is a very, very slim chance of getting the visa in time, and we want to focus our efforts on making sure we don't have to be apart after the wedding since we've spent 7 years in a long distance relationship already.

We have booked the church, the reception venue, the caterer, and also have a bunch of international guests who've made travel arrangements based on our wedding date, so moving it would be way too expensive not just for us, but other people as well.

So yeah, CSC's delays really made things uncertain and made us realise there really are no guarantees, so if you can manage to wait to make plans, I would say do wait.

Edited April 6, 2013 by Brad & Kat