Married last year, engaged this year, emigrating next year, then wedding

[BrianK 1]

Apologies for the long winded title. Thanks to anyone who takes the time to read and/or reply.

The short version of our story is that we got married eight months after we met/started dating so she could move to the UK and we could be together, and decided save all the traditional marriage things (engagement/rings/wedding) until we could afford it, and I'm wondering if this will work against us when applying (through DCF in London) for my CR1? Some people get it, some people don't, I'm hoping immigration officials will see this kind of thing semi regularly, so it won't be a thing?

Our timeline:

October 2011: Met in Orlando while I (Irish citizen) was on holiday

June 2012: got married by a notary in Florida, just the two of us, no family etc

September 2012: She (US Citizen) moved to the UK on a EEA visa (six month work visa)

February 2012: She recieved her EEA2 visa (two year work visa)

May 2013: Bought a ring and got engaged (YAY!)

Our Plan:

Early 2014: Move to Florida

October 2014: Have a small wedding in Florida

Any help and advice would be greatly appreciated. We've already been through the visa process once (to get her into the UK) and another forum was absolutely invaluable, so I'm hoping this forum will be the one to guide us through this one.

[Shiobhan 235]

Seem bonafide, have co-mingling of finances proofs,

lease, bills , vacations and photos and insurance is

good...good luck

[lost_at_sea 995]

Nah. DCF in London is super simple. For the petition part, London just wants the cold hard facts - forms and certificates.

We got married 4 days before filing our I-130 and we were just approved. Our "wedding" was us and 2 witnesses, didn't even have family. We did throw a party that night for our friends though and I did wear a nice dress (and he a nice suit). There's no regulation that says you need to have a big traditional wedding in order to have a happy, bonafide marriage.

Although, in our case, as we were only married a couple of days before, I do intend to take some "evidence" with me to the interview - wedding and holiday photos, joint leases and bills - that sort of thing. Generally, the London embassy tends not to be dreadfully interested in evidence unless you have some significant red flag - mostly the interview is a look at the affidavit of support, forms and certificates and a little chat. Check out the reviews from the London embassy if it helps ease your mind: http://www.visajourney.com/reviews/index.php?cnty=United%20Kingdom

One I read of on here recently that the couple ended up in additional processing for was they had only met once in Europe, married, one of them returned to the USA and they never went to visit one another (and they didn't think to take evidence with them on the day of their genuine relationship). The embassy STILL gave them the opportunity to come back with evidence later, though, so it's pretty hard to fail if you really do have a genuine relationship.

The fact that you live together and have been married for some time suggests you'll be A-OK.

Good luck on your petition and on your upcoming second wedding. Personally, organising an extremely tiny one was just about enough for me.

[NikLR 13,220]

*** moved to DCF forum ***

[lost_at_sea 995]

Oh, on the topic of affidavit of supports. As you're both in the UK at the moment, you may need to find a joint sponsor. The reason is the financial sponsor needs to be able to show US domicile as well as earning the required amounts. http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/info/info_3183.html

[Harsh_77 716]

For all the legal purpose you got married in June 2012, don’t mention anything about getting engaged after marriage or about rings – this would just lead to confusion.

Follow the DCF process and you should be good to go.

[lost_at_sea 995]

+1 comment above. The instructions for DCF in London are extremely prescriptive. Just follow them to the letter.

At the interview you can chat about your upcoming "proper" wedding, but I'd leave out the "getting engaged" part. It does sound confusing! Not that I'm saying it's weird- plenty of people wait until they have more funds to buy rings and weddings.

Frankly, more people *should* wait until they can afford it. The number of people I've known laying down far more money than they have all for the sake of the traditional wedding!

[dwheels76 5,459]

Apologies for the long winded title. Thanks to anyone who takes the time to read and/or reply.

The short version of our story is that we got married eight months after we met/started dating so she could move to the UK and we could be together, and decided save all the traditional marriage things (engagement/rings/wedding) until we could afford it, and I'm wondering if this will work against us when applying (through DCF in London) for my CR1? Some people get it, some people don't, I'm hoping immigration officials will see this kind of thing semi regularly, so it won't be a thing?

Our timeline:

October 2011: Met in Orlando while I (Irish citizen) was on holiday

June 2012: got married by a notary in Florida, just the two of us, no family etc

September 2012: She (US Citizen) moved to the UK on a EEA visa (six month work visa)

February 2012: She recieved her EEA2 visa (two year work visa)

May 2013: Bought a ring and got engaged (YAY!)

Our Plan:

Early 2014: Move to Florida

October 2014: Have a small wedding in Florida

Any help and advice would be greatly appreciated. We've already been through the visa process once (to get her into the UK) and another forum was absolutely invaluable, so I'm hoping this forum will be the one to guide us through this one.

You got married . Does not matter how. Show some pics and your other bonafide what you plan to do after is of no concern to them.

We had courthouse reigistry wedding. We ha plan to do the Nigerian traitional and formal white wedding once I come back for wedding. Bottom line is we were married and had the certificate to prove it.

[BrianK 1]

Thanks everyone for your replies, you've really set my mind to rest. Thanks again.

[lonelywithouthim1 36]

For all the legal purpose you got married in June 2012, dont mention anything about getting engaged after marriage or about rings this would just lead to confusion.

Follow the DCF process and you should be good to go.

I agree, I was confused by the title "married last year, engaged this year". If you're married you can't be engaged, so just stick to being married. Not everyone have an engagement ring but if they question you tell them the truth. Good luck

[JFH 12,189]

Being engaged is not a legal status (such as being married is). For most people, getting engaged means having a fancy ring and a big party, neither of which are necessary requirements to get married.

An engagement is merely a promise to marry. You have already passed that stage. The fact that there was no party and no ring is irrelevant. We are engaged insofar as he has asked me to marry him, I have said yes and we are planning a wedding. I don't have a ring and we had no party because we consider them to be a waste of money. Doesn't mean we're not engaged.

Likewise, a bona fide wedding, no matter how small and simple, is a wedding. You are either legally married or you're not. Big weddings do not mean you are more married than someone who had a small, simple ceremony.

[BrianK 1]

Obviously I completely agree with what you guys are saying, otherwise we wouldn't have done things in the order we have.

My question was more around how immigration would treat it, if they would think "this sounds suspect" and we'd end up getting my visa refused, which I'm gathering isn't the case.