Just starting out...how important is proof of wedding plans?

[jennaleigh 2]

Hi, I'm sorry that my profile is so blank, and that I don't have a timeline yet. I just joined this forum and am planning to send the petition for my fiance in June. We are a same sex couple, I'm 23, she's 26 and lives in Canada, and we met on the internet in August 2013. Things turned romantic in May 2014, and I finally visited her for a month in April 2015. (Just to give some background information.) We didn't refer to each other as girlfriends until we actually met, but we knew we would be together once we did, and we've known since August that we'd end up moving in together. My visit only solidified all these feelings. It was during our visit that we decided she'd be the one to come to the US instead of me to Canada, and that we wanted to get married. I have read a ton of information, still have a ton of questions of course and thought I would start with these two.

1.) Do we have a greater chance of getting our petition denied because we've only been together in person for a month? And that while we knew we had feelings for each other since May 2014, we waited until we could be together in person for the first time to refer to each other as our significant other. Again, we've known each other since August 2013, and we have a ton of proof of our relationship: texts, pictures, Instagram posts, Tumblr posts, facebook messages, skype chat logs, Facetime logs, cards and letters we sent each other, my boarding passes, etc. I'm just worried that despite this, they will think we moved "too fast" for it to be legitimate.

2.) Something I'm really worried about is proof of wedding plans. We don't have a lot of money (I do know about the income requirements and we'll be okay there), plus it's near impossible to plan a wedding when you're unsure when one of the brides will be approved to move to the states. We just want to get married at a courthouse until we can save money for a nice reception. So, while there's a lot of proof of us being together, there's no engagement announcements, wedding plans, etc. If we each write a letter of intent, and have proof of texts/cards mentioning marriage, will this be enough? We both desperately want to marry each other, we just don't want to make a big deal out of it until she is settled here and we can afford a real wedding.

I hope I posted this in the right place. Thanks for any and all help! I am sure I will have PLENTY of more questions in the coming months, but I'll continue to do all the reading I can on this great forum first.

Jenna

[JolyDan 13]

Hi!

USCIS doesn't care if things seems to "go to fast" They want a proof that you have met in person within 2 years. Canada is really a low country fraud so they don't really scrutinize the relationship like they would do for other countries. When I had my interview done in Montreal for my K1, I had an album with pictures, cards etc. and the officer didnt even look at it. He barely asked questions. Just how we met (online) what was my fiance's job and a couple of questions regarding the wedding. Although we have a "reception wedding" plan, I didnt talked about it at the interview. I just told we were gonna get married at the courthouse as soon as possible (which we did 5 days after I came to the State)

Don't worry! The only thing you'll need is a lot of patience

[yuna628 9,528]

Hi, I'm sorry that my profile is so blank, and that I don't have a timeline yet. I just joined this forum and am planning to send the petition for my fiance in June. We are a same sex couple, I'm 23, she's 26 and lives in Canada, and we met on the internet in August 2013. Things turned romantic in May 2014, and I finally visited her for a month in April 2015. (Just to give some background information.) We didn't refer to each other as girlfriends until we actually met, but we knew we would be together once we did, and we've known since August that we'd end up moving in together. My visit only solidified all these feelings. It was during our visit that we decided she'd be the one to come to the US instead of me to Canada, and that we wanted to get married. I have read a ton of information, still have a ton of questions of course and thought I would start with these two.

1.) Do we have a greater chance of getting our petition denied because we've only been together in person for a month? And that while we knew we had feelings for each other since May 2014, we waited until we could be together in person for the first time to refer to each other as our significant other. Again, we've known each other since August 2013, and we have a ton of proof of our relationship: texts, pictures, Instagram posts, Tumblr posts, facebook messages, skype chat logs, Facetime logs, cards and letters we sent each other, my boarding passes, etc. I'm just worried that despite this, they will think we moved "too fast" for it to be legitimate.

2.) Something I'm really worried about is proof of wedding plans. We don't have a lot of money (I do know about the income requirements and we'll be okay there), plus it's near impossible to plan a wedding when you're unsure when one of the brides will be approved to move to the states. We just want to get married at a courthouse until we can save money for a nice reception. So, while there's a lot of proof of us being together, there's no engagement announcements, wedding plans, etc. If we each write a letter of intent, and have proof of texts/cards mentioning marriage, will this be enough? We both desperately want to marry each other, we just don't want to make a big deal out of it until she is settled here and we can afford a real wedding.

I hope I posted this in the right place. Thanks for any and all help! I am sure I will have PLENTY of more questions in the coming months, but I'll continue to do all the reading I can on this great forum first.

Jenna

I can't really answer you fully on your first question, but I do not think that this should be an issue really. You've known each other for a while, and have visited. That satisfies the meet within 2 years requirement. If you have plenty of proof of a relationship and meeting then I don't think it will be a problem. We provided no chat logs, but we had plenty of documented evidence through passport stamps, passes/tickets, and photos over the years that corresponded with various receipts. Every relationship is different though. What they are looking for is if you are genuine and if you have actually met.

As for your second question, the government recommends that you not make wedding plans - simply because of any delay or denial impacting them you know? That's not to say you can't of course. We've set stuff up, bought the dress etc, but just not reserved the venue yet. Plenty of people do courthouse weddings and then have a reception later on, and that never is a problem either. That being said the proof of intent letters from both of you will satisfy that requirement. For us, we did provide things like an engagement ring receipt, an engagement party photo, and a few cards - but I don't feel that these contributed much to the approval. We just wanted to be overly thorough (and sooth a little bit of my paranoia ) The intent letters are the big main thing. Before I forget, I saw recently that a same sex couple was asked to mention (via RFE) which state they were to marry in for their intent letter - so you can be proactive and mention that.

Make sure your fiancé has a copy of everything just in case, but most stuff they probably will not need for the interview.

Edited May 7, 2015 by yuna628

[Lee&Ana 88]

No plans necessary. I felt the same way about my fiance when we met in person. If you have proof of meeting, meet the financial requirements and do the paperwork right, you should be fine.

[Karmalious 50]

I think "proof of wedding plans" are pretty much non-existent for most people. Simply because you won't be getting married until your finacee enters the country and of course you won't know when that will happen until after your visa is approved.

Documentary Proof of Having Met in Person in the Past Two Years and an Ongoing Relationship:

Use as many of these items are possible. There is no minimum, but the more you can provide the less likely you are that you will receive an RFE. Additionally, please note that providing proof of your ongoing and genuine relationship in this package may benefit you by allowing the consulate to have access to this information prior to them formally contacting the non US Citizen fiance. Many high risk consulates approach cases with a skeptical eye and providing this information early on in the original I-129F package will help them in their preliminary review of your case.

Copies of all airline boarding passes, train passes, itineraries, hotel receipts, passport stamps (make sure you can read the dates on the stamps), and other documentary evidence that you have met within the last two years. You may want to highlight or place post-it notes indicating the dates and locations on the copies (to make the adjudication easier) for the person reviewing your file.

Color Photo's of you and your fiance(e) together. Make sure you write your names, date, and location on the back of every photo. Provide two to five photo's. If you only have a single copy of the photo, then make a color copy and send that. If it is a digital photo, have it printed at a local photo store such as Walgreens (if at all possible) or if not on a high quality printer. Place photo's in a plastic bag or photo sheet and label the sheet. Note that you may not receive originals of photo's back.

The following items will not typically show proof of having met in the last two years however will show proof of an ongoing relationship: Copies of land line and cell phone bills, appropriate letters and emails, stamps on the letters (to document the date they were sent), and other written documentary proof. Provide a reasonable amount; two to four of each type. Pick a range of dates up to and including the present. You can also include a copy of engagement ring receipt (this is something that is a big optional - do not worry if you do not have a ring yet!)

SOURCE: K1-Guide here on VisaJourney:

http://www.visajourney.com/content/k1guide

Edited May 7, 2015 by Karmalious

[ricnally 258]

Neither of your questions will be an issue at all.

[la8693 0]

For my own opinion, just the fact that u saw each other once for the past two years is enough. Just tell your girlfriend to be ready to tell them when she gets the interview why u only saw each other for a short time. Just send tons of pictures, text messages, fb messages, Skyping screen shots, etc, etc, etc.

For your second question, I am not sure if I have missed it while reading but R u even officially engaged yet? You have to be officially engaged to be able to apply for k1. Make sure you send pictures to prove your engagement. and as far as the wedding, you can just have a small wedding but keep in mind it is within 90 days of her entering the U.S. the k1 does take a while but not too too long. So just think about when you want to get married so you can know when to apply. But you do have to get married after she gets her visa and moves here within 90 days

Hope this helps a little

[Limey 550]

For your second question, I am not sure if I have missed it while reading but R u even officially engaged yet? You have to be officially engaged to be able to apply for k1. Make sure you send pictures to prove your engagement.

When you do the original k1 application you both send letters stating your intention to get married to the other within 90 days of entering the US on the K1 visa. You are engaged as far as the Feds are concerned if you both sign those. They don't require evidence of a ring, or engagement party, or pictures.

Many couples (us included) chose to apply for the K1 as soon as we'd made a decision that we wanted to marry, but we had a more public engagement on a visit to Canada where I gave my fiancee an engagement ring, and we announced to our friends and family via phonecalls and facebook that we were engaged. This was after our K1 application had been made so no photos or evidence of it was included, and we had no problems (I have my interview in London tomorrow)

[la8693 0]

When you do the original k1 application you both send letters stating your intention to get married to the other within 90 days of entering the US on the K1 visa. You are engaged as far as the Feds are concerned if you both sign those. They don't require evidence of a ring, or engagement party, or pictures.

Many couples (us included) chose to apply for the K1 as soon as we'd made a decision that we wanted to marry, but we had a more public engagement on a visit to Canada where I gave my fiancee an engagement ring, and we announced to our friends and family via phonecalls and facebook that we were engaged. This was after our K1 application had been made so no photos or evidence of it was included, and we had no problems (I have my interview in London tomorrow)

I guess if you had no problems then it should be fine. But I have heard of people being asked in the interview when and how did you propose.

For my case, I sent engagement photos.

[Mike-eeh and Odie 192]

While proof of wedding plans are not necessary, you should though have at least an idea of your wedding plans, like "How are you going to Marry? In a Church? Court House? Will there be a venue like a catered reception? Will you have bridesmaids and ushers? Etc...

Having an idea is useful in the interview as the CO may ask those questions to determine if your relationship is real, because let's face it, couples who want to get married, generally talk about how they want to get married.

Edited May 7, 2015 by Mike-eeh and Odie

[baron555 934]

1.) Do we have a greater chance of getting our petition denied because we've only been together in person for a month?

There is no minimum amount of time, only proving the legitimacy of the relationship.

2.) Something I'm really worried about is proof of wedding plans.

Not a requirement, just signed letters of intent from both.

[clairegie 265]

Hi, I'm sorry that my profile is so blank, and that I don't have a timeline yet. I just joined this forum and am planning to send the petition for my fiance in June. We are a same sex couple, I'm 23, she's 26 and lives in Canada, and we met on the internet in August 2013. Things turned romantic in May 2014, and I finally visited her for a month in April 2015. (Just to give some background information.) We didn't refer to each other as girlfriends until we actually met, but we knew we would be together once we did, and we've known since August that we'd end up moving in together. My visit only solidified all these feelings. It was during our visit that we decided she'd be the one to come to the US instead of me to Canada, and that we wanted to get married. I have read a ton of information, still have a ton of questions of course and thought I would start with these two.

1.) Do we have a greater chance of getting our petition denied because we've only been together in person for a month? And that while we knew we had feelings for each other since May 2014, we waited until we could be together in person for the first time to refer to each other as our significant other. Again, we've known each other since August 2013, and we have a ton of proof of our relationship: texts, pictures, Instagram posts, Tumblr posts, facebook messages, skype chat logs, Facetime logs, cards and letters we sent each other, my boarding passes, etc. I'm just worried that despite this, they will think we moved "too fast" for it to be legitimate.

- No your petition wont get denied just for being together in person for a month. I got approved and I was with my husband for 3 weeks in person. All that they care about during the initial filing is that you met in person within 2 years of filing and that you are both free to marry, and you met this requirement.

2.) Something I'm really worried about is proof of wedding plans. We don't have a lot of money (I do know about the income requirements and we'll be okay there), plus it's near impossible to plan a wedding when you're unsure when one of the brides will be approved to move to the states. We just want to get married at a courthouse until we can save money for a nice reception. So, while there's a lot of proof of us being together, there's no engagement announcements, wedding plans, etc. If we each write a letter of intent, and have proof of texts/cards mentioning marriage, will this be enough? We both desperately want to marry each other, we just don't want to make a big deal out of it until she is settled here and we can afford a real wedding.

- Don't be worried about it. They cant really expect us to have concrete wedding plans with the whole process is filled with uncertainty. Just have loads of evidence of photos, ticket stubs, maybe a little chat log just to show ongoing relationship, etc. My husband and I didn't even have a wedding date until a few days after I arrived here. Maybe letters from your family showing support in your relationship too if possible (not a requirement but would be nice to have).

Good luck in your visa journey!

[CowBoE 429]

We had zero wedding plan (because we were planning a simple court marriage by

a Justice of Peace).

And they never asked us of wedding plan, though, she was prepared to tell them

that we are going to do simple court marriage, and a small casual family dinner.

[raven52 233]

My wife from Philippines, and we were together only 14 days, and that was enough. But, our proof was great. (see guide section on top of Home page, click on K-1)

They are not interested in wedding plans, just signed letter of intent to marry within 90 days of entry. (for petition)

[jennaleigh 2]

Thank you all for your help! Everyone on this site is incredibly nice, helpful, and nonjudgemental. These replies really put my mind at ease. Thanks!