Question about the marriage ceremony and officiant

[Ellie G 0]

So our plan at the moment is to have a friend of the family who is an officiant sign our marriage certificate (far easier than booking a judge etc to do it, plus can be done on the weekend). And then we're going to have a separate family event where we do vows, dress up a little and have pictures taken. However we would already be technically married at that point.

 

I know it's important to include pictures of the wedding to make sure government officials know it's legitimate, however do they go so far as to question who your officiant is and whether it was signed the same day pictures were taken? 

 

Thanks so much. 

[SalishSea 17,937]

6 minutes ago, Ellie G said:

I know it's important to include pictures of the wedding to make sure government officials know it's legitimate, however do they go so far as to question who your officiant is and whether it was signed the same day pictures were taken? 

No.  They do not care.

 

Pictures don't make a marriage legitimate, a marriage certificate does that.

[Crazy Cat 41,982]

7 minutes ago, Ellie G said:

I know it's important to include pictures of the wedding to make sure government officials know it's legitimate

That is news to me.......a legal marriage certificate establishes a legal marriage.

[Limey 551]

We didn't submit any pictures of the wedding. They have no interest in seeing these (weddings take many forms, and anyone can dress up and purport to have a wedding). What they want is a legally valid marriage certificate from your state. In order to get that you'll have to follow legal formalities in your state, which may include using an officiant who is properly licensed to carry out weddings etc. So long as you get a valid marriage certificate at the end of it, you're fine.

[Ontarkie 14,282]

~~Moved to Off Topic, form K1 P&P - the OP is asking about marriage officials.~~

[rrobin0609 387]

While filing the AOS paperwork, we did not submit any pictures. When we went to our interview we had a photo album in case the interviewer wanted to see it. It had less than 10 wedding photos in it, but many more of us going placing and enjoying events together. He didn't even notice it until we were about to leave his office, but he asked if he could flip through it (and mentioned seeing pictures at interviews are one of the best parts of his day).

 

Other couples have done the same thing as you are planning to do. Keep your plan simple. Don't over think it.

Edited February 24, 2020 by rrobin0609

[Ellie G 0]

52 minutes ago, rrobin0609 said:

While filing the AOS paperwork, we did not submit any pictures. When we went to our interview we had a photo album in case the interviewer wanted to see it. It had less than 10 wedding photos in it, but many more of us going placing and enjoying events together. He didn't even notice it until we were about to leave his office, but he asked if he could flip through it (and mentioned seeing pictures at interviews are one of the best parts of his day).

 

Other couples have done the same thing as you are planning to do. Keep your plan simple. Don't over think it.

Thank you, this is very useful. Another quick question if you remember - how long did you leave between your marriage and the end of the K1 visa? Would 12 days be too short to get married and send off the AOS?

[rrobin0609 387]

15 minutes ago, Ellie G said:

Thank you, this is very useful. Another quick question if you remember - how long did you leave between your marriage and the end of the K1 visa? Would 12 days be too short to get married and send off the AOS?

It doesn't matter as long as you marry before the 90 days is up. Obviously sooner is better, but they can't complain as long as you've gotten married in the 90 day window. Keep in mind though that every day you have not filed for AOS after that window is a risk. There was a story from someone, oh between 6 months and a year ago who had gotten married but not yet filed for AOS. She was a passenger in a car that was pulled over and ended up being detained for a few weeks if I remember correctly.

 

Just to give you a sense of how we scheduled things: My now husband entered the US on October 2nd. We got married on October 21st. We mailed his AOS on November 10th. His 90 days were up on December 31st.

 

My husband and I were in NYC on a trip when his 90 days were up. I made him take his NOA1 for AOS. A few months later we did a road trip to South Dakota and he didn't yet have his green card, so I made him take his NOA1 for AOS.

Edited February 24, 2020 by rrobin0609