G&T

Challenge accepted... heheheh
I like the Hotel suite idea. I am still reviewing my options.
Also his parents are coming from Germany and my mom is traveling to NY too so lets see how we manage.
I want to shorten my list of guess to the JUST the necessary ones to cut more cost.
My sister was telling me that it would be rude not to invite Blu or Bla, so I just answered, "BLU or Bla can come as long as you pay the $100 something per diner per each of them yourself "
Unfortunately here one has to forget about wedding etiquette and go by "WHAT MY pocket Can afford and WHAT YOU WANT etiquette".

Keep Calling and get your Senator involved for an extra push. you never know.

The transition from NOA1 to NOA2 can be of around 5 months or less (if everything runs smooth) to 6-7 months (if you get RFEs) and unfortunately, a bit more or less if any Extra Background checks have to be performed on your case, but this is kind of random.
From NOA2 to Embassy , an average of 2 weeks to 2 months(in a worse case scenario) and from Embassy to Interview ,this stage will fully depend on the Country of the Beneficiary.
So in total, if you have a smooth application with no issues ,an estimate of 7 to 8 months is the safest. Some make it in less others more.
Review the timeline of your fiance's country and you will have a clear idea of what to expect in the best and worse case scenarios.

I'm so sorry about this But I have one question for you, how long have you known this man..I mean you must have seen and visited him or him you a few times before deciding to get married, you didn't suspect that he was gay then?

I definitely see both sides of this. I myself am having a big wedding. Partly b/c my parents are paying for it (they have wedding funds for each of their 3 girls) and I've always wanted a church wedding and a reception hall. Plus, my fiance and I both have lots of family and friends and we want to share our big day with them. it's all a matter of personal choice. My fiance and I CHOOSE to have a big wedding b/c that's what we (and our families) want. We will be having a small ceremony in the courthouse when he gets here so we can start the AOS/EAD process, but we want the big day as well.
I will say that after going through all of this visa stuff (and still going through it), I totally get the small wedding thing!! I would not mind having a nice wedding with 50 or less people in my parents' back yard. BUT, this is something my fiance and I want, a big wedding.
So anyways, I don't think anyone was attacking at all, I just think most of the people who responded prefer smaller weddings. I don't think anyone was suggesting that you love your fiance any less b/c you want a big wedding. Chin up and party like a rockstar on your big day! I know I will be!!!!!

I don't think choosing to have a modest event, or an affordable car for that matter, is cheap in any way. I think is being reasonable, realistic and mindful of what's important. In my humble opinion, and this may be disturbing for some, I find it hard to swallow that someone has 30K, or 1 million, to spend on a wedding day and still can sleep at night knowing children worldwide are dying of hunger, for example. I know, I know, we can't change the world in one day. Yes, I also know that we all deserve to splurge for a craving or two with our hard earned money. Yes, I agree. However, there are extremes and this is what the kind lady that posted the thread is talking aobut: bringing into perspective what's really important.

I have no experience in this area dealing with removal of conditions as I am just waiting for my NOA2.
But If it talks like a ducks, looks like a duck, and acts like a duck its probably a duck.
What I mean is, if you sit and look at this from a non-bias standpoint (NOTE: from what you posted that is) it is clear she is USING YOU until she can get on her own feet. Now I don't know your relationship nor your wife so I can only go on what you told me.
If I were you, I would sit long and hard and think about if she is really in love with you or in love with what you will give her? (ie resident alienship)
If the answer is the latter, I would tell the interviewer when she has her interview or contact USCIS and tell them you believe your fiance is using you for immigration purposes. I assume that is what the "two year residency" renewal is for, is to catch those who try to abuse the system. I wouldn't let her take advantage of you, so call USCIS or talk to a lawyer and see what your opitions are.
If I truly believed someone was using me to get their permanent residency, I would do everything in my power to let the USCIS know that that person is a fraud and married for immigration purposes and have her deported.
Again I can only go on what you told me and you need to sit and think long and hard about this, but in the end you can't let someone use you if thats what you believe she is going to do. I have heard cases where the woman completely changes and gets divorced and lives her own life, it happens you are and AMERICAN CITIZEN. In today's economy ANYONE would love to live here and prosper here especially if they are from a developing country.

I am planning a small wedding and even if I had the money I wouldn't see myself having a big wedding or spending 30,000.
My budget is under $5,000 for everything ,as living in NYC doesn't help much .
My big splurge will be on a photographer and dinner for around 18-25 close relatives & friends.
Anyways At the end of the day you just want to tie the knot and be with your love one. MR & MRS

+1 to Dan & Judy
Have you filed for your AOS yet? If you have, make sure you file an AR-11 (change of address) asap. You really dont want your husband's family getting their hands on your GC.

I may be a little harsh, but I would like to advice the following:
1) I would like to say I am really sorry that it happened to you and I think this is awful
2) Never live with anyone but your husband! No relatives.
3) Finally, at least judging from what you said: it will not work., The fact that he cannot support his family outside of the house, that he made you live with his parents, and more importantly, the fact that he was not defending you from your in-laws from the very beginning is a VERY BAD SIGN. I know this type of guys: weak, unmanly, children forever, take abuse from their families and everyone else, do not defend their wives and loved ones. These type of guys will never be able to be MEN in the family, will never support or defend their family. The worst part: they never change. The fact that he started defending you ONLY after conversation with you only proves my point. I am sorry that it happened to you but unless you are OK with this and you like this type of guys, RUN AWAY. I know this is bad to give relationship advices but this is true. I am sorry...

You need to be scared. Apparently your husband grew up in an abusive enviroment. If he had jumped right to your defense that would be one thing but you had to tell him.
People that grow up in an abusive enviroment frequently end up being abusive. Him flipping out when you went outside is a bad sign.
These are not normal people to start with but apparently your husband set this thing off with an over reaction to you being outside.
For a short time this seemed like a loving family. beware your husband grew up in this family.
The worst thing you could do right now would be to get pregnant. If he flips out you'll be even more alone than you are now.
Take charge of the birth control and put this guy on probation for a year before you decide to get pregnant.

i am fairly new here.. but i would have assume.. your case is NOT the norm nor should it be something i would try to follow or anybody else to try to copy!..
i don't think the views were pessimistic.. you are reckless in your choices but it worked out for you congrats for you and your future better half.. experienced people were simply telling you that from PAST EXPERIENCES this did not work before hand..
just my two cents

Be prepared to be turned back at the border....especially when you tell the the truth (which you are going to do) that you are visiting your fiance and to have an unofficial marriage ceremony.
You SHOULD just wait until you have the visa in hand and then fly over and have an official ceremony.
Why would you want to complicate things, risk a turnaround at the border (or totally worse a ban because you lied at the border and were later found out). Your going to get your visa and your then going to come here and have a happy life together.
Internationsl relationships and immigration to the US requries special and abnormal things to occur. If you are doing this only for family and friends and they can't understand the need to follow the normal rules, then that is their problem not yours.

I think that as long as you can pay for much more than 75% of what you are wishing for ,you can put such pressure on your partner.
A wedding is indeed about the bride , but also about the groom. And well , there has to be a middle point, after all that is what marriage is about is not about becoming ONE but understanding that WE ARE TWO.

I think that as long as you can pay for much more than 75% of what you are wishing for ,you can put such pressure on your partner.
A wedding is indeed about the bride , but also about the groom. And well , there has to be a middle point, after all that is what marriage is about is not about becoming ONE but understanding that WE ARE TWO.

WOW... this topic has over extended... ^_-
No need to be ultra sensitive , we are here to vent & to get info .
Anyways best of lucks to everyone ,to those who whine (like I do), to those who feel that they deserve it more or other perspective blablabla.
A slice of Pizza and a Dr. Pepper plus a little don't worry be happy to all

Sick 'n tired... so like we say over here
A otra cosa mariposa! Feel free to translate it!
So much bitterness over here, needing for READING COMPREHENSION 101

easy people, if you dont like this kind of thread, just don't read it..

Okay, it's about perspective and we all understand it... who got approved or not, we still keep hope and faith. But the point I'm trying to show is, it's not March Filers' fault that others are waiting 10 months.
The OP said sorry for the vent but if you don't wanna see this kind of thread, since it bothers you because you're hurting, because you're waiting more than others, it's just easy to do not click the link and don't read it if you'll get upset/bothered/annoyed. We have been reading and supporting others waiting over the 5 months mark, this process isn't fair, just don't think you deserve it more than others because USCIS and the service centers aren't working on your case, the members here aren't the ones who pursue the guilt. No need to be rude to others, this website isn't a place to put your anger towards this process onto others, so let's just keep the discussion fair and clean.
Good luck to everyone.

As if nobody ever made a little complaint... everybody is hurting here, nobody is more special than others and isn't March Filers fault that some are waiting 10 months. If you are tired of seeing people complaining just don't read the thread, simple. Good luck to everyone waiting over the 5 months mark or not.

Geezzz, sorry for your long wait but is not a matter of who deserves it first or last.
Every situation is different .
We are all on waiting mode and wish that you get your No2 soon and wish the same for us too.

Geezzz, sorry for your long wait but is not a matter of who deserves it first or last.
Every situation is different .
We are all on waiting mode and wish that you get your No2 soon and wish the same for us too.

Geezzz, sorry for your long wait but is not a matter of who deserves it first or last.
Every situation is different .
We are all on waiting mode and wish that you get your No2 soon and wish the same for us too.

Geezzz, sorry for your long wait but is not a matter of who deserves it first or last.
Every situation is different .
We are all on waiting mode and wish that you get your No2 soon and wish the same for us too.

Geezzz, sorry for your long wait but is not a matter of who deserves it first or last.
Every situation is different .
We are all on waiting mode and wish that you get your No2 soon and wish the same for us too.

We all have different formulas to cope with it. I am planning the wedding too but without a date .
So yeah, besides all the obsessing and logging constantly into the USA Immigration page and checking the trends on Igor's list, life goes on ;nothing but patience to deal with the waiting.
We are all on the same boat but sooner or later, hopefully sooner ,we will have our beloved one with us. If we waited so long a little wait shouldn't matter.