RUSSandRACHEL

I'm trying to put this in the gentlest way possible... the guides reward a careful reader.

Thanks, but there are many, many editions available out there, of forms that are needed to be completed throughout the whole K1 process and I did see the two guides, but I have already seen some confusion on VJ about the two Affadavits of Support and wanted to get a clear answer. I didn't think people minded answering queries on the forums... Thats why I asked. I certainly don't mind assisting people who are unsure...

VisaJourney K-1 Guide:

4.I-134 Affidavit of Support form. Ensure it is signed, with all required supporting evidence. Begin collecting the required information ahead of time, as it can often take several weeks to collect it all.

I-864[/url]here[/url]<!--fonto:--><span style="font-family:"><!--/fonto-->)

>> Include any additional required supporting documentation [/font][/size]

I am a little ahead of the game here... my fiance and I are waiting on our NOA2 for the K1 process but still, we'd like to get organised with the forms needed for AOS and I am a little confused about the I-765 (Filing for Employment Authorisation). Does anyone know how I go about answering Q.16 about Eligibilty Criteria? I have read the instructions on USCIS but still don't understand it.

Also, does anyone know roughly what the timelines are for processing of the I-765 and once you've recieved it, how long it is valid for once issued? Is it 12 months?

Help would be greatly appreciated!

There's no error. You missed #1 on the guide:

1. Payment(s) as required by USCIS. Be sure to include the payment for both the I-485 and the biometrics fee*. Use a money order so you can track the payment. If a personal check is allowed, use that instead.

>> The fee for I-485 applications filed on or after July 30th 2007 inlcudes the cost of the I-131 and I-765 (no need to pay for them if filed with or while your I-485 application is pending adjudication -- as long as you paid the "new" rate for the I-485 effective July 30th 2007).

Thank you Stephen + Elisha. I see, you're right at the first part. But even still, VJ should alter the latter part on points 13 & 14 where it mentions additional fees. If anyone is following the AOS guide, no-one would need to send money for additional fees anyway, so that extra small mention doesnt need to be on there. Thanks for your help and pointing the other bit out

Thank you both of you. I have looked everywhere for that information but couldnt find it anywhere. It should say on VJ somewhere the difference between the two Affadavits of Support, because I'm sure I'm not the only one getting in a pickle over the two forms.

Oh and also, did either of you make a brief explanation of the name change on AOS, or is that unnecessary?

Thanks again!

Even though we're still waiting on the NOA2 for the K1 visa, we have decided to organise together the forms needed for the Embassy interview and also for AOS. AOS in particular, is turning out to be a lot more complicated than filing the I-129F.

I have found out alot of info, so far, that contradicts each other. For example - I always thought that when filing AOS after getting married you send the I-485 form with the fee of $1010. I was under the impression that in addition to that, if you want to apply for an Employment authorisation and Advanced Parole to allow you to travel in the meantime of processing, there were two additional fees for each of those extra forms aswell. Even on the VJ Step-by-Step Guide on How to File for Adjustment of Status for K1 Visa Holders, it says on steps 13 & 14, "Include any additional required supporting documentation or photos as well as payment as noted here", and then theres a link.

However, I found out this piece of info on the USCIS website: http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=73ddd59cb7a5d010VgnVCM10000048f3d6a1RCRD&vgnextchannel=7d316c0b4c3bf110VgnVCM1000004718190aRCRD

"If you filed a Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, on July 30, 2007, or after, and you paid the I-485 application fee required, then no fee is required to file a request for employment authorization on Form I-765. You may file the I-765 concurrently with your I-485, or you may submit the I-765 at a later date. If you file Form I-765 separately, you must also submit a copy of your Form I-797C, Notice of Action, receipt as evidence of the filing of an I-485."

Does this mean that I don't have to pay anything other than the $1010, even if I still want to file for EAD & AP at the same time as AOS?

Help is greatly appreciated!!

Even though my fiance and I are waiting on our NOA2 for the K1 visa, we have decided to go ahead and compile the forms for the Embassy interview (in London) and for the Adjustment of Status package that we'll send off after we get married (Next June all going well).

On the "Guides" section of this website it says that for AOS we should send off I-864 Affadavit of Support, but, I have also come across form I-134 also. Which one should I use for AOS and which one should be completed ready for the Embassy Interview?

Also another thing... does anyone know when filing for AOS, should the beneficiary's name on the paperwork be her new name? As, I will then be married and taking my fiance's name, or should it all be in my maiden name, as per the I-129F Petition?

Help!

Thanks in advance for your replies. This website is amazing and we wouldnt have gotten this far without it!

Hi all, One of my favorite CSC July '09 filers listed the following info for her group and I thought it was a great idea. If you want to be added or you don't want me to keep your name when I post again in a couple weeks, pls let me know. Just thought it would be neat to keep track.

Name NOA1 Embassy NOA2 Estimate NOA2 After Wedding

Simon and Janet 07/06/09 Sydney, Australia Nov 13 - Dec 1 US

Colleens 07/07/09 Montreal, Canada Nov 14 - Dec 2 US

Tinkerbell TX 07/09/09 Sydney, Australia Nov 16 - Dec 4 Houston, TX

RUSSandRACHEL 07/10/09 London, UK Nov 17 - Dec 5 NJ

pcdvcm 07/13/09 London, UK Nov 20 - Dec 8 Dallas, TX

EasternDE 07/17/09 France Nov 24 - Dec 12 Wilmington, DE

Kadrin&Robert 07/18/09 Estonia Nov 25 - Dec 13 US

oldahmed 07/20/09 Czech Republic Nov 27 - Dec 15 DC

Musho 07/21/09 Bosnia/Herzegovina Nov 28 - Dec 16 US

mike&andi 07/21/09 Argentina Nov 28 - Dec 16 US

PeruvyandGringa 07/22/09 Madrid, Spain Nov 29 - Dec 17 FL

NewYorkSydney 07/24/09 Sydney, Australia Dec 1 - Dec 19 US

Albert 7 07/24/09 Krakow, Poland Dec 1 - Dec 19 US

Well done pdcvcm! Great list! Most of us are almost half way between NOA1 & 2!!! Not long to go...

There are June filers getting approved in as little as 93 or 94 days now. if you want to be optimistic, calculate your NOA2 date based on that timeframe and your NOA1 date using This date calculator. We should se approvals in less than 93 days in the coming weeks. If they keep going strong through Sept, there could be July approvals late this month....

That sounds fantastic! Lets hope all at VSC keep up the good work. Everytime I check on our timeline status, it keeps creeping up, nearer and nearer. Now we're at Nov 17th! Good luck to everyone. My fiance and I say it every single day... we can't wait to be married and for everything to just be settled.

No one has posted on here in a while so I thought I'd get it started up again as this is another one of those essential things to overcome in coming to America (if you have never took your UK driving test that is).

So... how exactly do you go about taking your driving test here? Whats all this business about a permit etc and how do you apply to take your driving test? Can anyone shed any light on the subject, step by step?

This isn't something that I have to do right now, I just like to be organised and want to get this all set for when I get my K1 visa next spring (fingers crossed)

Any help would be appreciated!

I just wondered... how is everyone getting on? Its a bit quiet on this thread lately compared to the July California Filers thread... Anything to report? Any touches? My estimated date has been lingering around November 20th at the earliest. We're almost at the end of September so not too long to go. Fingers are still crossed.

I'm feeling a bit low today. I'm here in NJ with my beloved fiance (I've been here for almost three months over the summer). On 22nd of this month I am due to go home to the UK. I looked on my calendar this morning and its exactly two weeks today. This trip has been the first whereby we've been thrown into a 'real life' situation for the first time. In previous trips, he was self employed and worked only a few hours a week so we had plenty of time together doing things... But this year, he's started a new job (for the puposes of meeting the poverty line) which has kept us apart for 40 hours a week over the three months. Public transport is few and far between here so I have been in the apartment for most of the time on my own and subsequently I have occassionally taken it out on Russ. I just feel bad now, because reading other peoples posts today on VJ, some people are not as lucky as us to spend as much time together. One couple hadnt even seen each other in 17 months. I dont know how I would get through that!

I'm just going to miss him so much and we won't be reunited until Christmas when he comes back to England. Any words of encouragement people...?? How do we get through this?

Am I totally missing something? I have registered with the box.bz website and don't know where to start... how do you watch your favourite tv programmes? Im not familar with sites like this at all, have no knowledge of torrents etc...

Help is greatly appreciated!

Thank you so much. My fiance and I have talked it through and, yaaaay, he's started his return for 2008 and will have it sent off for Friday! I'm not that stressed about the transcript now, we'll just submit copies of the return and W2's instead. His 2008 return shows he only earnt $8,000 for 08 - Do you think that will be ok? He now earns $30,000.

I keep telling him it will be a relief to finally get this sorted.

Thank you so much for your help!

Hi there,

We are in exactly the same situation as you. Despite many, many helpful people on VJ advising us to get married in a courthouse or the equivalent and then having a bigger celebrations months later, we just don't want to.

Like you mentioned, we don't want two wedding dates and also we have waited far too long to be married and we want to do it properly, the way that we feel is right for us and for us that can only happen one time, the way that we have always dreamed of. I know that planning a wedding is expensive and many vendors need notice to secure the date for you (and also deposits) but we've decided it is worth the risk.

We filed our I-129F in July and we're planning our wedding for June 27th 2010. We will be getting married under a gazebo next to the beach infront of a beautiful lake in New Jersey and then we have a banqueting hall booked for our evening reception. Everything now, is all booked and while we have explained our prediacament to vendors, most have agreed to change the date in an emergency. Those that won't, we figure it is only a small price to pay. We have also negotiated with all vendors and paid minimal deposits to everyone.

My advice is although be sensible, give yourselves plenty of time and be aware of every eventuality... go ahead and plan the wedding of your dreams. Think positive and make realistic, sensible descisions when paying deposits and securing dates. Although what I'm saying doesn't seem to be the general concensus on here, (and [people have warned me against it) it can be done. I have heard positive stories fom people who have done as we're doing and have never looked back. Good luck!

Hi everyone!

I've been a member of this site since june, and a lurker here even longer and I can't believe I haven't seen this thread until now! So nice to meet other people who are in the same boat as Wade and myself. We filed july 15, and our timeline says we might get our NOA2 between october 16-20. It sounds incredible fast, so we're hoping the estimation is correct. It's such a drawnout process, so lets hope for a smooth journey for all of us july 09 filers

Kristin

Hi and welcome. The reason your date is earlier than ours is becuase you filed at California. We're all with Vermont, which is a little behind California. Good luck to you. Hope it comes soon!

My transcripts came in a week. They are free and you can get 3 years worth by faxing in one form.

Not sure if you're understanding taxes or if your fiance is just a real procrastinator.

The tax year is Jan 1 - Dec 31. So the latest taxes he should have filed were for the year Jan-Dec 2008. He had until April 15, 2009 to file those 2008 taxes and if he hasn't then he's kinda in violation of the law. Not to worry, they are far to busy to track him down and actually charge him with anything. Perhaps he filed the form asking for an extension by the April 15 deadline. If he hasn't filed 2008 taxes then that would be the #1 priority. A tax transcript won't be available immediately after filing.

People will not start doing their 2009 taxes until about February 2010 and will file them by Apr. 15, 2010.

Hi again, thanks for the advice. As I'm a UK citizen and employed, filing taxes it not really something I know anything about. It has never concerned me.

However, I am starting to understand this slowly... I was under the impression that he needed to file for his earnings from April 2008 to April 2009? I didnt know its actually for January 08 to December 08? No, he hasn't applied for any sort of extension. So we'll get that done immediately. Do you know How long it takes after filing his outstanding tax return before we can get the transcript?

But all going well, our visa interview should be Feb/March sometime next year... So, would that mean his Jan - Dec 08 tax return would be the one we need to present at the interview? Yes?

I just have one problem though, his earnings back then were minimal. He now has (and has had for 6 months plus) a good job whereby he more than meets the poverty guidline requirements. Why, in that case would they care what he earnt nearly 2 years before the interview? Its his current situation they are concerned with isn't it?

And yes, he is a major procrastinator. He's not trying to get out of it, just loves to put things off to try and sweep them under the carpet. I have been reminding him to get the employee letter for weeks now as I know he will leave that to the day before the interview. Uhh men...

Some useful links for you to start reading. Everything you want to know should be covered if you dig deep enough and check all the links from Embassy website that take you to other information (including the fine print in the right hand column under "MORE".)

http://www.usembassy.org.uk/cons_new/visa/iv/iv_15.html

http://www.usembassy.org.uk/cons_new/visa/...V018a_Oct08.pdf

http://www.visamedicals.info/

http://london.usembassy.gov/cons_new/visa/...processing.html

http://london.usembassy.gov/cons_new/faqs/faq_visa_iv.html

And a map that you can zoom or move showing locations for medical and interview and the place to leave your phone and keys before entering the embassy. http://www.click2map.com/maps/nichnick/Embassy_London

A video of what your interview day will be like.

Don't spend time printing pictures of your relationship. London does not ask for or look at proofs of an ongoing relationship or an updated letter of intent. Just prepare everthing in the list on their website in the first link above. I know VJ and people in the K1 forums promote the scrapbook thing for the Embassy, but that is just not the case in London. Spend your time getting spot on financial evidence together like ordering your tax transcripts from the IRS right now.

Thank you so much! That info is all a great help. Im going to have a look at all of those links now.

Do you know how long it takes to recieve the tax transcripts? My fiance still has to file for this year. I've been telling him we need to do it now, but I think he's leaving it to the last minute.

Officially there are no K-1 vaccination requirements but only for AOS... I believe however, London is one of those consulates that require the AOS vaccinations to be complete before the visa will be issued.

Ok thanks. Do you know what they are?

Does anyone know what exact vaccinations are needed

(1) by the time of my medical for the K1 Visa? - and

(2) by the time we file for AOS after we marry?

I'm female and will be 26 years of age at the time of my K1 interview and 27 by the time we get married. I've already had the MMR when I was a baby. Does anyone know if you are able to obtain a record of vaccinations like this from your doctor to avoid having them done again at the medical?

I can't find this information anywhere.. If anyone can help I'd be really grateful

Hi everyone,

My fiance and I like to be really organised and we are currently waiting on our NOA2 for the I-129F. We had our NOA1 on July 10th and we have an estimated date on our timeline for as early as November 20th. Lets hope it comes soooooon!

So anyway, we want to get prepared for my embassy interview and the next step. Can anyone give any advice about what would be a good idea to have, ready prepared so we don't waste extra time compiling documents before the interview?

And also, with regards to the medical, if you have had certain vaccinations throughout your life, did you find it easy/helpful to obtain proof of this, so you dont have to have them all over again at the medical appointment. And how did you get proof of these as well?

And, how much does the medical cost and what vaccinations are mandatory for the K1 visa? (I'll be 26 at the time of medical, but 27 after we get married)

Thank you!

Another update from me... it was only 29th November a couple of days ago, now my timeline says...

Based on timeline data, your I129f may be adjudicated between November 22, 2009 and December 7, 2009*.

Ooooooh my god!!! Yay!!! I can't wait! We've set our wedding date for June 27th (althought I want to fly out there 2 months prior if I can). I hope everyone else is having a smooth Visa Journey and I recommend all of you to stay upbeat and positive! We'll all get there soon

Hi Arabella, I checked on your timeline today to see how you're doing with your NOA2 and you have it now! Congratulations! Hope everything else goes swiftly for you!

I'm so excited... we have been looking at our estimated date for NOA2 approval on our timeline every single day and it was estimated for the end of December, then it went to mid December and now, for the first time there's a mention of NOVEMBER!! The 29th to be precise! I'm so excited!!! At the rate Vermont is going now, it will all be a swift journey for everyone!

I know everyone on here cringes when I answer one of these threads...because I'm one of those who decided to plan and put deposits down while the visa was still processing (before NOA2 even...). I did just like you, using the stats on here to figure out with some degree of confidence how long I thought it would take, and then added on some padding. End result: He had the visa more than 90 days before the wedding, and now we are sitting with the visa in hand but still apart (he wanted to work as long as possible).

I'd just like to reiterate that you should not make any completely inflexible plans without being willing to eat the cost if things don't work out (and believe me, you won't get any sympathy from VJ if you come back to complain! ). Check your contracts so you can change the date - know what the fine print says about notice (60 days? etc). If it's not in the standard contract, ask if it can be put in. I found many of my vendors were sympathetic when I explained the situation. If you can't afford to loose deposits on venues and caterers, and can't get a change the date for free clause, then start working on things like flowers, dress, rings, officiant, invite design, etc. These are time independent and might ease your planning bug!

Go into this with your eyes open - even people who thought they would have no problems get hung up too, so take it seriously when I say be prepared to loose what you cannot build flexibility into.

I understand wanting to be able to plan a complete wedding (legal and ceremonial together + family and friends from all over). It takes meticulous planning and the will/ability to take calculated risks, so not everyone can do it. Best of luck!

I'm not from Canada so I'm not gunna be much help except for sticking up for making wedding plans "early"

I too started planning my wedding AGES ago. We filed in late Feb 09 set a tentative date for Nov 09.. thinking this was plenty of time. By June we still hadn't heard anything and were REALLY freaking out... I'd also booked my flight because it was cheaper when I did.. and that flight was booked 12 Sept 09... I was told that it would take 6 months. Only after filing, and finding this website did I find out that it CAN be six months but it's typically longer.

Anyway my FH and I set June 30th as our "need NOA2" by date. If we didn't get it by then, we would move my flight back. The night of June 30 I received my NOA2 by email. Not long after that (you'll have to check my signature or timeline) I got P3. P3 took a while to get together but we set the deadline (again) of July 30th to have it sent by, and we were *fingers crossed* that I'd get an appointment in August sometime. Turned out that it took an extra week (so early August) to send P3 but 2 days or so after sending it I received P4. My interview was set for 25 August 2009 at 10am.

While waiting for the interview my FH paid for the reception hall in full he was that confident. My sister and her husband booked flights from Germany (were they will be around my wedding time) to come to my wedding, my bridesmaids have ordered their dresses, my sister has bought her dress,... things are in motion. i was scared, don't get me wrong, but I was also determined.

So it's the 27th August today, and here I sit, waiting for my Visa to be sent in the mail because I got APPROVED! I am catching my Sept 12 flight, I am sticking with my Nov 7 wedding date and it took almost 6 months to the day for me to get my Visa.

So I suppose what I'm trying to say is there's nothing wrong with planning. My sister and her hubby could have changed flights. My FH and i would be getting married at SOME stage so the dresses weren't wasted... and I have my wedding dress already and it's being altered so everything is transferable...

Stick with it. Double check everything. Have someone else read over the forms and the correspondence to make sure you didn't miss anything (I had my mum check some things and my FH check others) and also, as a matter of note, we had NO RFE's which I think helped, had we, might have been a difft story.

Good luck!!

First of all, can I just say thank you to the two positive posters. I know people are trying to be helpful and cautious by advising people to not make any wedding plans, but sometimes its just not realistic. If you truly want the dream wedding that you have had your heart set on for many years, taking a small risk on the date is completely worth it in my opinion.

Also, it seems a little more than a co-incidence that the people worrying or making wedding descisions within a short time span are the people waiting and waiting. We have made our wedding plans, but we've made smart choices, and flexible plans. For almost everything we've booked, the date can be changed in an emergency and on top of that, we have allowed a good 11 months before the wedding (which is way above the average time).

We're thinking positive and it will all be alright. It has to. I have the love of my life now and losing a few dollars (if that) is a tiny price to pay for having our dream day and reducing our stress levels by organising things in advance as much as we can. Saying that though, we are more than well aware that the whole process is unpredictable and things can come up, but we've decided to stay positive, we've done plenty of research and we've made intelligent choices. Different people have different priorities and this is ours.

Not everyone wants the same quickly-arranged small wedding. Also, it means alot to me to have our close family and friends with us on our day and unfortunately that takes some pre-planning. I respect everyone for their opinions but I just wanted to give my support out there to everyone who's chosen to do things the same way as us.

Good luck everyone!!

I would like to bring my 8kg dog (Caboose!) to the USA with me...Not really sure how to go about it. I already have the dog living with my fiancee and I know how to ship within the continental US (because my fiance's dog arrived that way) but not internationally :-S. I think he may be to big/Noisy for the cabin but I would like to have him up there, and I know I am going to have to get sedatives for him as hes a bit of a shaky traveler.

Can anyone recommend how to take him across with me? I was thinking of flying with Virgin in to the USA from London. Or if anyone can give me a step by step guide to booking him on a flight with estimates that would be grand :-) Many thanks!

Hi Nick and Kayte,

I am also going through the same thing. i have a 100lb+ labrador (her name's Honey) I'm going to bring with me when I have my K1 visa next year. Hopefully, all going well, we're going to make the move in late April. I have been researching transporting Honey for at least 12 months now, so while I havent done it already I can probably pass on the info that I have learnt. It took me absolutely ages! There are so many myths out there and there's not many people who can give you a straight answer but I have been in touch with every organisation you could think of (including a vet who's a pet passport specialist) and this is what I have discovered:

In order for your dog to travel to the USA, the USDA only require:

Ø Health Certificate dated within 10 days from flight departure

Ø Rabies Vaccination certificate (older than 30 days and not expired)

However, should you wish to cover all eventualities of being able to return to the UK, or travel within the EU, your dog with need to apply for a PETS Scheme Pet Passport to enable him/her to re-enter the UK without being held in quarantine.

To apply for this you will need your dog to have:

Ø Identified with Microchip

Ø Vaccination against rabies issued before 30 days of flying (in accordance with the recommendation on the vaccine manufacturer’s data sheet).

Ø Blood tested at an EU approved laboratory and get a satisfactory result.

Ø Issued with an EU Pet passport or, in a non EU country, a third country official vetinary certificate.

Ø Treated against Ticks and tapeworms prior to travel.

Ø Export health certificate – Dated within 10 days of departure.

We're applying for the Pet Passport and are getting started with it after Christmas.

Two things in your post that you mentioned, will not be permitted though - your dog will not be allowed to travel in the cabin, unless he is the size of a cat and can fit into a small crate suitable to cats or other small animals (although some airlines still dont permit this). He will have to be checked in and fly as 'cargo' underneath the plane. And the other is absolutely no pet will be allowed to fly after taking any sedative or tranquiliser.

I do understand though, my dog is a very nervous dog as well but giving them any kind of medication may apparently alter their blood pressure which could be fatal in an aircraft. I've found something called DAP spray which Im going to spray on her crate instead. Its a hormone that nursing mothers naturally excrete to calm their puppies. Also, why not include a t shirt of your in the crate too? That way he/she'll have your scent to make her feel calm?

Hope that helps!

I can remember when my estimated adjudication date was in June, then July, August, and now I am coming up on Sept. When I look on the Canadian forums, I see people who got their NOA2 in June and sent off their packet 3s, and have no idea when they will have an interview!

We filed back in March, and on March 13th I contacted a beach wedding planner and "reserved" the date of January 1 (with a small deposit). Since then I have contacted the wedding planner to let him know that our date may be later. The beach weddings are designed for people who like to elope, so they are really flexible and they do everything- you just show up. You might want to check into somewhere that has a ready-made wedding package that you can buy on short notice.

I have also been planning what we'll wear, where we will have our recption (luckily I live across the street from the beach and I have a large entertainment room in my house so I am just going to decorate that room), what our wedding vows will be, stuff like that.

Just for fun, here is the link to the wedding site I am using: www.cocoabeachweddings.com

I don't really want to get married at the court house and then have a separate wedding at a later date. I would only do that a year later on our anniversary. I don't want two wedding anniversary dates. Also, I am sure that a year after our wedding we won't want to cough up money for a wedding, so I think it's now or never.

Good luck!

Hi Arabella, thanks for your input. Sorry you've been waiting so long. To give you an estimated date of only 3 months waiting for your NOA2 seems rather short in the first place though. 5 or 6 sounds more much the norm at the moment isn't it? I've looked at the figures for how long people have been waiting this year at Vermont and the average is 5 or so, apparently... So keep positive, yours will be with you soon. Have you checked on the USCIS site aswell to see how your case is doing?

Also, thanks for the wedding info. I totally agree with you about not wanting two anniversaries, court house, separate wedding dates etc...

Your arrangements sound really nice. We're all set for our plans though and I'm really happy with what we've organised. Should anything at all happen, we'll just have to move the date back and risk losing a few dollars. Its not the end of the world. I did think about a beach wedding at first though. That was our initial plan to get married on the Jersey Shore, but after visiting various beaches along the coast this summer, we've decided theres no way we'd want that anymore as its SO busy during peak season! Plus it would cost our guests a fee for each of them to enter onto the beach. So, we found a beautiful gazebo overlooking a lake instead. And its literally across from the beach.

Good luck with your plans. I'm hoping your NOA2 is on its way now. Fingers crossed!!

Hi everyone thank you for your replies!! I've replied to you individually!

Just please keep in mind the time lines are estimates. The Consulate will tell you precisely not to make any plans that cannot be changed until you receive your visa

Thank you Len, I know what they would say but unfortunately, thats not a practical option for us. I would much rather reschedule the wedding, rather than have nothing available to us and always regret not having the perfect wedding day. Neither of us have been married before and we really want a 'proper' wedding - no offence to anyone who wants a simpler ceremony - Thats just not what we have our hearts set on. We have done everything sensibly, including asking all vendors if they would reschedule in an emergency and I havent cut the date too close. I think that would be a small price to pay and at the most we would lose only a couple hundred dollars. Thank you for your advice though

What we have decided to do is to get married at a wedding salon. Im just going to find a simple dress/ pants suit and invite bridal party and family. We will all then, go out to dinner. In Sept. 19, 2010, we will be renewing our vows and having the reception. 100 people. I have a lot of help with the ceremony. We are doing it at a firehouse (renewing vows and reception)

Thank you mstee. Thats so nice to hear from people in the same boat. When are you planning your wedding for and how far along are you with your visa journey? We don't have as many people as you have attending, only 40 or so and only 10 of them at the most will be flying over from England. Some people have suggested we do things the way you are going to. My mom even suggested going to Vegas. To us, this one time will never be replaced. Even if we renew our vows, it will never be the same. Thats just my opinion. This is just the way we want to do it. It would be boring if everyone agreed to the same, I appreciate your input!! Good luck with your plans.

Hi Russ and Rachel! (I'm guessing you're Rachel, the girls tend to be far more concerned about these things )

I know everyone tells you not to make any concrete wedding plans until you have your visa in hand, but a lot of people have done it, including myself. I filed the I-129F in October of last year and planned an August wedding. In hindsight, it could have turned out very bad but everything worked out perfectly! If you want a nice wedding its so difficult to plan everything in such a small window, especially if you don't want to pay a ridiculous amount of money. I think you're going about everything just fine. When I booked my vendors I made sure it would be easy for me to change dates if something happened, and I told all my friends and family members that the wedding date would be tentative until I received my visa, so to refrain from booking flights and hotels until they received confirmation from me. I also waited and sent out the invites after the visa was in my hand. As long as you are aware that anything can happen in this process, and you and your friends and family members are aware of the possibility things may need to be changed, I don't see a danger. With that said, you've given yourself an 11 month window, which seems rather safe. Good luck with everything! I bet it works out just fine.

Hi Hugglebuggles! Cute name! Yes thats me, Rachel. Thats so great to hear. You even did it in one month less than me! Did you find it a close call? When did you actually make the trip over? I'm really hoping, the sooner I get the K1, the sooner I will come out here, get settled and tie up loose ends with the wedding. The way you went about planning sounds very sensible and I'm so glad it all worked out wonderfully or you. I think I will take your advice on informing people when I actually have the visa. If I got it in April, that would give them two months to get a flight, or in the worst situation give them a $50 fee to change flight dates.

It just seems that the general opinion on here is that you can either go through this long drawn out, difficult process to be together or have your dream wedding with the love of your life! We're not willing to settle for one or the other... You're an inspiration to us and we are keeping positive. I have been told on many occasion, that those who don't think positively bring negative situations onto themselves - not just with this but generally in life. We are determined to make the date, but saying that we're not stupid and we know the risks, however small. Thank you so much for your reply!! And congratulations!!

As a Mathematician and an accountant, I would say that your chances of being in the USA before June is very good. Just pray for NO RFES. Good luck.

Thank you for your support bayojona3231, thats what I wanted to hear. Mathematical chances! That really helps!!