France/America couples

[Cécy 44]

Lili

It will be in the US.

I thought about France, but then 1)as you said there is the legal issue.

The main problem was: I didn't know when I would get the Green Card and didn't think a wedding without the bride would be that cool

I really liked the idea of getting married outside in the US (not so common in France) and a lot of his close family and friends would not have been able to make it. Not to mention that I didn't see myself not being involved in the planning and tasting and all that. I can be a control freak so letting everyone organize our wedding without me... nope! Can't delegate that much.

So we'll plan a big party for France whenever we go, but the wedding will be here.

Same here: it feels odd to talk with him in French, especially when he doesn't understand a thing that I'm saying. So I joined two groups who are francophone or francophile to help him practice or a least here the language more. I get to talk with others in French and while he can only guess what we are talking about I think it will help eventually.

It's tough though.

Well i do not work anymore, I used to, but... i stopped, I am a student still but i need to suscribe again and registrate in september.So I have no prooves.

Do you think that a letter of the landlady of my husband (she is working for a famouse american senator) can help, with her saying about my good intentions and that I intend to go back is good instead of a letter of my employer since I don't have any?

If you know someone where you'll be a student it could be good to have them do a letter regarding your registration and that school starts at such date and all that. Really any official looking document that says you are due back at such and such date is good.

When I applied for a J1 visa years ago, I brought a document from my university director saying that I was due at such dates for the final exams.

Make sure it's in english or bi-langual for the POE.

But I think your husband is right too.

When I came in it was to visit my now husband, boyfriend at the time. I arrived in August and told them I was visiting family and friends.

I also helps if you come for a short stay.

If you can avoid mentioning that your husband is there and american it might make things easier. If you have to, just be ready to provide some proof that you are going back.

[Lili 3]

Cecy, if you were willing to give away some of your planning to a wedding planner, a tropical wedding in Hawaii is beautiful.

A friend did that and her pictures are simply gorgeous.

Good luck with all the planning! Have you decided a date yet?

I hope your husband can learn english by hanging around you and the francophone group. I thought about starting to do that but commuting to Seattle isn't fun.

What is your group named, if I may ask?

[Cécy 44]

Cecy, if you were willing to give away some of your planning to a wedding planner, a tropical wedding in Hawaii is beautiful.

A friend did that and her pictures are simply gorgeous.

Good luck with all the planning! Have you decided a date yet?

I hope your husband can learn english by hanging around you and the francophone group. I thought about starting to do that but commuting to Seattle isn't fun.

What is your group named, if I may ask?

I know Hawaii is beautiful, we visited the in-laws twice there.

But we're all set for the wedding (see signature). November 8th, locally, we've got pretty much everything set. I'm excited to do it here and that my family is coming and will get to know where we live.

I hope he can pick it up that way too. The reason I joined francophone groups was because last year when my brother visited us for three weeks, we would talk french a lot together and my husband told me at the end of his stay that hearing us speak helped him pick up words and all.

Yeah I can understand wanting to avoid a big commute.

I joined two groups one is called Le Cercle Francais a "insert name of city". The second one I found out through http://www.meetup.com/

go to "Find a Meetup"

"Culture and Language"

and then you can select two different ones: "Expat French groups" or "French Language group"

Check if there is anything close by.

It's through the meetup group that I found out about the Cercle Francais. Both are interesting for us.

Edit: I went that way because the Alliance Francaise is in Charlotte and that's too far from us.

Edited August 14, 2008 by Cécy

[Koakland 0]

Hello France/America Couples,

How long is the Extraits de Casier Judiciaire valid? I have several months before I receive the NOA2 but would like to prepare all the required documents. Is the police certificate valid for a short amount of time? How long will it take my fiance to receive one? Any help is definitely appreciated. Thanks!

[przy 0]

Hello France/America Couples,

How long is the Extraits de Casier Judiciaire valid? I have several months before I receive the NOA2 but would like to prepare all the required documents. Is the police certificate valid for a short amount of time? How long will it take my fiance to receive one? Any help is definitely appreciated. Thanks!

I posted an answer for you in the other thread you created.

[Koakland 0]

Hello France/America Couples,

How long is the Extraits de Casier Judiciaire valid? I have several months before I receive the NOA2 but would like to prepare all the required documents. Is the police certificate valid for a short amount of time? How long will it take my fiance to receive one? Any help is definitely appreciated. Thanks!

I posted an answer for you in the other thread you created.

hahaha thanks. i thought i posted it here initially and then realized that i made a mistake. oops. thanks!

[przy 0]

no sweat!

[Cecile and Bryan 0]

Hello

We got married yesterday!

I have a question for the ones who did the "transcription". Apparently they ask for a certified copy of the marriage certificate. Can I just send a photocopy of that certified copy? I suppose that I can't but figured I should ask first. We only have one certified copy so if I need to send it, I'll have to request another one.

[Lili 3]

Hello

We got married yesterday!

I have a question for the ones who did the "transcription". Apparently they ask for a certified copy of the marriage certificate. Can I just send a photocopy of that certified copy? I suppose that I can't but figured I should ask first. We only have one certified copy so if I need to send it, I'll have to request another one.

Congratulation on your wedding!!

The marriage certificate must have the apostille. In order to get it, you need to send your certified copy of the marriage certificate to the secretary of State who in exchange of a small fee ($10 or less, depends on your state) will attach an apostille to it. Without it, the French Consulate will reject your application.

Just a little FYI, your birth certificate cannot be older than 3 months and your US spouse's one cannot be older than 6 months.

You did the "publication des bans" right?

I am not sure if birth certificates are needed if you did things the right way.

[Lili 3]

Mmh, you are dependent on the French Consulate in Boston and their instructions do not mention anything about apostille but my Consulate required it. I know how the French Government wants the same exact papers like clockwork.

You might want to give them a ring. If not, all instructions are given here.

[Koakland 0]

Hello

We got married yesterday!

I have a question for the ones who did the "transcription". Apparently they ask for a certified copy of the marriage certificate. Can I just send a photocopy of that certified copy? I suppose that I can't but figured I should ask first. We only have one certified copy so if I need to send it, I'll have to request another one.

Congratulation on your wedding!!

The marriage certificate must have the apostille. In order to get it, you need to send your certified copy of the marriage certificate to the secretary of State who in exchange of a small fee ($10 or less, depends on your state) will attach an apostille to it. Without it, the French Consulate will reject your application.

Just a little FYI, your birth certificate cannot be older than 3 months and your US spouse's one cannot be older than 6 months.

You did the "publication des bans" right?

I am not sure if birth certificates are needed if you did things the right way.

Congrats Cecile & Bryan!

Edited August 28, 2008 by Koakland

[Cecile and Bryan 0]

Thanks!

[Koakland 0]

Mmh, you are dependent on the French Consulate in Boston and their instructions do not mention anything about apostille but my Consulate required it. I know how the French Government wants the same exact papers like clockwork.

You might want to give them a ring. If not, all instructions are given here.

Are these documents and the process you refer to necessary to have the marriage recognized in France? I have never heard of this before. Please help

[Cecile and Bryan 0]

Hello

We got married yesterday!

I have a question for the ones who did the "transcription". Apparently they ask for a certified copy of the marriage certificate. Can I just send a photocopy of that certified copy? I suppose that I can't but figured I should ask first. We only have one certified copy so if I need to send it, I'll have to request another one.

Congratulation on your wedding!!

The marriage certificate must have the apostille. In order to get it, you need to send your certified copy of the marriage certificate to the secretary of State who in exchange of a small fee ($10 or less, depends on your state) will attach an apostille to it. Without it, the French Consulate will reject your application.

Just a little FYI, your birth certificate cannot be older than 3 months and your US spouse's one cannot be older than 6 months.

You did the "publication des bans" right?

I am not sure if birth certificates are needed if you did things the right way.

yes we did the "publication des bans". I don't see how the birth certificate of my husband cannot be older than six months since they only get one. I mean, it's not like in France. What we get in France is a copy of our BC. Here they don't give a copy but an original. I had sent a photocopy of it for the publication des bans (along with mine, that was less than 3 months old - or 6 - can't remember). Maybe I'll send them an email to ask if we need to send BC again.

So since it needs the apostille I will really need to request another certified copy just for the French paperwork then.

Oh and we are dependant of the Consulate in Chicago, not Boston.

[Lili 3]

Hello

We got married yesterday!

I have a question for the ones who did the "transcription". Apparently they ask for a certified copy of the marriage certificate. Can I just send a photocopy of that certified copy? I suppose that I can't but figured I should ask first. We only have one certified copy so if I need to send it, I'll have to request another one.

Congratulation on your wedding!!

The marriage certificate must have the apostille. In order to get it, you need to send your certified copy of the marriage certificate to the secretary of State who in exchange of a small fee ($10 or less, depends on your state) will attach an apostille to it. Without it, the French Consulate will reject your application.

Just a little FYI, your birth certificate cannot be older than 3 months and your US spouse's one cannot be older than 6 months.

You did the "publication des bans" right?

I am not sure if birth certificates are needed if you did things the right way.

yes we did the "publication des bans". I don't see how the birth certificate of my husband cannot be older than six months since they only get one. I mean, it's not like in France. What we get in France is a copy of our BC. Here they don't give a copy but an original. I had sent a photocopy of it for the publication des bans (along with mine, that was less than 3 months old - or 6 - can't remember). Maybe I'll send them an email to ask if we need to send BC again.

So since it needs the apostille I will really need to request another certified copy just for the French paperwork then.

Oh and we are dependant of the Consulate in Chicago, not Boston.

The fact that you did the publication des bans will simplify things.

On all copies of BC, even in France, it gives the date the copy was made. The same goes with an American BC. Your hubby can request many certified copies of his BC, my hubby has three of them. I don't even think you need them anyhow since you did the publication des bans.

Regarding requesting certified copies of your marriage certificate, you can do it in person.

Mmh, you are dependent on the French Consulate in Boston and their instructions do not mention anything about apostille but my Consulate required it. I know how the French Government wants the same exact papers like clockwork.

You might want to give them a ring. If not, all instructions are given here.

Are these documents and the process you refer to necessary to have the marriage recognized in France? I have never heard of this before. Please help

Yes, they are. Ask your fiance to look into it! Doing all these paperwork will give you the privilege of getting your "livret de famille".