Getting married before fiance visa approved

[leew 0]

Hi,

My fiance and I (me = London, she = New Jersey) sent off our forms which were recieved on June 5th but are still being processed at Vermont service center - We have our wedding scheduled for mid-Feb 2008 and are starting to painc that the visa process is not going to be completed by then.

Does anyone know if I can still go over and legally get married on the arranged date and then return to complete the medical, interview, etc.

We will stand to lose thousands if we cannot go ahead on scheduled date as will many guests who have booked flights, hotel, etc.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Lee.

[Cassie 8]

Sure, you can get married, but then the FIANCE visa process will no longer be valid, and you will have to start over with a spousal visa.

[Zee Bee 61]

A K-1 is for fiance(e), ie, both of you need to be free to marry. Once you marry, you are spouses and the K-1 visa is null and void. If you get married you would have to start all over with a K-3 or CR-1/IR-1.

[desert_fox 32]

Hi,

My fiance and I (me = London, she = New Jersey) sent off our forms which were recieved on June 5th but are still being processed at Vermont service center - We have our wedding scheduled for mid-Feb 2008 and are starting to painc that the visa process is not going to be completed by then.

Does anyone know if I can still go over and legally get married on the arranged date and then return to complete the medical, interview, etc.

We will stand to lose thousands if we cannot go ahead on scheduled date as will many guests who have booked flights, hotel, etc.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Lee.

No...you cannot.

If you try and get caught, you will never be here.

If you get married, your only choice is to start over again with the appropriate visa.

[Kez/JWolf 6]

If you get legally married then your wait for a K1 will have been wasted... you would have to start all over again with a K3/CR1 visa... you can not use or be approved for a K1 visa if you are married....

There is a warning on all the application forms that you should not set any dates until you have a visa approved and in hand....

Kez

[RosemarieL 0]

Hi,

My fiance and I (me = London, she = New Jersey) sent off our forms which were recieved on June 5th but are still being processed at Vermont service center - We have our wedding scheduled for mid-Feb 2008 and are starting to painc that the visa process is not going to be completed by then.

Does anyone know if I can still go over and legally get married on the arranged date and then return to complete the medical, interview, etc.

We will stand to lose thousands if we cannot go ahead on scheduled date as will many guests who have booked flights, hotel, etc.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Lee.

When you send in packet 3 be sure to let the Embassy know what your wedding and travel plans are and they will do their best to accomodate you. As you can see from my timeline London managed to schedule me an interview very quickly. I would organise your police certificate now as that takes 40 days from receipt of your application and make sure you have all the other required documents in place such as IRS transcripts. You can look at a scan of the London Packet 3 here http://www.visajourney.com/gallery/thumbna...y&uid=30186 so that you will know what you need and can have it ready to return as soon as possible.

Edited November 20, 2007 by RosemarieL

[mox 298]

In situations like this, it's usually recommended that you continue with your wedding plans, but make the wedding ceremonial only. I.e., do not sign a marriage license, do not make it official. That way you can have your big wedding, family will be happy, and you can still continue with the K-1 process. Once she's in country, you can go to the courthouse and be "officially" married the same day in most cases.

[desert_fox 32]

When you send in packet 3 be sure to let the Embassy know what your wedding and travel plans are and they will do their best to accomodate you. As you can see from my timeline London managed to schedule me an interview very quickly. I would organise your police certificate now as that takes 40 days from receipt of your application and make sure you have all the other required documents in place such as IRS transcripts. You can look at a scan of the London Packet 3 here http://www.visajourney.com/gallery/thumbna...y&uid=30186 so that you will know what you need and can have it ready to return as soon as possible.

I would seriously doubt that they would even care.

ppl are always advised not to set any dates.

[Eli the Barrowboy 16]

We are in the same situation Lee - we have booked for October next year so we have time (RFE's excepted) but it's getting nearer every day (and to think my math teacher said I'd never amount to anything!).

Good luck to you both!!!

[RosemarieL 0]

When you send in packet 3 be sure to let the Embassy know what your wedding and travel plans are and they will do their best to accomodate you. As you can see from my timeline London managed to schedule me an interview very quickly. I would organise your police certificate now as that takes 40 days from receipt of your application and make sure you have all the other required documents in place such as IRS transcripts. You can look at a scan of the London Packet 3 here http://www.visajourney.com/gallery/thumbna...y&uid=30186 so that you will know what you need and can have it ready to return as soon as possible.

I would seriously doubt that they would even care.

ppl are always advised not to set any dates.

Very true but in this case it is a bit too late.........

I sent in a covering letter and they scheduled my interview very quickly for which I am grateful and I have heard of London doing the same for others. It certainly doesn't hurt to try since not setting dates is no longer an option in this instance.

Edited November 20, 2007 by RosemarieL

[msu17 0]

London does usually try to accomidate wedding/travel plans. There are several UKers who have either had their interview date moved up after asking nicely or scheduled earlier after writing in travel and weddign plans. No guarantee, but worth a shot. If that doesnt work, carry on with the big fancy weddign party, but DON'T do anything legal. DONT SIGN ANYTHING until the UK citizen is here on teh K1. Make sure not to wear rings/reference the party when you come through immigration either.

[bora bora 1]

I don't understand why people set wedding dates when they know the K1 visa process has no REAL processing time.

[pushbrk 12,569]

London does usually try to accomidate wedding/travel plans. There are several UKers who have either had their interview date moved up after asking nicely or scheduled earlier after writing in travel and weddign plans. No guarantee, but worth a shot. If that doesnt work, carry on with the big fancy weddign party, but DON'T do anything legal. DONT SIGN ANYTHING until the UK citizen is here on teh K1. Make sure not to wear rings/reference the party when you come through immigration either.

Don't get a marriage license and don't have the officiant submit any "marriage" paperwork. Just as important, don't refer to your "wife" or "husband" at the interview or POE.

Fortunately, London does try to accomodate such plans when possible but I've not heard of other Consulates doing likewise.

[Jesse and Hema 2]

In situations like this, it's usually recommended that you continue with your wedding plans, but make the wedding ceremonial only. I.e., do not sign a marriage license, do not make it official. That way you can have your big wedding, family will be happy, and you can still continue with the K-1 process. Once she's in country, you can go to the courthouse and be "officially" married the same day in most cases.

Agreed. I'd suggest doing this unless you have strong personal reasons against doing so. I think my fiancée and I are going to do something similar, except have the legal wedding before the ceremony with friends and family.

As others have stated, getting legally married if you don't have the K1 yet is a bad idea.

Good luck!

[*JG* 2]

I don't understand why people set wedding dates when they know the K1 visa process has no REAL processing time.

Because people believe if you want something bad enough you can will it to be true.