APRIL '08 Vermont K-1 Filers

[MnM 0]

Went to 96 from 95 but still great full to be out of 3 digits

[Fernanda O. 0]

I know it´s hard to predict and all, but when are you planning on actually getting married? I wanted to get married here in Brazil at the church and then legally in the US, would that be ok? Hard to get a church though, if I don´t have a date!!! What are your plans, everybody?

[Sal and Jay 2]

I know it´s hard to predict and all, but when are you planning on actually getting married? I wanted to get married here in Brazil at the church and then legally in the US, would that be ok? Hard to get a church though, if I don´t have a date!!! What are your plans, everybody?

you have to enter the usa and a fiance, single not married with the k1. Ive seen some get denied for doing religoius ceremony in their own country.

[KimandRuss 0]

There are all sorts of discussions here on legal vs. non-legal ceremonies and how it can/has effected others visa process. Some people have held a non-legal ceremony in the beneficiary's country with no problems and will tell you as such. But, as Sal stated, others have had serious consequences.

We do not have a date. The NZ consulate is relatively fast so it should only be a matter of a few weeks after our petition is approved that Russell has his visa and is back home with us. Hopefully we'll be approved within the next few weeks which should put him home by August *knocks on wood* but as with everything in this process... nothing is certain or clear. So... we will wait until visa is in hand to decide.

Thankfully, we have just an intimate ceremony planned for now and it doesn't matter to either of us where or when that is. As long as we can finally move on to all that awaits us ...we're good. We will celebrate with a larger event when his family comes from NZ in the spring. We should be much more settled by then.

[smchadwick 0]

We're planning on having a real white dress, bridemaids, goomsmen, family and friends wedding after I graduate in May...so far I have May 23rd in mind. We hope to be approved sometime in July and hopefully have the visa in hand sometime in October....if all things so smooth. What we'll do is after Gareth gets here, we'll just pick one day after my classes(since I will still be in school then) to go to the courthouse and get legally married...and we can start the AOS and work permit(still cant remember the acronym for it lol) paperwork. Then the wedding will be in May.

We gotta make it seem "normal" as some say because some of my family (my dad and his side mainly) won't really get/possibly shun the fact that we did a K1 Visa. Sucks that we have to "pretend" but it's easier to just not hear their comments. The people who matter the most (my mom and her side and his family) have no problem and my mom is as anxious as I am for the approval.

An a May wedding will give me more time to plan...

Stephanie

[Katie&Luciano 0]

I have a question on a somewhat related note...does anyone have a grasp on the process once the fiance gets to the states? i.e. how long it is taking now to get the work authorization, and at what point in the whole process can he get his SSN/drivers licence?

:clock:

so close....good luck april filers!

[KimandRuss 0]

Here's a link with more information regarding the Social Security card. Note: you should apply for this at least two weeks after entering (to be sure you are in the system) and within two weeks of the I-94 expiration date (to be sure it has time to process).

What is required for a drivers license varies by state. In MA you can drive for up to one year with your foreign license.

Looks like EAD (Employment Authorization Document ..for steff ) is taking a couple months as well as AP... 485 is a little longer. Who knows what it will be by the time we get there but at least we'll be together!

[*** 0]

I know it´s hard to predict and all, but when are you planning on actually getting married? I wanted to get married here in Brazil at the church and then legally in the US, would that be ok? Hard to get a church though, if I don´t have a date!!! What are your plans, everybody?

Fernanda,

We looked into this a bit. Because the church wedding in BR is not considered the "legal" wedding, usually the churches will not do it without a civil service first.. or a civil wedding license (I think)- . UNLESS you/ your family knows the priest well enough, etc.

what is that new word I learned..?? "jetinho"

So personally our plan is to marry here in the U.S. and then later have the religious ceremony in Brazil.

I teased Jamerson, "Wow, your gonna have a lot of anniversary dates to remember!"

He said, "yeah, maybe I should get a tattoo".

hahahahhaha rsrsrsrsrsrsrsrsrsrrsrsr

In any case, good luck in your own plans.

Jill

[Fernanda O. 0]

Hahahhahaha!!!!!

Reallyy??? I didn´t know that!!! That sucks! Yeah, you´re right, I´ll see if I can get the priest I know to do it, the "jeitinho brasileiro"!

I don´t see how a non legal cerimony would affect my K1, it´s not official, that´s crazyl! But then how would anybody know we had a religious cerimony, right? That is if I can get a priest to do it. It´s just that if I wait to do it after I´m legally married and already living with him it just won´t feel the same... =(

[KimandRuss 0]

I understand Fernanda, it is a little crazy but it is what it is... many couples who have had these 'non-legal' ceremonies either brought pictures or mentioned it and the CO didnt quite see it the same...even though the law states otherwise...and they found themselves in a difficult place. We're just warning you. After all the heartbreaking stories i've read here on VJ I would just hate to see you go through that. Perhaps you can do it after your visa is in your passport? Some have opted to take that route. Just be sure not to mention it to the CBP either! It's the price we pay I suppose. Whatever you decide, i'm sure it will be beautiful.

The process is taking it's toll and we find we are getting more and more impatient as the days pass by. A week full of April approvals would do our psyche much good!

[Fernanda O. 0]

Of course, thank you for the warning!

If we decide to do it, we won´t let anybody know, but you guys!

[Ana&D 0]

Of course, thank you for the warning!

If we decide to do it, we won´t let anybody know, but you guys!

Another advice, if you don't mind . If you do decide to have a religious ceremony in Brasil, if you two will be crossing the border together at POE be sure not to refer to each other as "husband" and "wife" or anything else to that extent. I heard of some people denied entry for the suspicion of been already married just because of those words!

Hope the rest of you Aprilers are hanging in there! Best of luck this week!!!

[INCT 0]

It seems to get more and more discouraging by the week... It looks as though VSC is having a major slow down from previous months... At this rate per IGORs list, as I am 102, it will be at least another 12 weeks before I get approval!!!

[Fernanda O. 0]

12 WEEKS!!!!! Noooooooo!!!!!!!! We´re 88 and hoping to get an approval on the next few weeks.

Is my glass too full? Hahahhaha!

[INCT 0]

hahah... Being optomistic is a great way to be.. I tell my fiance all the time, we will hear from the embassy any day now.. But inside I feel like it is taking forever!!! Keep up the good spirits!!