K-1 Visa, What is a marriage?

[soon~tobe 0]

Another option would be to do a civil ceremony in Canada now, file for you CR1, then you can do the church wedding in Canada in September like you plan, and hopefully not too much longer (relative in the visa process) be together in America.

Also, when you start the visa process your fiance will need to be prepared to show ties to Canada when crossing the boarder for weekend visits. Some people have no problems and others have problems, again it is all hit and miss.

[StaceyG 0]

The question to ask when it comes to Canadian wedding is, did you fill out a Marriage License... Inorder to get married in Canada you have to get a marriage license before hand to give whoever is doing the cermony. If you filled one out then it is a legal wedding and they have you on record. Also if you are having a minister, justice of the peace or anyone legally able to marry you, you are legally married and no longer fall into the k1 Visa area.

As for your Brother in law who is American, as far as I know he is legally allowed to do weddings in Canada if he is an ordained minister, or justice of the peace, I know my Uncle who is American has done my cousins wedding in Toronto for her. He just had to show he was legally able to do weddings when they sent in for their marriage cert.

If you just booked a regular hall, and this isnt taking place in a church, and you haven't filled out a marriage license then you have time to change it into a engagement party of some sort. Hope this helps some.

[bootslacky 1]

So, would they typically do searches to look for wedding pictures or what people were wearing at what they think could be a wedding. I'm going to meet with my lawyer today to decide which route we want to choose. However, he hasn't been offering much advice either on what a wedding is in Canada either.

However, if we decide to file a K-3 or a CR-1 then there really isn't any rush and maybe it's something we can do ourselves without a lawyer.

[bootslacky 1]

Another option would be to do a civil ceremony in Canada now, file for you CR1, then you can do the church wedding in Canada in September like you plan, and hopefully not too much longer (relative in the visa process) be together in America.

Also, when you start the visa process your fiance will need to be prepared to show ties to Canada when crossing the boarder for weekend visits. Some people have no problems and others have problems, again it is all hit and miss.

While we are trying to file a CR1, does that mean she must remain in Canada while we are waiting for it to be processed?

[Niel&Femi 0]

well there is a way to still do about it call the gathering your engagement party

[bootslacky 1]

The question to ask when it comes to Canadian wedding is, did you fill out a Marriage License... Inorder to get married in Canada you have to get a marriage license before hand to give whoever is doing the cermony. If you filled one out then it is a legal wedding and they have you on record. Also if you are having a minister, justice of the peace or anyone legally able to marry you, you are legally married and no longer fall into the k1 Visa area.

As for your Brother in law who is American, as far as I know he is legally allowed to do weddings in Canada if he is an ordained minister, or justice of the peace, I know my Uncle who is American has done my cousins wedding in Toronto for her. He just had to show he was legally able to do weddings when they sent in for their marriage cert.

If you just booked a regular hall, and this isnt taking place in a church, and you haven't filled out a marriage license then you have time to change it into a engagement party of some sort. Hope this helps some.

This is very helpful and seems to be in line with everything that everyone has been telling me. I don't think we'll have a problem finding someone who is not an ordained minister or justice of the peace, we have not filled out a Marriage License, so that's good...As of right now she was thinking about having it in her church, but I bet we can get that changed pretty easily. It's not a typical church though, as in I'm not sure if we're even having to pay for it.

I'm going to see my lawyer today, so I can see what he thinks about all of this. However, I'm fairly certain he isn't 100% sure.

[pushbrk 12,881]

The question to ask when it comes to Canadian wedding is, did you fill out a Marriage License... Inorder to get married in Canada you have to get a marriage license before hand to give whoever is doing the cermony. If you filled one out then it is a legal wedding and they have you on record. Also if you are having a minister, justice of the peace or anyone legally able to marry you, you are legally married and no longer fall into the k1 Visa area.

As for your Brother in law who is American, as far as I know he is legally allowed to do weddings in Canada if he is an ordained minister, or justice of the peace, I know my Uncle who is American has done my cousins wedding in Toronto for her. He just had to show he was legally able to do weddings when they sent in for their marriage cert.

If you just booked a regular hall, and this isnt taking place in a church, and you haven't filled out a marriage license then you have time to change it into a engagement party of some sort. Hope this helps some.

This is very helpful and seems to be in line with everything that everyone has been telling me. I don't think we'll have a problem finding someone who is not an ordained minister or justice of the peace, we have not filled out a Marriage License, so that's good...As of right now she was thinking about having it in her church, but I bet we can get that changed pretty easily. It's not a typical church though, as in I'm not sure if we're even having to pay for it.

I'm going to see my lawyer today, so I can see what he thinks about all of this. However, I'm fairly certain he isn't 100% sure.

The resonse seems helpful but it's simply wrong. You've been told by multiple sources that, in Canada, the marriage license and certificate are not actual reqirements for a marriage to be considered legal. This would be true for most places in the world but it is NOT true in Canada. If the officiant is authorized to perform legal marriages with a license, then their marriages are legal even without the license. I've already explained the probable reason for this.

[bootslacky 1]

The question to ask when it comes to Canadian wedding is, did you fill out a Marriage License... Inorder to get married in Canada you have to get a marriage license before hand to give whoever is doing the cermony. If you filled one out then it is a legal wedding and they have you on record. Also if you are having a minister, justice of the peace or anyone legally able to marry you, you are legally married and no longer fall into the k1 Visa area.

As for your Brother in law who is American, as far as I know he is legally allowed to do weddings in Canada if he is an ordained minister, or justice of the peace, I know my Uncle who is American has done my cousins wedding in Toronto for her. He just had to show he was legally able to do weddings when they sent in for their marriage cert.

If you just booked a regular hall, and this isnt taking place in a church, and you haven't filled out a marriage license then you have time to change it into a engagement party of some sort. Hope this helps some.

This is very helpful and seems to be in line with everything that everyone has been telling me. I don't think we'll have a problem finding someone who is not an ordained minister or justice of the peace, we have not filled out a Marriage License, so that's good...As of right now she was thinking about having it in her church, but I bet we can get that changed pretty easily. It's not a typical church though, as in I'm not sure if we're even having to pay for it.

I'm going to see my lawyer today, so I can see what he thinks about all of this. However, I'm fairly certain he isn't 100% sure.

The resonse seems helpful but it's simply wrong. You've been told by multiple sources that, in Canada, the marriage license and certificate are not actual reqirements for a marriage to be considered legal. This would be true for most places in the world but it is NOT true in Canada. If the officiant is authorized to perform legal marriages with a license, then their marriages are legal even without the license. I've already explained the probable reason for this.

"I don't think we'll have a problem finding someone who is not an ordained minister or justice of the peace..." I'm saying we will use someone who isn't authorized to perform legal marriages. Just find a good friend who is a good speaker, you know?

Again, I'm going to go to my lawyer with all of this information today and decide on either a K-1 or a CR1.

The other Stipulation is that her sister will be having a wedding in Canada in May 2010 and we'd like to be able to go to that without any issues as well.

[pushbrk 12,881]

The question to ask when it comes to Canadian wedding is, did you fill out a Marriage License... Inorder to get married in Canada you have to get a marriage license before hand to give whoever is doing the cermony. If you filled one out then it is a legal wedding and they have you on record. Also if you are having a minister, justice of the peace or anyone legally able to marry you, you are legally married and no longer fall into the k1 Visa area.

As for your Brother in law who is American, as far as I know he is legally allowed to do weddings in Canada if he is an ordained minister, or justice of the peace, I know my Uncle who is American has done my cousins wedding in Toronto for her. He just had to show he was legally able to do weddings when they sent in for their marriage cert.

If you just booked a regular hall, and this isnt taking place in a church, and you haven't filled out a marriage license then you have time to change it into a engagement party of some sort. Hope this helps some.

This is very helpful and seems to be in line with everything that everyone has been telling me. I don't think we'll have a problem finding someone who is not an ordained minister or justice of the peace, we have not filled out a Marriage License, so that's good...As of right now she was thinking about having it in her church, but I bet we can get that changed pretty easily. It's not a typical church though, as in I'm not sure if we're even having to pay for it.

I'm going to see my lawyer today, so I can see what he thinks about all of this. However, I'm fairly certain he isn't 100% sure.

The resonse seems helpful but it's simply wrong. You've been told by multiple sources that, in Canada, the marriage license and certificate are not actual reqirements for a marriage to be considered legal. This would be true for most places in the world but it is NOT true in Canada. If the officiant is authorized to perform legal marriages with a license, then their marriages are legal even without the license. I've already explained the probable reason for this.

"I don't think we'll have a problem finding someone who is not an ordained minister or justice of the peace..." I'm saying we will use someone who isn't authorized to perform legal marriages. Just find a good friend who is a good speaker, you know?

Again, I'm going to go to my lawyer with all of this information today and decide on either a K-1 or a CR1.

The other Stipulation is that her sister will be having a wedding in Canada in May 2010 and we'd like to be able to go to that without any issues as well.

Yes, your plan will work but the response to which I refer is still misinformation. It does not suggest you find an unqualified officiant. Sounds like you've got your head around the paramenters. Either filing the K1 now or a CR1 after a marriage next fall would be likely to allow attending the May 2010 wedding. Sounds like the bride and her family really want a wedding. I think I'd be thinking in terms of arranging a real one and filing for the CR1 ASAP after.

[bootslacky 1]

The question to ask when it comes to Canadian wedding is, did you fill out a Marriage License... Inorder to get married in Canada you have to get a marriage license before hand to give whoever is doing the cermony. If you filled one out then it is a legal wedding and they have you on record. Also if you are having a minister, justice of the peace or anyone legally able to marry you, you are legally married and no longer fall into the k1 Visa area.

As for your Brother in law who is American, as far as I know he is legally allowed to do weddings in Canada if he is an ordained minister, or justice of the peace, I know my Uncle who is American has done my cousins wedding in Toronto for her. He just had to show he was legally able to do weddings when they sent in for their marriage cert.

If you just booked a regular hall, and this isnt taking place in a church, and you haven't filled out a marriage license then you have time to change it into a engagement party of some sort. Hope this helps some.

This is very helpful and seems to be in line with everything that everyone has been telling me. I don't think we'll have a problem finding someone who is not an ordained minister or justice of the peace, we have not filled out a Marriage License, so that's good...As of right now she was thinking about having it in her church, but I bet we can get that changed pretty easily. It's not a typical church though, as in I'm not sure if we're even having to pay for it.

I'm going to see my lawyer today, so I can see what he thinks about all of this. However, I'm fairly certain he isn't 100% sure.

The resonse seems helpful but it's simply wrong. You've been told by multiple sources that, in Canada, the marriage license and certificate are not actual reqirements for a marriage to be considered legal. This would be true for most places in the world but it is NOT true in Canada. If the officiant is authorized to perform legal marriages with a license, then their marriages are legal even without the license. I've already explained the probable reason for this.

"I don't think we'll have a problem finding someone who is not an ordained minister or justice of the peace..." I'm saying we will use someone who isn't authorized to perform legal marriages. Just find a good friend who is a good speaker, you know?

Again, I'm going to go to my lawyer with all of this information today and decide on either a K-1 or a CR1.

The other Stipulation is that her sister will be having a wedding in Canada in May 2010 and we'd like to be able to go to that without any issues as well.

Yes, your plan will work but the response to which I refer is still misinformation. It does not suggest you find an unqualified officiant. Sounds like you've got your head around the paramenters. Either filing the K1 now or a CR1 after a marriage next fall would be likely to allow attending the May 2010 wedding. Sounds like the bride and her family really want a wedding. I think I'd be thinking in terms of arranging a real one and filing for the CR1 ASAP after.

Yeah, I think that's what we'll do. We might even try to work it out where I go up there for the purposes of getting married in a civil marriage (courthouse or something), so that we'll legally be married, and then file a CR1, then I'll go up there in Sept and we'll still have our "religious wedding", and she'll just come down here whenever the CR1 is finally approved.

That sounds like a good plan to me! I really appreciate everyone who has been contributing information and their opinions. I have been taking them all into account. Just looking for help, and I've found a ton of help here. Thanks again!

[pushbrk 12,881]

The question to ask when it comes to Canadian wedding is, did you fill out a Marriage License... Inorder to get married in Canada you have to get a marriage license before hand to give whoever is doing the cermony. If you filled one out then it is a legal wedding and they have you on record. Also if you are having a minister, justice of the peace or anyone legally able to marry you, you are legally married and no longer fall into the k1 Visa area.

As for your Brother in law who is American, as far as I know he is legally allowed to do weddings in Canada if he is an ordained minister, or justice of the peace, I know my Uncle who is American has done my cousins wedding in Toronto for her. He just had to show he was legally able to do weddings when they sent in for their marriage cert.

If you just booked a regular hall, and this isnt taking place in a church, and you haven't filled out a marriage license then you have time to change it into a engagement party of some sort. Hope this helps some.

This is very helpful and seems to be in line with everything that everyone has been telling me. I don't think we'll have a problem finding someone who is not an ordained minister or justice of the peace, we have not filled out a Marriage License, so that's good...As of right now she was thinking about having it in her church, but I bet we can get that changed pretty easily. It's not a typical church though, as in I'm not sure if we're even having to pay for it.

I'm going to see my lawyer today, so I can see what he thinks about all of this. However, I'm fairly certain he isn't 100% sure.

The resonse seems helpful but it's simply wrong. You've been told by multiple sources that, in Canada, the marriage license and certificate are not actual reqirements for a marriage to be considered legal. This would be true for most places in the world but it is NOT true in Canada. If the officiant is authorized to perform legal marriages with a license, then their marriages are legal even without the license. I've already explained the probable reason for this.

"I don't think we'll have a problem finding someone who is not an ordained minister or justice of the peace..." I'm saying we will use someone who isn't authorized to perform legal marriages. Just find a good friend who is a good speaker, you know?

Again, I'm going to go to my lawyer with all of this information today and decide on either a K-1 or a CR1.

The other Stipulation is that her sister will be having a wedding in Canada in May 2010 and we'd like to be able to go to that without any issues as well.

Yes, your plan will work but the response to which I refer is still misinformation. It does not suggest you find an unqualified officiant. Sounds like you've got your head around the paramenters. Either filing the K1 now or a CR1 after a marriage next fall would be likely to allow attending the May 2010 wedding. Sounds like the bride and her family really want a wedding. I think I'd be thinking in terms of arranging a real one and filing for the CR1 ASAP after.

Yeah, I think that's what we'll do. We might even try to work it out where I go up there for the purposes of getting married in a civil marriage (courthouse or something), so that we'll legally be married, and then file a CR1, then I'll go up there in Sept and we'll still have our "religious wedding", and she'll just come down here whenever the CR1 is finally approved.

That sounds like a good plan to me! I really appreciate everyone who has been contributing information and their opinions. I have been taking them all into account. Just looking for help, and I've found a ton of help here. Thanks again!

Also a very good plan. It allows you to file sooner AND have the wedding the bride dreams of. There are no restrictions about holding a wedding with all the trappings, when the legalities were done far in advance. I don't know if I'd declare my marriage intention at the border though. It's just one item on a tourist visit agenda and you aren't immigrating, just visiting Canada.

[bootslacky 1]

"Also a very good plan. It allows you to file sooner AND have the wedding the bride dreams of. There are no restrictions about holding a wedding with all the trappings, when the legalities were done far in advance. I don't know if I'd declare my marriage intention at the border though. It's just one item on a tourist visit agenda and you aren't immigrating, just visiting Canada."

Yeah I just wouldn't want to come under any charges of Fraud. Wouldn't it be as easy as explaining to them that I am coming up here to have a legal marriage and then going home a couple days later to file for a CR-1? That's the truth and I don't see what problems they would have with that.

[pushbrk 12,881]

"Also a very good plan. It allows you to file sooner AND have the wedding the bride dreams of. There are no restrictions about holding a wedding with all the trappings, when the legalities were done far in advance. I don't know if I'd declare my marriage intention at the border though. It's just one item on a tourist visit agenda and you aren't immigrating, just visiting Canada."

Yeah I just wouldn't want to come under any charges of Fraud. Wouldn't it be as easy as explaining to them that I am coming up here to have a legal marriage and then going home a couple days later to file for a CR-1? That's the truth and I don't see what problems they would have with that.

Probably no problem but there's no fraud. It's legal to marry in Canada or the US while visiting. You just can't stay and immigrate. How you deal with the border is entirely up to you.

[StaceyG 0]

The question to ask when it comes to Canadian wedding is, did you fill out a Marriage License... Inorder to get married in Canada you have to get a marriage license before hand to give whoever is doing the cermony. If you filled one out then it is a legal wedding and they have you on record. Also if you are having a minister, justice of the peace or anyone legally able to marry you, you are legally married and no longer fall into the k1 Visa area.

As for your Brother in law who is American, as far as I know he is legally allowed to do weddings in Canada if he is an ordained minister, or justice of the peace, I know my Uncle who is American has done my cousins wedding in Toronto for her. He just had to show he was legally able to do weddings when they sent in for their marriage cert.

If you just booked a regular hall, and this isnt taking place in a church, and you haven't filled out a marriage license then you have time to change it into a engagement party of some sort. Hope this helps some.

This is very helpful and seems to be in line with everything that everyone has been telling me. I don't think we'll have a problem finding someone who is not an ordained minister or justice of the peace, we have not filled out a Marriage License, so that's good...As of right now she was thinking about having it in her church, but I bet we can get that changed pretty easily. It's not a typical church though, as in I'm not sure if we're even having to pay for it.

I'm going to see my lawyer today, so I can see what he thinks about all of this. However, I'm fairly certain he isn't 100% sure.

The resonse seems helpful but it's simply wrong. You've been told by multiple sources that, in Canada, the marriage license and certificate are not actual reqirements for a marriage to be considered legal. This would be true for most places in the world but it is NOT true in Canada. If the officiant is authorized to perform legal marriages with a license, then their marriages are legal even without the license. I've already explained the probable reason for this.

"I don't think we'll have a problem finding someone who is not an ordained minister or justice of the peace..." I'm saying we will use someone who isn't authorized to perform legal marriages. Just find a good friend who is a good speaker, you know?

Again, I'm going to go to my lawyer with all of this information today and decide on either a K-1 or a CR1.

The other Stipulation is that her sister will be having a wedding in Canada in May 2010 and we'd like to be able to go to that without any issues as well.

Yes, your plan will work but the response to which I refer is still misinformation. It does not suggest you find an unqualified officiant. Sounds like you've got your head around the paramenters. Either filing the K1 now or a CR1 after a marriage next fall would be likely to allow attending the May 2010 wedding. Sounds like the bride and her family really want a wedding. I think I'd be thinking in terms of arranging a real one and filing for the CR1 ASAP after.

Its not misinformation what I am saying is any person in Canada able to preform weddings will not in almost all cases do so without a marriage license being filled out before hand. I'm not sure at the amount of time you have to get it before the wedding but I do know unless its a family friend, they wont do it without the marriage license.

Now if it is a family friend they will do the cermony first and then fill out a marriage license after the fact. What I was saying is the only way for it not to be a legal wedding is to have someone not legally allowed to do marriages do it( ie. fake wedding or actor).

So what I was asking is have they already obtained a marriage license cause if they have then they are not able to come down under a K1 Visa cause the wedding would be legal and not fall under the rules of a K1. I agree it seems like your fiancee is wanting to go with a wedding in Canada with family and friends, and maybe another type of visa is the way to go.

[bootslacky 1]

Met with the lawyer today and we all reached an agreement that the CR-1 would be the way to go. HOWEVER, I'm going to fly up there in about 3 weeks and marry her so we can start the paperwork now, and then in September, we'll still have a ceremony, maybe calling it something where we're recommitting our vows, and then hopefully all the paperwork will be processed by December or so and then she can come down.

*sigh* That's still a long time without her visiting here and visiting up there is lame. no offense to Canadians. She just still lives with her parents and it's a really small town. I sure do love her though, so it's a blessing.

Anyway, that will give the CR-1 9 months for it all to go down. Hopefully it won't take much longer than that if it has to.