What's next?

[Mike and Thanh 0]

My fiancee has been here for almost 2 weeks now. I haven't done anything since we got back. I had to immediately return to work because I was gone for a whole month. Also I have been busy preparing for the wedding. Anyway, I need to start to get the ball rolling on the paperwork. I have some questions, I hope the mods will let this thread stay here because I want input from fellow VN petitioners. I apologize ahead of time, I know some of these questions are in the FAQs and Guides, but I want answers directly from you guys. What should I do first? Apply for social security card, marriage license, get married, and then AOS?

1. Applying for a social security card should be direct right? Apply it in her name as it is on her passport? Can it be done online?

2. The marriage license is more confusing to me. My wedding is on October 10th. I should apply for it now. However, I'm confused about the whole process. I know I can go to my local courthouse to apply for one. I read there is an expiration date, what does this mean? Apply now and then get married, but what does the expiration date mean? In one month time, it will expire? Then what, reapply? Another whole thing is I know if you get marry in a church, the pastor will be the person that marry you off and can sign the application or license. I'm not sure how it goes really, I just heard it from friends. Problem is we are both buddhist. So, how will our process suppose to go? We won't get marry in a church and the ceremony will be at home with family. I'm very confused at how I'm going to do this. I hope you all can shed some light onto this for me.

3. As far as the AOS, I will hire a lawyer to take care of that. So this part is ok for now.

Thanks for any information.

[Anh map 2,098]

You and Thanh need to go to the courthouse/city hall to get your marriage license. Yes, there is an expiration date, but it's not a 7 day window so you should be just fine. The pastor/officiant will sign off and submit needed doc to register your marraige. Then you can go to courthouse/city hall to get copies of the certificate for the AOS process, etc.

Social Security, you can go down to the SS office and get her card. Print out a copy of the info here on VJ that shows that she is eligible as a K1. (It's a citation from the SS guidelines).

AOS is a piece of cake and really no need for an attorney. You've done the hard part. Really, the rest of the process is so easy and straightforward, kind of a let down after all the HCMC bullsh#t.

Keep the money and spend it on your honeymoon. Or send me the fee and I'll fill out the papers and spend your money on my wife.

[thongd4me 69]

You and Thanh need to go to the courthouse/city hall to get your marriage license. Yes, there is an expiration date, but it's not a 7 day window so you should be just fine. The pastor/officiant will sign off and submit needed doc to register your marraige. Then you can go to courthouse/city hall to get copies of the certificate for the AOS process, etc.

Social Security, you can go down to the SS office and get her card. Print out a copy of the info here on VJ that shows that she is eligible as a K1. (It's a citation from the SS guidelines).

AOS is a piece of cake and really no need for an attorney. You've done the hard part. Really, the rest of the process is so easy and straightforward, kind of a let down after all the HCMC bullsh#t.

Keep the money and spend it on your honeymoon. Or send me the fee and I'll fill out the papers and spend your money on my wife.

Agreed.

No attorney, medicine man, shaman, holistic guru, personal trainer or psychic friend needed for AOS.*

*I'm early in my VJ experience but I've gone through AOS with a previous wife (met in NY but was foreign).

Edited September 21, 2009 by thongd4me

[luckytxn 2,264]

We were having a bigger wedding planned but my fiancee and I had a quick justice of the peace wedding within a few days when she got here. We went the following day she was here and applied for the marriage license and had to wait 3 days to be able to use it then on the 3rd day we went to the justice of the peace and got married. After she signed off on the license we asked her to let us hand carry it to the court house to record it. We went right away to get it recorded and then the following day we went down and got her SS card and then went home and sent off the AOS paperwork. That day we signed her up for school and she started the next monday. The same night after I got married I got permission to finally sleep with my wife.

[BinhJerome 14]

Get the wedding thing over first. This is the most important of the steps. As Anh Map said the expiration date is what it is. If you do not get married in time you can simply file for a new one. Not a big deal, then get the forms for the Social security card, and keep copies of everything you do. You should not need a attorney, unless you are wanting some sort of Pre numb. Good luck on your wedding! and congrats on getting your fiancée home!!

Jerome

[lindal24 1]

The same night after I got married I got permission to finally sleep with my wife.

Hmm...no hanky panky huh? :oP

[BinhJerome 14]

We were having a bigger wedding planned but my fiancee and I had a quick justice of the peace wedding within a few days when she got here. We went the following day she was here and applied for the marriage license and had to wait 3 days to be able to use it then on the 3rd day we went to the justice of the peace and got married. After she signed off on the license we asked her to let us hand carry it to the court house to record it. We went right away to get it recorded and then the following day we went down and got her SS card and then went home and sent off the AOS paperwork. That day we signed her up for school and she started the next monday. The same night after I got married I got permission to finally sleep with my wife.

I bet that was your best nights sleep! We are planning on the same thing, just a wedding at the courthouse then a bigger one later where we can plan it and do it correctly. This way we can get the things done for USCIS and move on.

Jerome

[luckytxn 2,264]

The same night after I got married I got permission to finally sleep with my wife.

Hmm...no hanky panky huh? :oP

Not at all. We did make out like teenagers a lot though.

[luckytxn 2,264]

We were having a bigger wedding planned but my fiancee and I had a quick justice of the peace wedding within a few days when she got here. We went the following day she was here and applied for the marriage license and had to wait 3 days to be able to use it then on the 3rd day we went to the justice of the peace and got married. After she signed off on the license we asked her to let us hand carry it to the court house to record it. We went right away to get it recorded and then the following day we went down and got her SS card and then went home and sent off the AOS paperwork. That day we signed her up for school and she started the next monday. The same night after I got married I got permission to finally sleep with my wife.

I bet that was your best nights sleep! We are planning on the same thing, just a wedding at the courthouse then a bigger one later where we can plan it and do it correctly. This way we can get the things done for USCIS and move on.

Jerome

Great night sleep or non sleep anyway.

It is best to get it done nice and quick and get that paperwork going as soon as possible as the AOS takes awhile and she wanted to work right away.

[Mike and Thanh 0]

Thanks for the replies. Wow, luckytxn, you move fast. The main reason why I can't do things right away because I had to work the very next day after I got back. I had to make up for lost time. Boss had me work regular schedule and overtime every single day. So everyday, I worked like 8am to around 10 pm. It was rough, but had to do it if I wanted to keep this job.

Anyway, can I have the wedding then get a marriage license? With my schedule right now, I don't think I have time to go to the courthouse to do it. I'm off on Sunday, but so is the courthouse I think. I could try to request an off day on the weekdays, but I have to see if my boss let me. He's a very hard and strict boss.

[Anh map 2,098]

No, you need a marraige license prior to getting married for it to be a legal marraige.

[lindal24 1]

Thanks for the replies. Wow, luckytxn, you move fast. The main reason why I can't do things right away because I had to work the very next day after I got back. I had to make up for lost time. Boss had me work regular schedule and overtime every single day. So everyday, I worked like 8am to around 10 pm. It was rough, but had to do it if I wanted to keep this job.

Anyway, can I have the wedding then get a marriage license? With my schedule right now, I don't think I have time to go to the courthouse to do it. I'm off on Sunday, but so is the courthouse I think. I could try to request an off day on the weekdays, but I have to see if my boss let me. He's a very hard and strict boss.

No, you need a marraige license prior to getting married for it to be a legal marraige.

Technically, you can get married before you get the marriage license, but your marriage wouldn't be legal until you get your marriage certificate signed by whomever married you, or the Justice of the Peace.

[Mike and Thanh 0]

How will they know if I got married before I get the marriage license? I'm a buddhist, so there won't be any church ceremony that a priest can marry us off, so how would they know? It will be a simple ceremony at my house.

[lindal24 1]

How will they know if I got married before I get the marriage license? I'm a buddhist, so there won't be any church ceremony that a priest can marry us off, so how would they know? It will be a simple ceremony at my house.

The actual ceremony is only for you--the courts don't care. It's only legal once you file your certificate with the courts. You will go through with the ceremony, but you'll have to sign your marriage certificate at the local JP Court in front of a judge.

[luckytxn 2,264]

Thanks for the replies. Wow, luckytxn, you move fast. The main reason why I can't do things right away because I had to work the very next day after I got back. I had to make up for lost time. Boss had me work regular schedule and overtime every single day. So everyday, I worked like 8am to around 10 pm. It was rough, but had to do it if I wanted to keep this job.

Anyway, can I have the wedding then get a marriage license? With my schedule right now, I don't think I have time to go to the courthouse to do it. I'm off on Sunday, but so is the courthouse I think. I could try to request an off day on the weekdays, but I have to see if my boss let me. He's a very hard and strict boss.

Yeah I was tired of just making out like a teenager.