civil court marrige before ceremony?

[jdall 0]

Thanks everyone for all your help so far!

Before sending my I-129f packet out, I have a couple more questions. The letter of intent that my fiance wrote out explains how we're planning on a civil court marriage in the US within the 90 day k1 visa time frame and then we're having a wedding ceremony over in Dublin in the summer of 2011. Will the processing office not like that we're waiting until the summer of 2011 for our ceremony wedding? Would it be better if we had a ceremony wedding here in the states before our wedding in Ireland?

I guess while I'm on the subject, is a "civil court" marriage even a real thing? My fiance and I have heard of it but we haven't looked into it yet.

Thanks for any feedback,

John

[Quail 0]

Thanks everyone for all your help so far!

Before sending my I-129f packet out, I have a couple more questions. The letter of intent that my fiance wrote out explains how we're planning on a civil court marriage in the US within the 90 day k1 visa time frame and then we're having a wedding ceremony over in Dublin in the summer of 2011. Will the processing office not like that we're waiting until the summer of 2011 for our ceremony wedding? Would it be better if we had a ceremony wedding here in the states before our wedding in Ireland?

I guess while I'm on the subject, is a "civil court" marriage even a real thing? My fiance and I have heard of it but we haven't looked into it yet.

Thanks for any feedback,

John

A court marriage is when you go before a clerk court or a notary and do a legal marriage. That is what the USCIS is looking for - a legal, biding and documented marriage. As long as you do that within 90 days of the finances arrival, you are good to go. Though personally, I would drop the part from the letter about not having a wedding party until 2011... It may just confuse them.

Edited November 24, 2009 by Quail

[Patrick808 0]

You should not have any problems with this.

Before sending my I-129f packet out, I have a couple more questions. The letter of intent that my fiance wrote out explains how we're planning on a civil court marriage in the US within the 90 day k1 visa time frame and then we're having a wedding ceremony over in Dublin in the summer of 2011. Will the processing office not like that we're waiting until the summer of 2011 for our ceremony wedding? Would it be better if we had a ceremony wedding here in the states before our wedding in Ireland?

Edited November 24, 2009 by Patrick808

[Ken1 0]

I agree with Quail, just keep it simple: "We can't wait to get married and will do so within 90 days of entering the United States. We look forward to spending our lives together, etc..."

[jdall 0]

Great, thanks for the input!!

-John

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

We did this (though the time between was about 9 months). I did not mention this in any of the documents. I did clarify however at the interview why my family wasn't present at the civil wedding.

[gary9891 10]

Thanks everyone for all your help so far!

Before sending my I-129f packet out, I have a couple more questions. The letter of intent that my fiance wrote out explains how we're planning on a civil court marriage in the US within the 90 day k1 visa time frame and then we're having a wedding ceremony over in Dublin in the summer of 2011. Will the processing office not like that we're waiting until the summer of 2011 for our ceremony wedding? Would it be better if we had a ceremony wedding here in the states before our wedding in Ireland?

I guess while I'm on the subject, is a "civil court" marriage even a real thing? My fiance and I have heard of it but we haven't looked into it yet.

Thanks for any feedback,

John

There is no reason to go into extreme details in your letter. Just simple and to the point. Here is my letter and it sailed through no problems. Remember both of you must submit a letter with original signatures. Simply re-arrange the wording a little for her letter. YES, a civil court wedding is a "real" and 100% legal wedding, many do it. I don't think the embassy will care about your Dublin wedding, the wedding in the states prior to the 90 expiration is the one that "counts" for them.

YOUR ADDRESS

EMBASSY ADDRESS

Dear Sir or Madam:

I do hereby declare that I am willing and legally able to marry Miss XXXXXXXXX currently residing in (HER CITY,COUNTRY). Upon your approval of her K1 visa, XXXXXXXXX and myself will marry within 90 days of her entry into the U.S.A.

Thank you and best regards,

Your signature

YOUR NAME

[Otto 83]

USCIS is simply concerned that a marriage takes place and (for a K-1) that it takes place within 90-days of entering the US. That is what the letters of intent are for (to confirm that is expressly what you both intend to do). They do not care when or even if a wedding ceremony takes place.

In my case, I took a look at the example forms section, specifically the example Letter of Intent and used it as my guide. In other words, I didn't include anything about future plans besides that I did intend to marry my fiancé within 90 days of entry. I don't see any harm in what you intend to write but I'd leave out the details of the future wedding ceremony, it really doesn't need to be said and is not really any of their business/concern.

Either way - I wouldn't change your plans to have what sounds like would be a great wedding (summer 2011 is far enough away, your then spouse may even be a PR/Green Card holder).