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AlinaH

Legal wedding and then a church wedding

By AlinaH in K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures

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SWA2 Explorer

SWA2   1

Posted
Filed: K-1 Visa Country: China
 Timeline
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So my fiance and I are Christian and it's important to us that we have a church wedding before we consider ourselves married...ie. having sex. Since I really want to have my church wedding at my home in Canada, we are planning on having our legal wedding in the states, living at his parents together, not as a married couple, and then as soon as I get my green card we can go back up to Canada and have a church wedding, at which point we will actually consider ourselves married. I know this seems backwards, but its the only way we could come up with to have our wedding in Canada and still fullfill our Christian beliefs.

My question is, is this going to be a problem at the AOS interview? We will be living in the same household, will most likely open joint bank accounts and credit cards, have a legal wedding certificate, and will already have committed to being with each other forever. We just wont be sleeping in the same bed and will be having a second wedding after I get my greencard.

I plan on being completely honest, providing plans for our wedding in Canada, if asked, and probably letters from our pastor explaining the importance of a church wedding, etc.

Thoughts/advice?

There's no reason why your legal wedding in the U.S. can't be a Christian wedding. Depending on your state, there's usually a waiting period of 3 to 5 days after you apply for your license before you can get it. I actually applied for our license while my fiancee was still in China. You can no longer do that in Minnesota as both people must now be present to get the license. I had the option of having them mail me the license or go down to the Court House and pick it up if I wanted it sooner. As my fiancee was still in China I had them mail it to me. You don't have to a judge or justice of the peace perform the ceremony. Just take the marriage license to your local church, bring a couple of witnesses, and have the minister do the wedding. Once you get your green card go back to Canada and renew your vows with a formal ceremony.

10-17-2006. I-129F filed.

10-19-2006. NOA1

01-25-2007. NOA2

02-12-2007. NVC notification saying petition is approved.

05-11-2007. Packet 3 received.

05-14-2007. Packet 3 forms sent.

06-16-2007. Packet 4 received.

07-03-2007. Medical examination.

07-10-2007. Interview. Passed!!!!

07-12-2007. Received visa.

07-18-2007. Applied for Marriage License.

08-04-2007. Fan arrives in the United States.

08-08-2007. Married.

08-24-2007. Applications for AOS, EAD, and Advance Parole.

08-30-2007. NOA for AOS.

09-07-2007. Applied for SSN.

09-18-2007. NOA for EAD and Advance Parole.

09-20-2007. Received SS card.

10-05-2007. Received appointment date for biometrics.

10-23-2007. Received Advance Parole.

11-02-2007. Biometrics.

11-06-2007. AOS transfered to CSC.

11-07-2007. EAD approved.

11-16-2007. EAD card received.

12-06-2007. AOS approved.

12-14-2007. Green Card Received in mail.

09-05-2009. I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence sent.

09-16-2009. NOA and biometrics appointment received.

10-13-2009. Biometrics.

10-26-2009. USCIS email. Approved. Card production ordered.

10-29-2009. Approval notice, dated 10-26, arrives in mail.

11-02-2009. Green Card arrives in mail.

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AlinaH Enthusiast

AlinaH   38

Posted
Filed: Lift. Cond. (pnd) Country: Canada
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Posted

Yeah, I know we can get a minister to do a legal wedding, but theres a few reasons we're doing it the way we are. I'm just happy to hear that it's not going to be an issue at interview time.

We're actually planning on going to vegas for our legal wedding as well. If we're going to do it this way, we might as well have Elvis marry us! ;)

Thanks for the info, everyone!

June 7, 2010 - Will asked me to marry him, and I said YES!!
October 4, 2010 - Will sent away the I-129F Petition
October 12, 2010 - NOA1 received!
October 15, 2010 - First "touch"
October 18, 2010 - Second "touch"
March 7, 2011 - NOA2!!!
March 18, 2011 - NVC forwarded our case to the Montreal Consulate....NOT where we wanted it to go!
March 25, 2011 - Email from Montreal saying that our case would be forwarded to Vancouver - only took one night for a reply from them smile.png
April 5, 2011 - Vancouver has our package!
April 6, 2011 - Received Packet 3 via email - now just waiting on my police certificate.
April 13, 2011 - faxed Packet 3 to Vancouver
April 14, 2011 - received Packet 4 via email
May 4, 2011 - Medical appointment
May 5, 2011 - Interview!! APPROVED smile.png

June 16, 2011 - POE at Blaine Peace Arch Crossing
June 28, 2011 - Got married by Elvis in Vegas!
Aug 8, 2011 - Received SSN in the mail.

Aug 31, 2011 - Sent off AOS Package
Sept 7, 2011 - Package received by USCIS
Sept 9, 2011 - Notice of Action email for AOS, EAD, and AP.
Sept 16, 2011 - Received my Biometrics Appt. letter for the 30th.
Sept 22, 2011 - RFE sad.png
Sept 30, 2011 - Biometrics Appt.
Oct 26, 2011 - Received interview letter for Dec 1st
Nov 4, 2011 - EAD/AP approved
Nov 12, 2011 - Received combo card in the mail
Dec 1, 2011 - Interview - APPROVED smile.png
Dec 9, 2011 - Greencard arrived in the mail!

Oct 18, 2013 - I-751 Package signed for at CA Service Center

Mar 5, 2014 - Approved! Awaiting greencard in the mail

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baron555 Veteran

baron555   934

Posted
Filed: AOS (apr) Country: Kenya
 Timeline
Posted

So my fiance and I are Christian and it's important to us that we have a church wedding before we consider ourselves married...ie. having sex. Since I really want to have my church wedding at my home in Canada, we are planning on having our legal wedding in the states, living at his parents together, not as a married couple, and then as soon as I get my green card we can go back up to Canada and have a church wedding, at which point we will actually consider ourselves married. I know this seems backwards, but its the only way we could come up with to have our wedding in Canada and still fullfill our Christian beliefs.

My question is, is this going to be a problem at the AOS interview? We will be living in the same household, will most likely open joint bank accounts and credit cards, have a legal wedding certificate, and will already have committed to being with each other forever. We just wont be sleeping in the same bed and will be having a second wedding after I get my greencard.

I plan on being completely honest, providing plans for our wedding in Canada, if asked, and probably letters from our pastor explaining the importance of a church wedding, etc.

Thoughts/advice?

No you're fine. Having sex and being married are two totally different things.

AOS is only concerned if you were 'legally married" in the US. You will be. They don't care if you have relations or not.

Your marriage in Canada later after you receive the GC will be fine.

Most couples are not this strict but you will be fine.

Phil (Lockport, near Chicago) and Alla (Lobnya, near Moscow)

As of Dec 7, 2009, now Zero miles apart (literally)!

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