January 2011 Filers!!!

[James And Oksana 19]

The K-1 is for coming to the U.S. and getting married here as faust said.

I think that you could have an unofficial ceremony (don't get a marriage license, or file any paperwork to register the wedding) for his family.

(Not 100% sure, though - so someone can correct me if i'm wrong).

Yes, that is what I am planning to do back in Russia. Have a unofficial wedding where there is no paperwork. As long as you marry in the US with all the paperwork of marriage license and having the person that marries you file the paperwork that you are married, you will meet the requirements of K1.

[Misha&Lena 1]

Be very careful with wedding in Russia, when she will cross the border in JFK board guard will ask about wedding and other stuff and some women will say as is and he will deny K1 visa and put her in detention area until next plane to Moscow.

[James And Oksana 19]

Be very careful with wedding in Russia, when she will cross the border in JFK board guard will ask about wedding and other stuff and some women will say as is and he will deny K1 visa and put her in detention area until next plane to Moscow.

Thanks for the heads up. Yeah, I have been pretty specific with Oksana as I know they will ask about this in the interview as well, what is the wedding plans. She fully understands anything we do in Russia will not be a legal wedding and it will not be referred as that. I think we settled on calling it a engagement party, as that is really what it is more than anything.

[Sandra&Matt 1]

We met on Eharmony too!! Did you email them and tell them your engaged? We did and we got to pick 2 free gifts! But watch out when they ship it. Have them ship it to the States as we got dinged for Duty and Taxes. Or i should say I did!

Cool! Thanks for the tip. I'll have to look into it.

[Misha&Lena 1]

About us: Our names are Misha and Lena or Michael and Elena. Misha was born and grown in Russia but spend last 17 years in USA. Some time after divorce in May 2010 Misha was looking on Russian singles website and met Lena. We like each other so much that after a month we decided to get married even without seeing each other. It just was a feeling!!! Everybody we know thinks that we are nuts. After learning about requirement to meet in person Misha wanted to go to Russia but it was a problem with Russian consulate and visa. Lena offered to take tour to China. It also happened to be on Misha’s bucket list. We went there in November 2010. It was all we hoped for. 2 weeks went like 1 hour !!! We are talking to each other every day and waiting like you all.

We are sorry for broken English but will be happy to help everybody with all we know.

[Diana and Chris 25]

Thanks for the heads up. Yeah, I have been pretty specific with Oksana as I know they will ask about this in the interview as well, what is the wedding plans. She fully understands anything we do in Russia will not be a legal wedding and it will not be referred as that. I think we settled on calling it a engagement party, as that is really what it is more than anything.

We are thinking of doing a "good bye dinner" with my family before we leave. Maybe it's just safe to call it by other names from the start? I know I need to be prepared mentaly just to not make a major mess up by calling it a "wedding" Engagement party is just a great name for it as well.

Haha, my making sense in english gets really bad when I'm laying in bed with a fever due to the freaking flue...

[Brad & Mayra 2]

Our plan is actually just the opposite, we are going to do the "official" civil ceremony in the U.S. first. And then after she gets her green card, we can go back to Mexico to do a non-official "church" wedding that all her family will be able to attend.

Its all quite far away or so it seems right now. I'm still patiently (well maybe thats not the right word lol) waiting for my NOA1. I just hope I get to stay with all you January filers, this is a lively group

[LaurelS 0]

Hey everyone!

I technically sent in our packet a couple of days after Christmas, but we got our NOA1 at the beginning of the month.

My fiance Justin and I are hoping to get everything taken care of in time for an October wedding. So glad to see others on here who are on the same timeline! It'll be nice to keep each other encouraged

[Caroline + Angelo 20]

We are thinking of doing a "good bye dinner" with my family before we leave. Maybe it's just safe to call it by other names from the start? I know I need to be prepared mentaly just to not make a major mess up by calling it a "wedding" Engagement party is just a great name for it as well.

Haha, my making sense in english gets really bad when I'm laying in bed with a fever due to the freaking flue...

Ah no, I hope you feel better soon, Diana

And welcome to January filers 2011, LaurelS and JeWcHee

[Eve&Josh 5]

welcome to all our new January filers and good luck with your journey!!

Our little story can be read on my profile - it differs from all your awesome and incredibly romantic stories mostly in that we have known each other since we were 16 years old (we are both 31 now, as much as 3 hrs apart in age in fact which I think is pretty cool ). Life works in mysterious ways

Have any of you considered going over to be with your significant other on a tourist visa before getting your K1? We are contemplating this option since it looks like it will take as long as 5-6 months, if not more, to get the approval. The consulate here (along with everything else in Finland) will be closed for the whole month of July if not more, which would postpone my process here by another month again. My concern with this is that I've heard that they can actually deny entry at the POE if they in any way think that you might try to stay in the country illegally on your tourist visa. And that it is completely up to the person questioning you whether they believe you in that you are committed to doing things the legal and the right way. If they are suspicious they can just send your hiny back on the next flight over, at your own cost. Obviously I would quit my job here and give up my apartment etc before flying over and I'd just stay at friends and my parents when coming back to get the Visa, so the only proof of actually coming back to Finland would be my return ticket - which Im not sure I should even book in advance in case we by some miracle happen to get our NOA2 earlier than estimated. so many things here to consider....

anyway, me too I want to say that I truly enjoy the positive and supportive atmosphere in our group and it's so wnderful to be making new friends! Best of luck to you all!!!

Eve

[TwoCats 55]

Hello fellow January filers! I want to be part of this thread! Can you please tell me how? Thanks and Goodluck to us ALL!

That's all you really need to do.

Come in, introduce yourself, and participate.

I've added you to our list, which there is a link to from my signature.

You can go ahead and update it when you have updates/changes to your timeline.

Welcome!

Hey everyone!

I technically sent in our packet a couple of days after Christmas, but we got our NOA1 at the beginning of the month.

My fiance Justin and I are hoping to get everything taken care of in time for an October wedding. So glad to see others on here who are on the same timeline! It'll be nice to keep each other encouraged

Welcome to the January filers!

I've added you to the list, too.

[E&R4ever 6]

Hello fellow January filers! I want to be part of this thread! Can you please tell me how? Thanks and Goodluck to us ALL!

JeWcHee welcome!!

Wishing you the best in your journey!!

E&R4EVER

[E&R4ever 6]

Our plan is actually just the opposite, we are going to do the "official" civil ceremony in the U.S. first. And then after she gets her green card, we can go back to Mexico to do a non-official "church" wedding that all her family will be able to attend.

Its all quite far away or so it seems right now. I'm still patiently (well maybe thats not the right word lol) waiting for my NOA1. I just hope I get to stay with all you January filers, this is a lively group

Brad & Mayra,

Just got woken up lastnight via text message with my e-notification! My I-797 should be in the mail soon and I expect your notification sent to you as well!!! Best of luck and hang in there!!

eff

[Diana and Chris 25]

Ah no, I hope you feel better soon, Diana

And welcome to January filers 2011, LaurelS and JeWcHee

Thank you so much!! The only good thing about being sick is the "no work" part. LOL I'm just awake 'cuz I couldn't sleep last night anyhow

WELCOME TO ALL THE NEW JANUARY THREAD MEMBERS!! Hope you have a blast like all of us do.

Diana.

[Diana and Chris 25]

Our plan is actually just the opposite, we are going to do the "official" civil ceremony in the U.S. first. And then after she gets her green card, we can go back to Mexico to do a non-official "church" wedding that all her family will be able to attend.

Its all quite far away or so it seems right now. I'm still patiently (well maybe thats not the right word lol) waiting for my NOA1. I just hope I get to stay with all you January filers, this is a lively group

We thought about that, but both Chris and I are very very very (don't take the "veries" lightly ) old school when it comes to our believes Ya know, the whole... living together before marriage.. and all that Hahaha. Well yeah, we both decided we wanted a Church wedding before we actually start living together so the wait can't really happen Of course, this is a very personal opinion and way of doing things. But if we weren't that squared minded we would of definitely gone your way

Lotta Lovin' for you guys!

Diana.

(Haha, I started singing "Whole Lotta Love", couldn't help it )