Getting married in India, advice needed :)

[AKSinghSingh79 143]

My fiance and I have decided, after much in depth discussion, that the K-1 is not the best visa for us so we are abandoning that route and opting for the CR-1.

Here's what I understand about the 2 of us getting married so far: (please feel free to correct any mistakes)

-Because we are from 2 different religions, we will have to register our marriage under the Special Marriage Act

-There is a 30 day waiting period associated with the above mentioned act

-I will have to obtain a "no objection" letter from the U.S. embassy in New Delhi

So from what I interpret, my fiance will go to the high court in Nainital (or Dehra Dun, not sure yet), sign the papers associated with marrying via Special Marriage Act. When the 30 day hold is up, we will bring 3 witnesses and marry in a court. Correct? It seems simple enough but I am also aware that this is India and following rules are under the discretion of the person handling our application.

Next, I will be going to India in January. We will not be marrying at this time. This trip was planned a long time in advance and the purpose is to spend time with my fiance, his family, and do a small informal engagement ceremony.

But since I will be in India, I was thinking I could file some of the paperwork then and be done with it. Is this possible? If we apply for a marriage licence will it expire (i.e. We start the application in January and get married in April/May)?

Next, are the No Objection statements good for a certain amount of time?

Finally, how long does it reasonably take to plan an Indian wedding? I think 6 months is a bit tight to arrange a full blown traditional Indian wedding. Downsizing is fine by K and I, it's his family that are insisting on a huge traditional ceremony (I completely understand, he's the first child to get married).

All advice is appreciated and welcome!

[Dave and Kinnari 31]

Planning a marriage does not take time at all in India. We had our wedding put together in a month and we had about 800 people in attendance for our wedding!

Edited December 8, 2011 by Dave and Kinnari

[Deep2009 18]

Glad to know that you are going to follow CR1... it will help in a big way once you have "no objection" from Embassy.

Good luck.

[Bec_Dipu 103]

Planning a marriage does not take time at all in India. We had our wedding put together in a month and we had about 800 people in attendance for our wedding!

OMG, I hope you didn't make Kinnari write all the thank you cards herself!

[Harsh_77 718]

OMG, I hope you didn't make Kinnari write all the thank you cards herself!

We don't write thank you card.........lol

[Harsh_77 718]

When you are in India in Jan you can sign the form and put all the requesting docs togeather. I dont think there is much if you both are single.

Basically its all the document that you both are legally free to marry.

All these papers have to submitted to couurt atleast 30 days in advance so your fiance can submit this paperwork 30-45 days ahead of time to court or marriage registrar.

We never got the NOC from US embassy, but we both were single getting married for first time and no kids so no child support issues or anything and we never had any problem thru our process, this could be important based on the either ones status.

Then on the day of your appointment you need 3 witness and thats pretty much it. Just make sure to carry enough copies of passport size pictures even of the witness - in most Indian paper work passport size pictures are required.

Depending on how big wedding party you are planning it could be done very easily in months time.

If you have anymore questions feel free to message me.

[Dave and Kinnari 31]

We don't write thank you card.........lol

Yep... in India no one really ever writes thank you cards.

[Bec_Dipu 103]

Yep... in India no one really ever writes thank you cards.

I guess that explains why Dipu looked at me like I was nuts when I made him write in the thank you cards from my bridal shower

[VisaJourney2011 14]

(I maybe wrong so please correct me if my info is incorrect. Just trying to do my best )

My fiance and I have decided, after much in depth discussion, that the K-1 is not the best visa for us so we are abandoning that route and opting for the CR-1.

Here's what I understand about the 2 of us getting married so far: (please feel free to correct any mistakes)

-Because we are from 2 different religions, we will have to register our marriage under the Special Marriage Act

= Just incase you didn't know, Hindu marriag act includes: Buddhist, Jaina or Sikh.

-There is a 30 day waiting period associated with the above mentioned act

= If you fall under Hindu marriage act, you don't have to wait 30 days. You can get it in 1 day or in few days. Just do a ceremornial marriage, take lots of pictures with friends & relatives.

-I will have to obtain a "no objection" letter from the U.S. embassy in New Delhi

= Yes get the No Objection letter before your marriage. a) You need to setup appointment first. b) print the appointment letter and bring it to the location c) You need to bring $50-$60 to pay as fee. d) Also i will advice to bring your Driver license ID or Passport ID if they ask for your id info. Make your No Objection letter appointment here http://newdelhi.usembassy.gov/service/other-citizen-services/marriage.html

So from what I interpret, my fiance will go to the high court in Nainital (or Dehra Dun, not sure yet), sign the papers associated with marrying via Special Marriage Act. When the 30 day hold is up, we will bring 3 witnesses and marry in a court. Correct? It seems simple enough but I am also aware that this is India and following rules are under the discretion of the person handling our application.

= If you are not: Hindu, Buddhist, Jaina or Sikh then yes, you will have to register your marriage and wait 30 days so that the court knows there is no objection from anyone. (Court will publish your marriage).

Next, I will be going to India in January. We will not be marrying at this time. This trip was planned a long time in advance and the purpose is to spend time with my fiance, his family, and do a small informal engagement ceremony.

But since I will be in India, I was thinking I could file some of the paperwork then and be done with it. Is this possible? If we apply for a marriage licence will it expire (i.e. We start the application in January and get married in April/May)?

= Your beneficiary should fill out & sign: Form G-325A and just print some extra and have her/him sign and not fill so that if there is any mistakes, you can add those info. Also take several passport style photo. Read this: http://www.visajourney.com/content/i130guide1

Next, are the No Objection statements good for a certain amount of time?

= Get the No Objection letter from embassy when you get in New Delhi. How are you going get it earlier? You cant, just get it when you go are there to get married.

Finally, how long does it reasonably take to plan an Indian wedding? I think 6 months is a bit tight to arrange a full blown traditional Indian wedding. Downsizing is fine by K and I, it's his family that are insisting on a huge traditional ceremony (I completely understand, he's the first child to get married).

= This is personal. You can do it big or small. The most important thing is to take many pictures with friends and family members. Dress up nicely as you should. Make it look real HAHA, the only reason i'm saying this so that there is no doubht about the legitimacy of your wedding.

All advice is appreciated and welcome!

= i also thought K3 or CR1 would be much better than K1 so thats what i did. I filed for K3 but i will most likely get CR1 since K3 is discontinued or Definitely not used often since CR1.

Check out others timeline, It can be fun but sometimes not so if they are approved before you HaHa.

Finally definitely read this: http://www.visajourney.com/content/i130guide1

I read that many times. At first it won't be clear but after you ask the right questions and read that many times over and over, then you will but some things you just willunderstand better as you go through with the process.

BEST OF LUCK!

Edited December 14, 2011 by VisaJourney2011

[TimeTravel 78]

-I will have to obtain a "no objection" letter from the U.S. embassy in New Delhi

= Yes get the No Objection letter before your marriage. a) You need to setup appointment first. b) print the appointment letter and bring it to the location c) You need to bring $50-$60 to pay as fee. d) Also i will advice to bring your Driver license ID or Passport ID if they ask for your id info. Make your No Objection letter appointment here http://newdelhi.usembassy.gov/service/other-citizen-services/marriage.html

Pay the fee for No Objection letter from US Embassy in New Delhi?

We booked an appointment and print it, and got it from New Delhi Embassy at ZERO Cost. There is no fee to pay for getting the " No Objection " letter. Once you go to their counter, they will issue you within 2 minutes.

Edited December 18, 2011 by iwaiting

[VisaJourney2011 14]

Yeah, the American lady (white) charged me, i think it was $50 USD.

I also ready in many places that there is a fee for No Obj. Letter

But if you got it for free then thats Great ! and i think it should be free, why not? its just a stupid paper.

Pay the fee for No Objection letter from US Embassy in New Delhi?

We booked an appointment and print it, and got it from New Delhi Embassy at ZERO Cost. There is no fee to pay for getting the " No Objection " letter. Once you go to their counter, they will issue you within 2 minutes.

[rkk1 34]

I also paid the $50 fee for the No Objection Letter at the New Delhi consulate. I had even gone beyond that to be safe, and got the Single Status Affidavit in the US via Apostille (I had purchased this a month before leaving the US). I paid $293 for that. But after getting the No Objection Letter, I think the Single Status Certificate in the US was just a waste of money, as they were essentially the same thing. The reason I did this though is that the clerk in my husband's city was ignorant and was asking for both documents, not realizing they were the same. Once I got there though, I don't even think he looked at the Single Status Affidavit as one document was plenty.

[VisaJourney2011 14]

I agree, getting all the documents + more, i like to do that for safety also.

I got the "single status" letter from my local city office, which basically said that in this jurisdiction, XYZ is unmarried as of date xyz...etc...

Although it was free, i don't think i needed it but if i were to do it again, i would still do this because i don't like to leave important things at chance. I like to get it right the first time to save time and headache in the future.

I also paid the $50 fee for the No Objection Letter at the New Delhi consulate. I had even gone beyond that to be safe, and got the Single Status Affidavit in the US via Apostille (I had purchased this a month before leaving the US). I paid $293 for that. But after getting the No Objection Letter, I think the Single Status Certificate in the US was just a waste of money, as they were essentially the same thing. The reason I did this though is that the clerk in my husband's city was ignorant and was asking for both documents, not realizing they were the same. Once I got there though, I don't even think he looked at the Single Status Affidavit as one document was plenty.