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lightninfast Newbie

lightninfast   0

Posted
Filed: H-1B Visa Country: India
 Timeline
Posted

I've read various posts about this particular topic (not everyone can afford a big wedding), but just wanted to get your opinions here. I am on H1B visa (4th year), I proposed recently to my gf (us citizen) and we plan to get formally engaged in feb 2012 and then get court marriage after that. We ultimately plan to have a reception at some point in 2012 but will have to save some $$$ and plan a lot since weddings (that we want) now costs upwards of $50k along with figuring out a venue, dj, yada yada. Anyways, the initial plan was to have a wedding and reception together but now that we don't have a set date (or enough money), we are closing in on to the decision that we will just get court marriage in the upcoming months after the formal engagement and then maybe have a reception (and maybe ceremonies) towards the end of 2012 [again given financial state]. As per many threads, we live together already, will start a joint account, have plenty of pics from past but will have more from formal engagement and court marriage pics later etc., but does anybody see any gotchyas that could halt the change of status (plan to file for i130 and 485 after the court marriage). Any advice would be great!

thanks!

ceadsearc Proficient

ceadsearc   516

Posted
Filed: Lift. Cond. (apr) Country: Bolivia
 Timeline
Posted

Court marriages are fine. The H1-B is a dual intent visa so you shouldn't have any issues on that front. Get married when you wish (as long as you are still in status) and file your paperwork. :)

OUR TIMELINE

I am the USC, husband is adjusting from B2.

ADJUSTMENT OF STATUS

08.06.2010 - Sent off I-485
08.25.2010 - NOA hard copies received (x4), case status available online: 765, 131, 130.
10.15.2010 - RFE received: need 2 additional photos for AP.
10.18.2010 - RFE response sent certified mail
10.21.2010 - Service request placed for biometrics
10.25.2010 - RFE received per USCIS
10.26.2010 - Text/email received - AP approved!
10.28.2010 - Biometrics appointment received, dated 10/22 - set for 11/19 @ 3:00 PM
11.01.2010 - Successful biometrics walk-in @ 9:45 AM; EAD card sent for production text/email @ 2:47 PM! I-485 case status now available online.
11.04.2010 - Text/Email (2nd) - EAD card sent for production
11.08.2010 - Text/Email (3rd) - EAD approved
11.10.2010 - EAD received
12.11.2010 - Interview letter received - 01.13.11
01.13.2011 - Interview - no decision on the spot
01.24.2011 - Approved! Card production ordered!

REMOVAL OF CONDITIONS

11.02.2012 - Mailed I-751 packet to VSC
11.08.2012 - Checks cashed
11.10.2012 - NOA1 received, dated 11.06.2012
11.17.2012 - Biometrics letter received for 12.05.2012
11.23.2012 - Successful early biometrics walk-in

05.03.2013 - Approved! Card production ordered!

CITIZENSHIP

Filing in November 2013

Nina~ Proficient

Nina~   431

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Timeline
Posted

It doesn't matter if you have a large or small wedding. You should be fine if you can provide pictures of each other with both your families (especially if you are both of a different race).. But even without those, you will be fine if you can provide concrete proof of co-mingling your assets like joint lease/mortgage, utility/cell phone bills in both your names, designating each other as insurance/401k beneficiaries, joint purchase of car/appliance/property etc.

texas-gal Explorer

texas-gal   3

Posted
Filed: Lift. Cond. (pnd) Country: Germany
 Timeline
Posted

This doesn't directly related to your question but I wanted to let you know as you plan a wedding celebration, that it doesn't have to cost so much. My wedding including venue, caterer, decorations, cakes, DJ, photographer, etc was less than $7000. There are great websites for ideas if you don't mind doing some things yourself.

7/26/10 Engaged
9/15/10 - Mailed I-129F to Dallas
9/17/10 - Received in Dallas
9/23/10 - NOA1 (Email - Sent to VSC)
9/24/10 - NOA1 (Letter Received Dated 9/20/10)
10/3/10 - Touched
3/23/11 - NOA2 (Email - Sent to NVC)
3/31/11 - Letter from NVC confirming receipt (Letter dated then)
4/6/11 - Email confirmation from NVC - Paperwork sent to Frankfurt
4/9/11 - Packet 3 received from Frankfurt
4/19/11 - Packet 4 received from Frankfurt
5/16/11 - Fiance's Interview in Frankfurt - Approved
6/11/11 - Wedding Date

7/1/11 - NOA AOS, EAD, AP documents received
7/27/11 - Biometrics
8/26/11 - Emails that AP and EAD are approved - EAD card sent to be ordered, should be sent within 30 days
10/31/11 - Email that GC is approved.
11/4/11 - GC received!

7/30/13 - NOA1 for ROC

8/27/13 - Biometrics

9/23/13 - Received notice of case being transferred from VSC to CSC

10/28/13 - GC ordered!

lightninfast Newbie

lightninfast   0

Posted
Filed: H-1B Visa Country: India
 Timeline
  • Author
Posted

This doesn't directly related to your question but I wanted to let you know as you plan a wedding celebration, that it doesn't have to cost so much. My wedding including venue, caterer, decorations, cakes, DJ, photographer, etc was less than $7000. There are great websites for ideas if you don't mind doing some things yourself.

I would totally go for that but the mrs wants a nice, romantic, princess like wedding with all her friends and family and apparently thats been her dream.. Compromise is definitely in order but I don't wanna crush all her dreams :)

kcoyclay1 Proficient

kcoyclay1   98

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Jamaica
 Timeline
Posted

If you have the money, go for what she wants. If not, you will have to be practical. You can choose to wait, or have a court wedding, and save for the princess wedding on your anniversary. It's up to you guys. All the best.

STANLEY & KAREN
01/15/2009 - Fedex I-130, I-485, I-693, I-864, I-765, G-325A
01/20/2009 - Received in mail-room and signed for by J CHYBA
01/28/2009 - Checks cashed by Homeland Security
02/02/2009 - Received in mail 3 pcs of NOA1 one each for I-485, I-130, I-765 dated 01/28/2009
02/03/2009 - Received email RFE. What did I not send now, whew!
02/09/2009 - Received mails for initial evidence and Biometric appointment (02/19/2009); mailed evidence
02/19/2009 - biometrics done - in a out in 45 minutes
03/14/2009 - Receive NOA2 dated 03/10/2009. AOS interview April 29, 2009
03/18/2009 - Touched. EAD Card production ordered
03/25/2009 - Touched. EAD approval sent
03/27/2009 - EAD card received in the mail; applied for SS# immediately (office is across the street from my home)
04/02/2009 - Received SS# in the mail
04/29/2009 - Interviewed. I- 130 approved, I-485 pending IO's review
05/05/2009 - Received NOA2. Welcome letter for Permanent Residency. I-130 and I-485 approved 04/30/2009
05/08/2009 - Touched. I-485 approval letter sent
05/11/2009 - GC received in the mail. Expires 2019
05/11/2009 - Applied to remove restrictions on my SS Card
05/18/2009 - Received unrestricted SS card
10/13/2009 - My darling husband of 2 yrs 5 months 3 weeks 3 days passed away :(

Naturalization Process (5 Yrs Later) :goofy:

Mar 28, 2014 - Mailed N-400
Apr 08, 2014 - Check cashed
Apr 09, 2014 - Receive Notice letter Priority date April 3, 2014
Apr 11, 2014 - Touched - Email - Biometrics letter mailed
May 08, 2014 - Biometrics done
May 12, 2014 - Touched - Email - In line for interview scheduling
July 12, 2014 - Pre-interview letter (Yellow letter) received in mail
Aug 20, 2014 - Touched - Email - Interview scheduled
Aug 25, 2014 - Interview scheduled for Sept. 24, 2014
Sept 24, 2014 - Passed interview
Oct 06, 2014 - Touched - Email - In oath scheduling que
Oct 08, 2014 - Touched - Text - Oath ceremony scheduled
Oct 14, 2014 - Received letter - Oath ceremony Oct 28, 2014
Oct 28, 2014 - I AM A US CITIZEN! :joy: :joy: :joy:
Nov 12, 2014 - Updated my status from permanent resident to citizen at Social Security
Nov 14, 2014 - Applied for US passport
Nov 29, 2014 - Received US passport book
Dec 01, 2014 - Received Passport card
Dec 04, 2014 - Received Naturalization Certificate

--------------------
KayCee

Ccut.jpg.png

lightninfast Newbie

lightninfast   0

Posted
Filed: H-1B Visa Country: India
 Timeline
  • Author
Posted

If you have the money, go for what she wants. If not, you will have to be practical. You can choose to wait, or have a court wedding, and save for the princess wedding on your anniversary. It's up to you guys. All the best.

Yup, thats the plan. Another question: since we'll have pics from the formal engagement (w/ family and friends), do we need pics w/ family from court marriage too? I was assuming we would just go ourselves and do court marriage on one random day (since it requires less planning) and take pics with the judge or something. Would that be enough? Or, am I taking this pictures requirement too seriously? Like I said earlier, we will have a joint bank account, insurance, utility bills, etc by that time so that won't be a problem.

ceadsearc Proficient

ceadsearc   516

Posted
Filed: Lift. Cond. (apr) Country: Bolivia
 Timeline
Posted

Yup, thats the plan. Another question: since we'll have pics from the formal engagement (w/ family and friends), do we need pics w/ family from court marriage too? I was assuming we would just go ourselves and do court marriage on one random day (since it requires less planning) and take pics with the judge or something. Would that be enough? Or, am I taking this pictures requirement too seriously? Like I said earlier, we will have a joint bank account, insurance, utility bills, etc by that time so that won't be a problem.

If they're there, take pictures. If they're not, obviously you won't be able to. Plenty of people go alone (we did).

OUR TIMELINE

I am the USC, husband is adjusting from B2.

ADJUSTMENT OF STATUS

08.06.2010 - Sent off I-485
08.25.2010 - NOA hard copies received (x4), case status available online: 765, 131, 130.
10.15.2010 - RFE received: need 2 additional photos for AP.
10.18.2010 - RFE response sent certified mail
10.21.2010 - Service request placed for biometrics
10.25.2010 - RFE received per USCIS
10.26.2010 - Text/email received - AP approved!
10.28.2010 - Biometrics appointment received, dated 10/22 - set for 11/19 @ 3:00 PM
11.01.2010 - Successful biometrics walk-in @ 9:45 AM; EAD card sent for production text/email @ 2:47 PM! I-485 case status now available online.
11.04.2010 - Text/Email (2nd) - EAD card sent for production
11.08.2010 - Text/Email (3rd) - EAD approved
11.10.2010 - EAD received
12.11.2010 - Interview letter received - 01.13.11
01.13.2011 - Interview - no decision on the spot
01.24.2011 - Approved! Card production ordered!

REMOVAL OF CONDITIONS

11.02.2012 - Mailed I-751 packet to VSC
11.08.2012 - Checks cashed
11.10.2012 - NOA1 received, dated 11.06.2012
11.17.2012 - Biometrics letter received for 12.05.2012
11.23.2012 - Successful early biometrics walk-in

05.03.2013 - Approved! Card production ordered!

CITIZENSHIP

Filing in November 2013

 
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