THESE TWO THINGS ARE IMPORTANT FOR ANYBODY CONSIDERING K1 VISA!! MUST READ

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

GET MARRIED AS SOON AS SPOUSE ARRIVES IN USA!!!! I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THIS IS SO HARD FOR PEOPLE TO COMPREHEND!

DO NOT PLAN WEDDING CERAMONEY UNTIL SPOUSE ARRIVES IN USA! AGAIN, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY PEOPLE PLAN WEDDING CARAMONY BEFORE SPOUSE ARRIVES OR BEFORE SPOUSE HAS ARRIVAL DATE AND THEN COMPLAIN THAT THE PAPERWORK IS TAKING TOO LONG!

IF YOUR SPOUSE HAS TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T GET MARRIED WITHEN THE 90 DAYS, IT IS YOUR OWN FAULT. 90 DAYS IS MOR THAN ENOUGH TIME TO GET MARRIED!

IF YOU PLANNED A HUGE CERAMONY AND ARE UPSET THAT YOUR SPOUSE WON’T BE HERE WHEN YOU HAD PLANNED, AGAIN..YOUR OWN FAULT! DON'T MAKE PLANS UNTIL THINGS ARE SET IN STONE!

JUST TRYING TO HELP PEOPLE BEFORE THEY REGRET THEIR DESCIONS.

FYI, if you do not marry within 90 days you do no thave to leave the country, you just cannot adjust status from the K-1 and have to send in (and pay for) an I-130 with the I-485. Other than a few extra dollars it is not a problem.

Otherwise...good post.

I will add that people should also be prepared to pay the AOS fee as soon as they get married as it is very important to get that done. Even thoug there is no "deadline" your fiancee's benefits depend on it. Plan on it and save the money. You have plenty of time to do it while the petition is being processed.

[nunya business 20]

It is best not to plan anything at all you will only end up disappointed and dishearten

[ckurt 23]

GET MARRIED AS SOON AS SPOUSE ARRIVES IN USA!!!! I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THIS IS SO HARD FOR PEOPLE TO COMPREHEND!

DO NOT PLAN WEDDING CERAMONEY UNTIL SPOUSE ARRIVES IN USA! AGAIN, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY PEOPLE PLAN WEDDING CARAMONY BEFORE SPOUSE ARRIVES OR BEFORE SPOUSE HAS ARRIVAL DATE AND THEN COMPLAIN THAT THE PAPERWORK IS TAKING TOO LONG!

IF YOUR SPOUSE HAS TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T GET MARRIED WITHEN THE 90 DAYS, IT IS YOUR OWN FAULT. 90 DAYS IS MOR THAN ENOUGH TIME TO GET MARRIED!

IF YOU PLANNED A HUGE CERAMONY AND ARE UPSET THAT YOUR SPOUSE WON’T BE HERE WHEN YOU HAD PLANNED, AGAIN..YOUR OWN FAULT! DON'T MAKE PLANS UNTIL THINGS ARE SET IN STONE!

JUST TRYING TO HELP PEOPLE BEFORE THEY REGRET THEIR DESCIONS.

why are you yelling ?

[JBForever 12]

i think the capital letters were meant to stress a point and to catch everyone's attention not to plan anything unless the visa is already approved.

but i can understand if some would find it rude and shouting-like.

i am grateful to this community and the very patient and helpful members as it makes me hopeful through this seemingly unending journey.

Thank you everyone for making every waiting day bearable:)

[catknit 144]

Please give an example of "some countries or embassies" that "demand proof that the wedding has been planned". Just curious because all I've seen and read is that NVC as well as consular officers will tell you it's ill advised to make concrete plans or for the beneficiary to quit their jobs/sell their houses and belongings, etc. before they have the visa in hand.

Sara was put through the wringer by USCIS, NVC, DOS, and the embassy a few years back - her story was truly a nightmare of epic proportions and though not a "typical" case, it is a great illustration of the mess that can happen. She spent over 2 years waiting on her NOA2 alone. She is one of vjs most battered veterans and I would take any experience she can share as a great nugget to file away for the "worst case scenario". The kicker is she still comes and supports those of us on this journey and I know she spends time praying for tough cases just like hers.... :luv:

A few years back both New Delhi and Mumbai would ask for weird things at K1 interviews including receipts for pre-payment of wedding reception food, potential guest lists, etc. Typically, this was just a way to buy time with a 221g to do more AP and usually could be seen as a "bad sign". If they are asking for food receipts, they ain't believing your love story. I haven't seen this request recently but keep in mind COs switch consulates and old methods seem to recycle as good ideas every now and then. It's good to think of this as something in the repertoire of questions/requests that may come up...especially at high fraud posts.

[del-2-5-2014 1,339]

It's only our fault if we don't voice our opinion. We should be allowed to complain all we want. If we all just abided and ignored the frustratingly long process, then the government would never need to change it! There are clearly some improvements that can be made to the system on a first grade level.

One of the first ones being (as an example), if any unnecessary medical test needs to be run which have an 8 week lead-time for results, we should let everyone get their medical done 8 weeks before the interview, if they so wish to do so! I'd even pay twice for medical if I could get out of this bind I am in. Nobody talks about delays after the interview, so my fiancee and I are naturally upset over this pointless testing (in our case, maybe not pointless in every case).

Serious question. Do you think USCIS and DOS is watching VJ for clue on their ineffectiveness?

Also for those on the antishouting rant. Simmer down and stop playing Mod.

Maybe this fellow VJer is sight impaired?

[falburq 4]

First, the K1 is for a fiance(e) visa, so there's no spouse yet. Second, why get married as soon as fiance(e) arrives? The K1 visa gives the couple 90 days to get married, so this notion that you have to marry as soon as the fiance(e) enters the US is nonsense. Also, if you want to have some type of ceremony and have it done the right way, you'll need that 90 days.

One last thing, if you are going to post using all caps (shouting) and using demeaning language at least try to use proper spelling and grammar. Why is THAT so hard for some people to understand!

GET MARRIED AS SOON AS SPOUSE ARRIVES IN USA!!!! I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THIS IS SO HARD FOR PEOPLE TO COMPREHEND!

Edited February 13, 2013 by falburq

[kitt2001 11]

To those who are offended by caps, I am sorry that small matters like that means so much to you.. I was going to take the time to retype in right case but in the end it would have been the exact same message, just in smaller case and capitals where they should be. Second, I was not being rude. I was actually excited when typing this message because I wanted to help people so they would not have to go through hardships. I know how important it is to be with your spouse and if they have to go back because the two of you didn't do things in a timely matter, I know that would be heart-breaking. You don't have to have a ceramony to get married at first; that can come later. Get married in a courthouse or have a judge come to your house( that is what I did; we will have the ceramony in April)

I wish people would take things with a grain of salt and not get offended over small matters. If little things set you off, I would be afraid to be your spouse; not trying to be rude but just saying....

[StephAnn2012 50]

<br />Meant with some tongue in cheek but with a message to this poster....<br /><br />First...there is no need to shout. I do not understand why you dont understand that when you use capital letter, it is shouting. <br /><br />Second.. this is called visa journey.... The definition of journey is taking a path and discovering new things. So if folks type things that seem repetitive, it is only that they are discovering things on their journey. This isnt caled "visaIKnowEveryThing.com. I do not understand why you do not understand this<br /><br />Third  This journey we are all taking is a long, hard and emotional one and sometimes some people may need to vent things when they are upset or frustrated because we are all in love and miss our loved ones. So are you venting because you are frustrated If so , I can understand it but maybe you should vent about your own issues and not blast others for trying to learn and understand what to do on their own visa journey.<br /><br />Meant with the kindest of intentions........<br />

<br /><br /><br />

I do agree with the OP that it is crazy to plan a wedding (Ceremony) without having a confirmed flight to the US --- You are not just planning a wedding - You are sponsoring an Immigrant the United States - So much smarter to get him/her here, have a civil wedding before a Justice of the Peace and then plan a beautiful wedding with no pressure.

[reese1 68]

Edited February 13, 2013 by reese1

[texas-gal 3]

It is possible to plan a formal wedding and ceremony before your fiance arrives. My wedding was planned mostly beforehand with a lot of last minute details such as booking caterer, date, photographer, DJ, etc within the last month. Everyone who was invited knew about the need for a flexible date. My husband and I married two weeks after he arrived in the US and had a traditional church wedding and reception.

[X Factor 1,112]

I planned a wedding with attendace of 180 and we didn't do anything until she arrived. It took us 49 days. 90 days is more than enough to get married.

[VisaDude 4]

Good Lord, Thanks for letting me know. lol

[liberty23456 15]

GET MARRIED AS SOON AS SPOUSE ARRIVES IN USA!!!! I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THIS IS SO HARD FOR PEOPLE TO COMPREHEND!

DO NOT PLAN WEDDING CERAMONEY UNTIL SPOUSE ARRIVES IN USA! AGAIN, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY PEOPLE PLAN WEDDING CARAMONY BEFORE SPOUSE ARRIVES OR BEFORE SPOUSE HAS ARRIVAL DATE AND THEN COMPLAIN THAT THE PAPERWORK IS TAKING TOO LONG!

IF YOUR SPOUSE HAS TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T GET MARRIED WITHEN THE 90 DAYS, IT IS YOUR OWN FAULT. 90 DAYS IS MOR THAN ENOUGH TIME TO GET MARRIED!

IF YOU PLANNED A HUGE CERAMONY AND ARE UPSET THAT YOUR SPOUSE WON’T BE HERE WHEN YOU HAD PLANNED, AGAIN..YOUR OWN FAULT! DON'T MAKE PLANS UNTIL THINGS ARE SET IN STONE!

JUST TRYING TO HELP PEOPLE BEFORE THEY REGRET THEIR DESCIONS.

And who are you to tell us all that in this tone?

[Justine+David 218]

We planned for a wedding a year in advance of filing, looking at processing times and the fact that he is from a low-fraud country so as very likely not to get any AP.

We booked our venue, photographer, and church with the understanding on all parties that we would push the date forward if necessary.

As such, we did plan a formal wedding (100+ guests) without knowing his entry date and it turned out well.

You can plan for a ceremony...you just need to be careful when doing it, taking into consideration current processing times, consulate specific outcomes, and flexibility.