Wedding and Work related question.

[Onini 2]

I'm not sure if this is the best place to write. Sorry I just discovered this place three days ago and we have just begun our K-1 process of gathering things. So far everything here has been a huge help so I thought I should join and ask.

Question 1:

This is probably going to have a long answer. Basically I'd like any advice on planning the actual wedding ceremony, being I'm very optimistic that we will not be denied the visa. Of course most vendors you have to book in advance and put in a down payment. Because the time of processing varies from person to person I have a feeling this will be difficult. Does anyone have advice on this? Also does anyone have any additional advice on what I can do for the time being without money setbacks because of cancelation?

Question 2:

Our original goal was for my boyfriend (He’s from Canada btw) to get a job in the states first and then get married. However even with a pile of recommendation letters, networking friends in many companies and having done several interviews (at the moment he works in gaming for Ubisoft Montreal! Fun job) it always seems to be a problem that he was foreign and no one would sponsor him. So finally we just thought to go for it and the job will come.

My question is, if during the 6-9month process a job offer actually does come up how does that affect our process? What measures would we then have to take?

Again I sure hope this is in the proper spot.

[lost_at_sea 995]

1. The most advice you're gonna get is "DON'T". At least, don't book anything you can't change or move with minimal cost. There's often surprise delays to this stuff, so always plan in some extra time. Remember you've got a whole 90 days from entry into the US to get married, so you don't need to have it for the first weekend or anything. If you want to plan something, maybe you could focus on the things that aren't time sensitive - your dress, his suit, what flowers you'd like, scoping out venues... that sort of thing. Your instinct is very correct in that time for processing and then the actual visa application does vary a lot person to person. If you complete your timeline (if you've already filed, naturally), you'll get an estimate on when you may get your petition approved (then add 3 - 5 months on the Canadian side for the actual visa application processing time):

Your timeline link: http://www.visajourney.com/timeline/profile.php?id=162904

Thread about completing timelines: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/forum/128-k-1-fiancee-visa-case-filing-and-progress-reports/

2. Your fiance won't be able to work until after you're married and you've filed AOS (adjustment of status) and his EAD (basically, his employment authorisation permit until his GC comes through). It'll take him about 3 or 4 months from filing the EAD to get it. This is the guide you'll follow once you're married that should explain this part a bit to you:

AOS: http://www.visajourney.com/content/k1k3aos

EAD: http://www.visajourney.com/content/k1k3ead

If having your fiance work ASAP is a priority for you, the spousal visa may be a better bet for you. That involves you marrying now in the US or Canada (or anywhere) and filing the I-130 for CR-1 visa (still while he continues to live in Canada). The bonus to this is as soon as he has the visa and enters the US, he has a greencard and can work.

Here's a guide for this:

http://www.visajourney.com/content/i130guide1

And a general comparison guide:

http://www.visajourney.com/content/compare

Edited June 23, 2013 by lost_at_sea

[Pitaya 2,577]

Welcome to the forum.

Due to the time frame uncertainty of these visa processes, it is generally recommended that folks REFRAIN from making ANY wedding reservations/deposits/payments that are non-refundable. Many people hold-off from making any reservations of ANY kind until the visa is in the beneficiary's passport in the beneficiary's possession. Check it out yourself using the forum's Google search function with the terms "Visa wedding plans."

Your K-1 fiancé will be able to legally work in the US after marriage, after filing for Adjustment of Status (AOS), and concurrently applying for (and receiving) the Employment Authorization Document (EAD), or receiving his 2-year Conditional Green Card.

Good luck as you embark on your immigration journey.

[KayDeeCee 4,896]

If he needs to work right away after moving to the US, then do not do the K-1. Get married first and then file for the CR-1 spousal visa. When he enters the US with a CR-1, he will become a permanent resident and be able to work(once he receives an SSN) and travel freely.

[VanessaTony 3,567]

1. A lot of people have a legal wedding first, and then plan the "party" for later. You could get legally married now, file for the CR-1, and then plan for the party once he's here. Once you get NOA2 (petition approval) you could probably book wedding stuff about 6 months out relatively safely... but it's still not recommended. Not necessarily because of denial, but because of the wait time.

2. Well, he can't enter the US on a non-immigrant visa unless it's a dual intent visa because you ARE planning on him staying, (entering with intent to stay is fraud). So it's best that you get married asap and file for the CR-1. he will get a GC on entry an that makes the job situation easier.

[Onini 2]

Thanks for all the response guys. I’ll hold off on any wedding plans besides some of the ones suggested such as my dress, maybe even let the bridesmaids get theirs too. We can always store those away till later.

Also it's not that him working is a must just that, you know the old saying, "when opportunity knocks" etc, etc… A possible 9 months is a long time for opportunities. He has had about 5 promising interviews in the past year but again it also comes down to sponsoring. We tried that route for about 2 years waiting and every time we fell short to it working out. That’s why we have started looking to just filing the K-1 and hoping that once we get him here and adjust his status those same companies that were so interested before noticing he was Canadian (seriously some of them sounded surprised when he reminded them of that like they didn’t even read the resume) might consider him again.

I understand the marry now and then file but the thought of having to tell my “husband” see you soon at the airport is just something I don’t want to do. Also a little background I’m 26 living with my parents because my areas cost of living is high. If you want to move out around here you need a roommate and I don’t want to go through the process of finding one and then telling him getting married bye! So basically long story short not sure my parents would want their daughter, married, living at home.

I think the K-1 route will have to be the way to go and hopefully he won’t feel too bad if a job offer pops up out of nowhere. I’ll need to discuss all this with him of course.

Thank you.

[Onini 2]

I’ve been reading up on that CR-1 Visa. One of the minus on the compare chart is it says he will probably not be allowed access into the US. I don’t see much detail on this anywhere. Is that only at a certain part of the process? Can I still visit him?

Right now K-1 is our default plan, CR-1 sounds like it might be a little fast but if I wont be allowed to see him will have to consider that.

[lost_at_sea 995]

Ive been reading up on that CR-1 Visa. One of the minus on the compare chart is it says he will probably not be allowed access into the US. I dont see much detail on this anywhere. Is that only at a certain part of the process? Can I still visit him?

Right now K-1 is our default plan, CR-1 sounds like it might be a little fast but if I wont be allowed to see him will have to consider that.

No, it's not a certain. He can still travel as a tourist, but he may get more hassle at the border about it. He can do so, but he should travel with evidence of good ties back home, return travel info etc. to show he's not planning to stay illegally.

You can still visit him, but the same can apply (they make think you're planning to stay in Canada).

It's more of a warning than an absolute no-no.

The same advice is good even on K1 path. Border agents are often more likely to hassle anyone visiting their bf/gf/fiance/spouse.

Edited June 23, 2013 by lost_at_sea

[brian@alejandra 20]

No, it's not a certain. He can still travel as a tourist, but he may get more hassle at the border about it. He can do so, but he should travel with evidence of good ties back home, return travel info etc. to show he's not planning to stay illegally.

You can still visit him, but the same can apply (they make think you're planning to stay in Canada).

It's more of a warning than an absolute no-no.

The same advice is good even on K1 path. Border agents are often more likely to hassle anyone visiting their bf/gf/fiance/spouse.

Oh wow, I have read about ppl being hassled when they say they are visiting their fiance, and I still told the agents in mexico thats why i was there! I need to be more careful,

[NikLR 13,232]

I never had any trouble visiting my husband when I was in Canada. There are many CR1 people who also visited, sometimes every weekend, without any issues. I always stated I was going to visit my husband and had proof of my ties to Canada including a return ticket. Honestly I was never asked to see those ties and was only asked a few more questions than normal (like where I work, where he works, how we met, what sort of immigration are we doing...) But I was never denied entry. However my stays were always 7-10 days as well. ALWAYS tell the truth when crossing the border. If your intention is to see your spouse or fiancé then say it.

In addition to the 90 days after you cross over to the USA, you also have 6 months from the medical date to cross the border. So essentially after you have your visa you have up to 9 months in which to plan a wedding. Remember, however, that after the wedding you cannot travel anywhere outside of the USA for a honeymoon.

From filing to living with my husband it was almost 8 months. We waited quite some time to file however because we were deciding in a direction to take because he didn't have employment after leaving the military. We were quite close to having him move up to Canada instead which was the initial direction we were going to take when we met.

[NikLR 13,232]

To be honest, I always think that you should be ready to be married after you're engaged. The engagement is merely time to plan a wedding.

But that's a personal opinion.

[Protocol417 161]

Thanks for all the response guys. I’ll hold off on any wedding plans besides some of the ones suggested such as my dress, maybe even let the bridesmaids get theirs too. We can always store those away till later.

As someone who's been married before, I can't recommend doing this. In my previous marriage I had a long engagement because my father was stationed in Iraq, and we were waiting for him to return. I found a really good deal on a wedding dress and so I snapped it up, but by the time the wedding had come around I'd gained weight and could barely breathe in the thing! *lol* Not saying the same will happen to you, but you never know. The anxiety and stress from this whole process can affect your eating habits one way or the other.

Personally, we're having a small legal ceremony once he arrives on his K-1, and then later when we're both working and can afford it, we'll have a nice celebration

[NikLR 13,232]

I had a tiny wedding. It was awesome! We didn't have a reception (had a lunch at a nice restaurant instead). A family get together the day before is when we were given gifts. I wouldn't change it for the world!!!

(clickable thumbnail)

Edited June 24, 2013 by NikiR

[asmith609 2]

Hello. My advice is to do whatever you think is best. I knew in my heart I wanted to have the wedding I dreamed of and that was not at the courthouse (not that there is anything wrong with that--I know that the important thing is the fact that you're joining your lives). I wanted to get married in the church I grew up in and have a wonderful party with all of our family and friends in attendance. We were very blessed with our timeline, so blessed. We started working with our vendors about 7 months before our wedding, and a few weeks after we submitted our K-1 paperwork. We had incredibly flexible vendors and ended up changing our date 3 times! Get everything in writing--and work with vendors who won't charge you to change the date. We sent out our wedding invitations as soon as he was approved for his visa and got married once he'd been in the states about 2 months. Everything was just as I dreamed it would be.

It is possible. It's a lot of work, a ton of planning, and a lot of prayer---but you can do it! Our wedding video below is proof. Best of luck to you! -Ashley

http://www.anecdotallyyours.com/blog/2013/06/21/ashley-and-gustavos-wedding-film-in-english-and-spanish/

[EmMatt 2]

Hello. My advice is to do whatever you think is best. I knew in my heart I wanted to have the wedding I dreamed of and that was not at the courthouse (not that there is anything wrong with that--I know that the important thing is the fact that you're joining your lives). I wanted to get married in the church I grew up in and have a wonderful party with all of our family and friends in attendance. We were very blessed with our timeline, so blessed. We started working with our vendors about 7 months before our wedding, and a few weeks after we submitted our K-1 paperwork. We had incredibly flexible vendors and ended up changing our date 3 times! Get everything in writing--and work with vendors who won't charge you to change the date. We sent out our wedding invitations as soon as he was approved for his visa and got married once he'd been in the states about 2 months. Everything was just as I dreamed it would be.

It is possible. It's a lot of work, a ton of planning, and a lot of prayer---but you can do it! Our wedding video below is proof. Best of luck to you! -Ashley

http://www.anecdotallyyours.com/blog/2013/06/21/ashley-and-gustavos-wedding-film-in-english-and-spanish/

This really is proof of what you can achieve, a Beautiful wedding! I hope mine will be just as beautiful.

It's 2 weeks until my interview now for K1, so I am starting to discuss contracts with my chosen venue & starting to choose caterers etc for our Wedding in just under 2 months time. I obviously won't book my flight until visa is in hand, but my timeline is looking very promising after so much patience that we will have the wedding of our dreams & more importantly be about to start the rest of our lives together at last.

Edited June 24, 2013 by EmMatt