Will a private wedding, arouse suspicion?

[srvman 38]

Okay,

So I mentioned this within another post, on a semi unrelated post, but I thought it should probably merit an inquisitive post.

We are going through our options after getting engaged two weeks ago,

Some members of the forum have suggested getting married here, while my visa is still valid.

Now there is one potential issue that I think would arouse suspicion.

If we were to get married, it would be without family or friends, as we just got engaged, and we both don't think it would be fair on my side of the family, as they wouldn't be able to travel such a distance in a short period of time. I am in the middle of nowhere out here (Great Falls, Montana) and it isn't an easy place to fly to.Also, we are both convinced that her family wouldn't think it was too hot of an idea to get married so soon after getting engaged.

Would it be reasonable for us to have this explanation:

We got married at a town hall (or equivalent) with no family or friends, because we are trying to save on, cost, travel, and time apart now, and so that I could also be able to start contributing to the household, and towards having a bigger more beautiful wedding where all our friends and family could enjoy, next summer?

Is that feasible? Would it arouse suspicion?

To be honest, I love my fiance, and she is pretty close to the only reason for me wanting to move out here ( I have a bunch of friends here too, and Montana is an extremely beautiful and cheap place to live too, so its not all bad.) and for right now, it is much easier for me to move out here, as I am more mentally and emotionally prepared than I think she would be for a long time, to be apart from my family for extended periods of time, and she also has a great job, which is pretty sought after where we are, and a very hard company to get your foot in the door.

I understand this was a longer post, and I appreciate you all for taking the time to read it if you did. Thanks for reading, and hopefully we can get some clarification.

[graziani.df 0]

Hi, I hope we can help you. We chose the other option; to live in my husband's home country. His family was our main reason as well as resources, etc. We planned for over a year for a wedding in Italy as I have very few friends and family. I researched everything about this and we were in a much worse position then you actually. We decided to get married in the US and only knowing we would not be staying in the US (this was over 2 years ago). The law is very clear stating that you can marry under a tourist visa but it can't be pre-planned. If you were only engaged for two weeks that seems the best way to prove that you had not planned to get married on your visa. We took a chance on his tourist visa as he had been to the US on the same visa before (VWP program). I sweated and worried the whole time and for absolutely no reason. You are already there. We eloped at a little chapel. You actually shouldn't have a large wedding as that would raise more suspicion that you had planned to just come to the US to get married. Hope to have helped you with that. We have been going through the process of immigration in two different countries and I have learned to just relax and be true in the fact that you love each other. That is really the primary requirement. Good luck. Oh and don't get married in Vegas (smile). It's allowable but a lot more work to prove a legite wedding.

[lost_at_sea 995]

We got approved today for our visa (yay) and our wedding was "private" by your definition. We were married in the town hall with just 2 witnesses. No family, no other friends. The interviewer asked us about our wedding, and we told her this, and she didn't seem to think that was weird - she seemed to think it was cute that it was just us and 2 of our very best friends.

Now - about the rest of your post - you're talking about getting married where? In the UK or the US? Is the plan to then file for the I-130 and CR-1 visa while whichever half of you continues to live in the UK?

[srvman 38]

She is the USC. The plan would be to get married here. After finding out that I would have to go to London twice for K1/Cr1, it has put me off the idea considerably. Especially when someone on the forum put the cost of K1, and that doesnt even include flights from belfast, and hotel. Thanks for your stories, I am sure you know it is nice to hear a familiar story or idea, it is very encouraging

Oh and congratulations on your visa success!!!!

[lost_at_sea 995]

She is the USC. The plan would be to get married here. After finding out that I would have to go to London twice for K1/Cr1, it has put me off the idea considerably. Especially when someone on the forum put the cost of K1, and that doesnt even include flights from belfast, and hotel. Thanks for your stories, I am sure you know it is nice to hear a familiar story or idea, it is very encouraging

Oh and congratulations on your visa success!!!!

Thank you kindly.

I'm not really sure if you're looking for further advice, but if you're intending to eventually settle in the US as the spouse of an American, then your only two routes are the K1 or CR-1, really (or IR-1 if you go for the visa after 2 years of being married). In the long run, the CR-1 is the cheaper option. There's a comparison guide here: http://www.visajourney.com/content/compare

Else, other paths that would let you live in the US would be to find a job that'll sponsor you, or to become a US student.

[SBB 74]

My wife and I eloped, it caused no problems with her AOS.

[Xanax 349]

We had a courthouse wedding, no issues with AOS.

[Darnell 8,478]

srvman - arouse suspicion with who/whom?

[CarlaDave 27]

We, too, had a private ceremony on the beach. Short notice and long distance prevented my husband's family from attending. As someone else posted, since it wasn't fair that Dave's family couldn't be there, I didn't include mine. We explained this at our interview and it seems that it's a common and logical reason for a private ceremony.

[ValerieA 350]

OP, there does seem to be some confusion on this thread - are you here in the US now? If so, you would likely be better off AOSing from within the US, rather than going to the expense and trouble of a K-1 or CR-1. My husband and I only had my 2 friends and their 2 children at our wedding, and it was no big deal. However, if the question comes up, it may be a red flag to them that your family does not know you are married - just make sure you have informed them before your AOS interview and that will negate that issue. Send in good proof of a bonafide marriage (joint bank account, insurance, etc.) and you should be fine.

You have F-1 under your visa status; are you here on a student visa?