February 2014 filers

[byrd_75 9]

I am so exciting for everyone!!! planning and dresses.... oh my!!!!! Lol

Noah wants to go to the courts and get married as soon as I enter the states... lol... but I am not a fan of the whole 2 weddings (alto the most practical idea) ..... I am hoping to find a way to balance planning a fun and unique wedding while dealing with the stress of the visa process and packing up my life and moving from Toronto to LA...... thank goodness for my family, friends and you wonderful peeps that help me ease my anxiety

Has anyone ever researched getting married in the US Virgin Islands?? We are tossing around the idea of a beach wedding but I prefer the idea of an all-inclusive resort....... so we d have a week of fun celebrating our future together with everyone we love......I know....I'm corny!

[aruadha 58]

It's reassuring too see that some other people are doing the small courthouse and then a bigger wedding afterwards! I felt really bad about my haste to get married and have a little legal wedding to get everything rolling as none of my family can attend but I suppose this kinda relaxes me! We're going to get married-married the week after I get there and then rent a big old house in Vegas in November and my family will attend and have a Las Vegas ceremony which will be 'different'

I also like seeing that others are doing the courthouse first then another wedding later. My fiance and I have spoken about how completely unromantic and business-like this whole thing makes getting married. He has never been married before but I have, so I want it to be special for him. It's a whole nother mindset to think of the "big wedding" later on down the line being the more meaningful one. But if that is how it must be, then I need to adjust my attitude about it. lol.

[Tina and Johan 206]

Is anyone incorporating their fiance's culture into the wedding plans? I would love to hear about some if the non-American customs that will be employed/practiced!!

We are, sort of. Johan's from South Africa, and there they have this huge tradition there, known as Braai, which is essentially the whole American BBQ craze to the 10th power. So for our reception, we're having as close to a South African Braai as we can, and it's using what's known here as a Santa Maria bbq. I've also asked his sister to help me find some of his favorite South African recipes to give to the caterer, who is more than willing to use them. Plus, I'm planning to serve Irish coffee, since he's also an Irish citizen after living there for 15 years. I have done some research on South African wedding traditions and customs, but pretty much everything I'm seeing is tribal, and he's Afrikaans, so that doesn't really work here. Although, I think some sort of "hand fasting" (which they do sometimes do in SA) would be sorta cool.

[Tina and Johan 206]

Has anyone ever researched getting married in the US Virgin Islands?? We are tossing around the idea of a beach wedding but I prefer the idea of an all-inclusive resort....... so we d have a week of fun celebrating our future together with everyone we love......I know....I'm corny!

I asked this question on the forums here a couple months ago, and I essentially got answers like "what, the US doesn't already have enough for you to see?" and "why would you even push the boundaries and chance immigration problems?" So, sadly, I got zero concrete answers about this.

[Tina and Johan 206]

It's a whole nother mindset to think of the "big wedding" later on down the line being the more meaningful one. But if that is how it must be, then I need to adjust my attitude about it. lol.

We are looking at it this way: our court wedding is going to be as non-sentimental as possible. We aren't even exchanging rings then. We see it as only a legality because, unlike if he were just coming from another state, there are rules and regulations for immigrants, and we're jumping through those hoops. We actually aren't telling anyone (apart from you guys! And my sister). It will help us several ways, one being filing AOS ASAP (have I ever mentioned my aversion to acronyms?! ), another being the pending expiration of his newly acquired drivers license as soon as his I-94 at the end of the 90 days. Plus, I can't add him or his son to my insurance policy until we're legally married, and (last but not least) he can work sooner. He has a tentative job offer and doesn't want to put off working longer than possible. when I was married the first time, it was in Alaska, and no one was there for it (I actually didn't even wear make up that day). My intention was to have the big traditional wedding down in LA on our year anniversary, but it didn't pan out as planned or promised. This is partly why we aren't telling people, so that it can't be said that we "already had our wedding."

[MichelleRenee 14]

I love hearing about everyones plans! We had originally planned to do the courthouse thing, but at the end of the day, it didn't feel right to me, as silly as that sounds. Then we thought about eloping on the beach, but after talking to my mom, that didn't seem right either! Right now, we are planning on having a small backyard ceremony with about 10 people (mainly friends). My parents are divorced and my dad is still incredibly childish, so it seems as though if my mom is there, he will not come. So that has been a bit stressful to deal with. So just my mom, my brother, and friends for now. We are planning on having a reception next year so everyone in our families can meet then.

Unfortunately his parents/family/friends will not be able to come over for the ceremony, so we are thinking of having a vow renewal next year before our reception. To be honest, planning HOW to get married has been the most stressful part! I hate that we are rushed to do it, it definitely takes away from doing things exactly the way we want. But we are trying to make things work in a way that still feels special to us.

[Gabi and Uri 0]

I agree it is so fun to hear everyone's plans! How exciting for everyone!

We too were not a fan of a courthouse wedding. We wanted to have a religious ceremony. We have decided we are going to do a wedding Labor Day weekend (yes we are gamblers). That way I have the time off from school and our family will be able to come. It is only going to be about 50 people. His family from China is not able to come but we will have a wedding reception when we visit in 2 years. Planning a wedding has actually been kind of a relaxing break for me to keep my mind of everything else. It has been my getaway.

[Sail0r 7]

I'm sat in the London embassy! Waited for 45 minutes in the rain due to a mix up (bloody goverment like to mess me around )

First little counter appointment done, waited 40 minutes. Now I'm at the hour waiting mark for my second little interview. Two numbers to go until it's my turn, I'm bored out of my brains, I advise bringing reading material!!!!

Also make sure any guests you bring are 'on the list' and have photo ID they're turning away a lot of people from coming in due to that!

Edited May 27, 2014 by Sail0r

[Kiwi1 4]

I'm sat in the London embassy! Waited for 45 minutes in the rain due to a mix up (bloody goverment like to mess me around )

First little counter appointment done, waited 40 minutes. Now I'm at the hour waiting mark for my second little interview. Two numbers to go until it's my turn, I'm bored out of my brains, I advise bringing reading material!!!!

Also make sure any guests you bring are 'on the list' and have photo ID they're turning away a lot of people from coming in due to that!

This process seems to be full of waiting no matter what stage you're at! ? Very exciting though! Good luck and let us all know how it goes!

[aruadha 58]

I'm sat in the London embassy! Waited for 45 minutes in the rain due to a mix up (bloody goverment like to mess me around )

First little counter appointment done, waited 40 minutes. Now I'm at the hour waiting mark for my second little interview. Two numbers to go until it's my turn, I'm bored out of my brains, I advise bringing reading material!!!!

Also make sure any guests you bring are 'on the list' and have photo ID they're turning away a lot of people from coming in due to that!

Best of Luck! I am sure it will be great! Almost there!

[anon2018 5]

I'm sat in the London embassy! Waited for 45 minutes in the rain due to a mix up (bloody goverment like to mess me around )

First little counter appointment done, waited 40 minutes. Now I'm at the hour waiting mark for my second little interview. Two numbers to go until it's my turn, I'm bored out of my brains, I advise bringing reading material!!!!

Also make sure any guests you bring are 'on the list' and have photo ID they're turning away a lot of people from coming in due to that!

Goodness, that came around quick! Good luck! You must surely know by now?

[Tina and Johan 206]

I'm sat in the London embassy!

Can't wait to read all about it!

Johan is STILL waiting for his documents from South Africa to be able to send in his readiness form! His tracked package has been sitting in Johannesburg for 2 weeks now. But the best part of all this wait is his mom sent him some certified copies of the same papers via regular mail, and he got those today. So he's sending in his stuff to the Dublin embassy and hoping for the best. This delay has set us back at least 3 weeks. NOT happy about it.

[Nikki181 8]

So Ben got the same email response that I did, basically saying we have everything that we need and you'll get your letter within 6 weeks!

Everything has been in and ready for 2 weeks now! Yet no letter or they won't tell us anything through email. I'm so upset! I've been doing a lot of crying! I just want to hear SOMETHING!!!

[Sail0r 7]

SO!!!

They finally called my number an hour and a half after my first little ~desk meeting~ (they call you up twice once to grab all the paperwork confirm who you are, make sure you paid and do you finger prints! Make sure you have copy's of your birth certificate ect I was asked and didn't have one and my guy huffed around for a couple of minutes because he had to copy it himself!)

The woman I had for the main interview was so happy smiley, when I walked over she was reading my file. It really paid off sending loads of proof of relationship, photos, emails, ect with my first packet as first thing she said to me was how sweet and funny we both were!

Most of the previous applicants had been up at the window for 15-20 minutes being asked questions but my interview was around 7-8 minutes long a majority of it was me telling the story of how we met! She did test me on the dates me met and asked me what he did for work but that was all the questions she asked! She then smiled at me and said 'I'm going to advise that you get approved! Thank you' and then told me I'd get my visa delivered within two weeks and that I could leave!

So bloody happy right now, I'm giving in my two months notice in at work tomorrow and hopefully booking a flight for the end of July!

[anon2018 5]

SO!!!

They finally called my number an hour and a half after my first little ~desk meeting~ (they call you up twice once to grab all the paperwork confirm who you are, make sure you paid and do you finger prints! Make sure you have copy's of your birth certificate ect I was asked and didn't have one and my guy huffed around for a couple of minutes because he had to copy it himself!)

The woman I had for the main interview was so happy smiley, when I walked over she was reading my file. It really paid off sending loads of proof of relationship, photos, emails, ect with my first packet as first thing she said to me was how sweet and funny we both were!

Most of the previous applicants had been up at the window for 15-20 minutes being asked questions but my interview was around 7-8 minutes long a majority of it was me telling the story of how we met! She did test me on the dates me met and asked me what he did for work but that was all the questions she asked! She then smiled at me and said 'I'm going to advise that you get approved! Thank you' and then told me I'd get my visa delivered within two weeks and that I could leave!

So bloody happy right now, I'm giving in my two months notice in at work tomorrow and hopefully booking a flight for the end of July!

Amazing! So glad you got approved. It seems like it was a really painless process, then? Was there anything else that was unexpected for you?

...Me next. *gulp*. A week and a half to wait!