K 1 Visa - Ottawa, Ontario

[Shelbym 2]

I think that asking your parents or bridal party to spread the news to family and friends that you would like a close knit wedding and for them also to say you can't afford much because of immigration and limited finances is not rude. It's hard because etiquette says that you shouldn't say this yourself, but I told my mom and my aunt (who helped with my wedding plans) that I just couldn't afford things like a wedding reception and I needed the guest list to be as small as possible, and they spread the word. My family is understanding about that sort of thing because everyone has had hard times. My husband wasn't working but had enough savings to support himself. I was a single parent.

We had a BBQ the night before the wedding and a lunch the next day. My mom and step-dad were awesome and paid for my dress ($250) and the lunch. People came to the lunch expecting to pay for themselves so that was a nice surprise for everyone. It was at a nice restaurant but because it was lunch we got 3 course meals for $15 per person. I know catering can be cheaper than that but then you have to pay for a place to have it! I probably had to do the most driving out of everyone to be honest, but my one cousin did drive 6 hours.

Nothing wrong either with having a very informal civil ceremony with parents and siblings (or just parents) and having a larger party for your 1 year anniversary when you have established yourselves.

Just to add on to this, my fiance and I are planning on doing a courthouse ceremony and then dinner with my mom, brother, and his best friend who is flying out for the ceremony. We're going to have a big lunch with both of our families next summer so that they can see our new home and his new life in America

[Melisandre 5]

I'm in a very weird problem regarding my birth certificate.

I asked my uncle to get my birth certificate from Bangladesh. He went to get it and they asked for photocopy of my passport and my drivers licence. I sent both. Then they said my current address is not mentioned on the main page of the passport (!!!!) so they can't put my current Canadian address on the birth certificate. They said the best they can do is put the address of Bangladesh that I'd use IF I were to visit Bangladesh. That would be my uncle's home address, Where I usually stay when I visit. How big of a trouble am I in? Clearly my current address is Canadian, not to mention I haven't lived in Bangladesh since I turned 13 so I don't even have a police record from Bangladesh. What should I do...would they make a big fuss about it at the embassy? Or can I just explain that their system back there just SUCKS! Ughh...this is so extremely stressful.

[Melisandre 5]

What's WORSE is they didn't even record anything electronically untill 2011 so basically I'm getting a new certificate that they kept no record of!

[Melisandre 5]

My fiance is having a panic attack and saying stuff like that's it this is it we're doomed, let's hire a lawyer! I want to kick him.

[pro_star 52]

No, not doomed.

Um. Honestly not knowing how the Bangladesh stuff goes, so I can't give you a straight answer for that. Try their regional forums. But, I mean, why does your birth certificate even need an address on it? Or do they mean an address to ship it to?

Bc having an address on it that must be current etc makes zero sense to me, I've lived a whole lot of places other than the house I was born (base brat!)

I'd think the important thing on it is your name, your parents names, date of birth, city/town/village/what have you of birth.

Have you tried contacting the Bangladesh authorities directly instead of going through your uncle? It may be a case of he said she said purple monkey dishwasher....(and by that I mean the more people something goes through, the more possible it is for the message to change). Or try contacting a consulate here and asking them what's up.

I wouldn't suggest making "a big fuss" though. I know it's stressful times and a silly situation but 9/10, the people you talk to...aren't the ones who call the shots. Keep calm, explain the situation...save the big guns unless it becomes necessary.

[Melisandre 5]

I know right! Why would a birth certificate need a permanent address AND a current address! They said my current address has to be on the main page of my passport! In what world does one's address appear on the main page of the passport! My uncle thinks they want money... apparently the guy said "Well bring me the appropriate document and I'll see what I can do, things are possible" - what a douchebag. I can't believe I'm being asked to bribe get MY birth certificate.

I might have to pay him at the end but I wanna contact the ministry of foreign affairs and the consulate first. This dude is just ughhh..everything that's wrong with South Asia!

[pro_star 52]

Yikes

Manitoba seems downright reasonable by comparison. (Though I did end up finding mine.)

[Melisandre 5]

Sorry for disappearing like that, been down with an awful cold and perhaps food poisoning!

You guyssss we got our NOA1 last week! And my uncle was also able to recover my birth certificate from Bangladesh! We're back on track.