Wedding in April 1st NOA recieved yesterday

[Papetica09 16]

Yes it was a mistake, no need to get personal. I was only asking the question. Sorry for your own personal circumstances but theres not need to take it out on me for simply asking a question.

Please understand that many ppl try to do exactly what you are trying to do. When the rest of us are playing by the rules. Yes it was bad planning but it's fixable if you make the right decisions. If you try to outsmart USCIS it can back fire, and the wait be longer and the loss greater. At the end of the day is your decision and in this forum we hear ppl like you all the time asking for expedite on unsustained grounds.

Hope that everything works out for you both!

Edited May 28, 2014 by Iliana&Amaury

[Krikit 1,164]

A number of abusive posts have been removed, along with those quoting them. Please be civil in your responses or you will be banned from the thread. There is nothing wrong with the OP asking a question to educate himself. It is how we learn the process. Thank you for your cooperation.

[ricnally 258]

Also bear in mind that if you decide to go through with your idea of a non-binding celebration of some kind that there's also a chance that that might be the time you get denied at POE because of the suspicion that you're planning to immigrate (especially if they ask you your intent and you answer that you're going to attend something that may sound a bit shady to them--with tuxedo and wedding ring in hand, no less!). Think what a drag that would be if everyone but the groom showed up for the big, expensive party.

Edited May 29, 2014 by ricnally

[Cathi 5,748]

I see what you mean and i take your point. There are people who are in far greater need than me who are even more important.

Trouble is that we both have family and friends who have made plans already. Flights booked, accomodation booked and paid for etc.

I know my fiance will be gutted if this is postponed and the last thing i want is to see her upset.

We might as well ring up and ask. See how we get on?

If that fails, which it probably will understandably, im thinking of:

travelling on the visa waiver program,

Having a non legal binding ceremony,

Returning home to wait on approval,

Travelling back with K1 approval

Marrying :-)

you 100% do not have grounds for an expedite. You should have done more research on the process before booking a wedding and plane reservations. The consulate does not care who, why, what, when or how you lose money because you went ahead and booked a venue before having your visa in hand. They are not in the business of expediting visas for non-emergent situations.

[gnralph 0]

Also bear in mind that if you decide to go through with your idea of a non-binding celebration of some kind that there's also a chance that that might be the time you get denied at POE because of the suspicion that you're planning to immigrate (especially if they ask you your intent and you answer that you're going to attend something that may sound a bit shady to them--with tuxedo and wedding ring in hand, no less!). Think what a drag that would be if everyone but the groom showed up for the big, expensive party.

I hear ya. Thats another concern. I have a job currently with a US multinational based in Ireland, i can get a letter off them. I have a return flight booked and intend to use it as i am not planning on moving over to the US full time until feb march next year.

Has anyone done this before?

[gnralph 0]

you 100% do not have grounds for an expedite. You should have done more research on the process before booking a wedding and plane reservations. The consulate does not care who, why, what, when or how you lose money because you went ahead and booked a venue before having your visa in hand. They are not in the business of expediting visas for non-emergent situations.

Yeah i was thinking as much. As i said im new to the system but defo should have done more research.

The only thing i was hoping for was that it might be pulled in a few weeks if thats all i need. Should have researched before though. You are 100% right, but im here now!

Thanks :-)

[Jo Së 200]

Well, I am not here to encourage you to go ahead and have a ceremony prior to having the visa in hand, but that is what me and my wife did.

We had a big catholic wedding in Mexico prior to entering the US, once we entered the US without any issues whatsoever we had our civil wedding. In Many countries getting married in the church does not mean you are legally married, you still have to have a civil wedding to make it legal. Because she was coming here with a fiancee visa obviously that was not an option, but we still had our wedding with all of our family and friends.

Edited May 29, 2014 by Jose&Eli

[David & Diana R 1,005]

Thanks for your advice and best wishes. Really appreciate both :-)

The last thing i want to do is go over there without the K1 in hand and have some sort of ceremony that can be seen as an official wedding. I am only ever doing this once so i want to do it right!

Ive read that there is an expidite process? There are certain circumstances though. Financial loss... I.e. My fiance(the petitioner losing financially). I stand to loose a few thousand(nothing worth crying about) but her father is shelling out 5 figures!! Thats what is really worring me.

we applied in april, wedding in november engaged since december. Theres a fair amount of money being paid out, for the wedding. Has anyone come across this before?

Not grounds for an expedite. The government didn't tell father in law to plan and pay for wedding yet. You would be much safer post poning the affair until you have the documents in hand. Just saying. Good luck and God Bless.

[JE57 239]

I hear ya. Thats another concern. I have a job currently with a US multinational based in Ireland, i can get a letter off them. I have a return flight booked and intend to use it as i am not planning on moving over to the US full time until feb march next year.

Has anyone done this before?

Well... You have more reading to. If you are planning to come and get married and then leave the US after marriage then there is no need to wait for the K-1 Visa. Once you arrive on a US visa you need to apply for AOS (Adjustment of Status) and WAIT 2-4 months to get your permission to work AND your permission to leave and re-enter the USA. *IF* you leave the USA before you get your Advance Parole then you will *not* be allowed back in while waiting for your green card. You *may* not be let in on any other type of Visa either. So, unless you know something that the majority of the members on this board do not know or have other circumstances it sounds like your financee may have petitioned for the wrong visa. That's the bad news. The good news is your plans fit nicely into a spousal visa time line. You could still travel to the USA and get married as planned on a tourist visa (AND THEN LEAVE AS PLANNED). Then file the I-130 for a spousal visa. That takes 12-15 months , sometimes more sometimes less. The advantage is that once you get it you enter the USA and get a green card within a week and have no restrictions on working or travel outside the USA.

[jfgk1987 303]

Thanks for your advice and best wishes. Really appreciate both :-)

The last thing i want to do is go over there without the K1 in hand and have some sort of ceremony that can be seen as an official wedding. I am only ever doing this once so i want to do it right!

Ive read that there is an expidite process? There are certain circumstances though. Financial loss... I.e. My fiance(the petitioner losing financially). I stand to loose a few thousand(nothing worth crying about) but her father is shelling out 5 figures!! Thats what is really worring me.

we applied in april, wedding in november engaged since december. Theres a fair amount of money being paid out, for the wedding. Has anyone come across this before?

I know you know by now that this isn't something that's worthy of an expedite. There are people that filed in September and October still waiting for NOA2 from TSC, not many people, but they're still waiting. I would be worried if I were you. If you're able to cancel any of these plans you should definitely do that, otherwise you'll have to pray everything will work out. Mistakes happen, worst case scenario, the wedding comes before the approval does and you'll end up filing an CR-1 spouse visa. Good luck!

[Theboz 10]

I hear ya. Thats another concern. I have a job currently with a US multinational based in Ireland, i can get a letter off them. I have a return flight booked and intend to use it as i am not planning on moving over to the US full time until feb march next year.

Has anyone done this before?

Once you enter the US to marry during the 90 days, you can not work, until you receive AOS, social security(I might be a little off on all that's needed). You can not leave the US for 2 years, but you can file for early parole and after that is approved you may leave and return.

[Krikit 1,164]

Once you enter the US to marry during the 90 days, you can not work, until you receive AOS, social security(I might be a little off on all that's needed). You can not leave the US for 2 years, but you can file for early parole and after that is approved you may leave and return.

Sorry, please.... this is incorrect information. Please see posts above. We don't want the topic to be derailed with confusing information. Thank you.

[PallasAthena 101]

If changing the wedding date is not an option, here is what you can do.

Stop the K-1 process (I-129F gets cancelled). Come to the US in November and get married. Then, return to Ireland and have your fiance petition for you via an I-130 (CR-1 visa).

[PallasAthena 101]

By the way, start counting the 5 - 7 months from the date on the NOA1. So, it wouldn't be April 1st. It would be whatever date is on the NOA1 that you received.

Just be advised that the CR-1 / IR-1 process does take a bit longer (a couple of months longer) than the K-1.

[ggsacks 82]

We have applied in april, 7 months in advance. The average is 5. We are not looking to jump ahead. Im just apprehensive on the timing. Its a little too close for comfort

I dont really think its grounds for an expidite but ive read of other people getting things expidited for less(loss of a weeks wages)so i feel entitled to ask the question about our situation(loss of $30,000) Im not expecting the answer i want but hey thats life and im fine with that. Fair is fair. Theres thousands in this situation i understand.

So No. I do not think im being unfair for simply asking a question.

I said a ceremony, not a marriage ceremony. A celebration of love, an intent to marry ceremony. Call it an engagement ceremony.

Apologies if you think im trying to bump you from the queue

5 months is the stated processing time for the I-129F petition only. There is a lot more to be done following that before you will have your visa in hand. Remember, you are always at the whim of whichever department currently has your file - one step moving faster than average doesn't do anything to prevent you being held up somewhere further down the line.

After your I-129F approval, your case goes to the NVC for processing where it can sit for a significant period of time (ours was at NVC for around a month), then it is shipped to your local embassy at which point the speed you are processed will depend mostly on how fast they move, but also on when you can gather and return the required information and forms, and when interview slots are available. I had my passport with visa in hand almost 2 months after the embassy received my files, and the NZ embassy is definitely among the faster ones.

You do not have grounds for an expedite. Your situation is unfortunate but also entirely within your control. You came here to ask a question of people that know, and hopefully you will have the grace to accept an answer you weren't hoping for.