Wedding in April 1st NOA recieved yesterday

[Rose&Jorge 8]

I am also from Ireland we applied for my k1.

I think the process took about 4/5 months cant remember exactly check my timeline

You can go ahead and have a ceremony that isn't legally binding and u will not void your k1. Then just got married in a registry office when you have ur k1.and use that marriage cert for your aos.

I would say you shud be ok for the proper wedding though. Depends how smoothly ur k1 goes. But generally they are quick at processing them in ireland.

[Heather&Ramy 22]

Everyone has covered this really well, but I'd just like to add that my husband and I filed for the K1 in December 2012. We tentatively planned at that point to have our wedding on American soil in October 2013. My husband JUST finally entered America this past April 2014. People gave us the same warnings, but I too thought I had estimated the time well according to the statistics and gave a few extra months. It's 5-7 months (but varies considerably and upredictably) for the NoA2, but you have to realistically give yourself at least one more month for the NVC stage and then another month or two, minimum, for the embassy stage. Even that is cutting it short. It was over a year from NoA1 before we even had the INTERVIEW, and we had unexpected delays at every stage, including after the interview and after getting the visa in the passport! Granted, our country is quite a bitmore difficult to get through than Ireland, I am sure, but you should still be prepared for each stage going quite a bit longer than expected. I just urge you caution because soooo many of us go through the same situation as you and wish for the best, but then things don't turn out that way! We had our wedding venue booked and we are lucky that they allowed us to transfer the date to 2014. We just had our civil ceremony in the US and are now looking forward to having our wedding this coming October.

And speaking of non-official non-legal celebrations, we had a non legal celebration in Egypt before my husband arrived to America and we had our legal ceremony. But I think that is different than you flying here to have a non-legal ceremony in America. We carefully read the rules for marriage in Egypt on our embassy website and didn't break (or bend) anything in what we did... but in America, pretty much any ceremony is considered a real marriage by the USCIS. I wouldn't attempt it. The risk is too high.

Good luck! I hope your processing goes much faster than all that after all.

.

Edited May 29, 2014 by Heather&Ramy

[ggsacks 82]

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.

Pretty much none of this is true. Here is the correct information:

Social Security

You can apply for a Social Security Number (SSN) with your I-94 after entering with a K-1 visa and before filing AOS. This is best done 2 weeks after your arrival, to ensure your arrival information is correct in the SAVE database. You can apply for an SSN up until 2 weeks before your I-94 expires. When issued before you have your green card, your Social Security Card will have the condition "valid for work only with DHS authorization" which means that the card itself is not proof of employment authorization.

EAD

The Employment Authorization Document (EAD) allows you to work after you have filed for AOS and before you have received your green card. It is usually applied for at the same time as AOS. The processing time is generally 60-90 days.

Advanced Parole

Advanced Parole (AP) is usually applied for at the same time as AOS and EAD, and comes as a condition noted on your EAD card and for this reason is also generally processed in 60-90 days. AP is used to reenter the United States into a further period of authorized stay if you leave the United States while your AOS is pending. Without first being granted AP, leaving the United States before your AOS is approved will result in your green card application being abandoned.

Travel

You can safely leave and reenter the United States if you possess a valid AP or a green card. There is nothing preventing you from traveling for 2 years. Nothing at all.

[raven52 233]

gnralph,

Forgot this,.,.,.,.ANY kind of "ceremony".,.,no matter what you call it, can be determined as a "marriage ceremony".,.,,..,.many people have been denied for such gatherings.

Me and my wife had a huge "engagement" party.,.,.,.I thought 30 people inher Philippine Bargany, but about 200 + were there.,.,.and it was great.,.,,.never had so much fun.,,and got down on one knee and proposed in front of all.,.,.,.,.,BUT..,.,.,.,No ceremony of any kind.,.,..,only a proposal!

[PallasAthena 101]

Opinions are like ahol.... Uh, I mean puppies. Everyone wants to give one away.

[gnralph 0]

Thanks for all the help, advice and stories folks. Really appreciate it.

I guess i'll have to hope and pray it comes through on time, however unlikely that is.

if it not there on time

• i'll head over in November for two weeks on the VWP, have an engagement party and return home
• when the visa does come through i'll head over and get married

or

• head over on the VWP(im a bit iffy about this-any ideas??) and get married
• return home and apply for CR1

i'm extremely reluctant to post the November event as my fiance and both families will be gutted

[Rob & Monika 87]

If you want to return to Ireland to work until next year, K-1 is out of the question. If you plan on working at all the first few months after marriage, K-1 is not the best choice.

A friend of mine got married in secret, then started the CR-1. Later they had an official wedding, and not even their own parents knew they were already married. But they avoided all the travel restrictions and employment restrictions that come with the K-1. Given your timeline and plans, that is the route I would have suggested had you not already applied for the K-1. You could still do it, withdraw your K-1 and apply for the CR-1, but you will likely lose your K-1 fee.

[twofors 30]

Oh no. To give you an idea, there are still people waiting since November for their NOA2 from Texas. I really hope it all works out. Just be really careful with a non official ceremony. I've seen others on here denied a visa due to these type of ceremonies. Ill try to find the post... In the grand scheme of things, putting off the wedding for a few months is way better than being denied and having to re apply and waiting another year when you will be so close...

There are people waiting for lots longer then since November. I am an October 2013 filer (Texas service center) still waiting for NOA2. Did all the calling, talking to Congressmen's office bla, bla, bla. Been in a relationship 7 years tons of documentation, rings purchased for ceremony, notarized affidavits of intent from us as well as minister, wedding venue, and on the list goes on.

[baron555 934]

Will the above help in maybe speeding up the process??

NO

----------------------------------------------

Other option is that it doesn't get approved in time. Wedding is booked for the 8th of November, If I go ahead with the ceremony is it legal?

Yes

- i don't think it is,- that or it voids my K1 visa Yes your K-1 will be invalid and you will then have to file for a CR-1 visa, pay that fee and wait that time period. Very bad idea you guys have.

If I go ahead with a ceremony - just a ceremony, nothing legally binding- and wait until the K1 comes through. Is there any repercussions for this?

You'll then be married.

Any help or advice is greatly appreciated

Cancel everything now and wait out the normal process.

[gnralph 0]

If I go ahead with a ceremony - just a ceremony, nothing legally binding- and wait until the K1 comes through. Is there any repercussions for this?

You'll then be married.

Not a marriage ceremony, just something for the families really. No license or priest/minister - no I do's

Foook it we should have researched this more!!

I'm very reluctant to cancel November. More inclined to rename it/just have a party. no sniff of a wedding.

Then when the visa comes through continue on with the wedding at a court house

[Cori and Rob 55]

My husband and I applied for our K-1 on February 29, 2012 with the intention of getting married on October 20, 2012. I thought this was a good timeline as my terrible lawyer told me the whole process would only take 3-4 months. I discovered VJ in May of 2012 and learned how wrong I was, but I too was hopeful that everything would go through in time. Then we got an RFE in July. We didn't think that would happen, as everything was submitted neatly, but USCIS needed something, and now our process was delayed. We had the good sense to move our wedding, and thank goodness we did, because Rob didn't even get his visa until 2 days before what would have been our wedding. You're choosing to race against a time clock that is completely out of your control, and believe me, this will only cause you stress. It was really upsetting to move my wedding date because I had my heart set on an autumn day, but I would have seriously been losing my hair had we not moved the date. You WILL feel this stress if you keep your current date. The idea of coming here for an "engagement party" is really risky. Plus, what happens if you get denied at the POE? Not saying that will happen, but it could if a customs officer grows suspicious of you. My vote would be to move the wedding now while your vendors won't charge you. If you are really committed to this date, then go the CR-1 route. It sound like that might be the better route given your commitment to your job. Good luck to you.

[Krikit 1,165]

One abusive post removed for ignoring the warning. As promised, member has been thread-banned.

[baron555 934]

Not a marriage ceremony, just something for the families really. No license or priest/minister - no I do's

So it's just a party or dinner or celebration....but not a real ceremony. You used that ceremony word....don't do that. It can trip you up. Parties are fine, ceremonies are not.

Foook it we should have researched this more!!

You know now.

I'm very reluctant to cancel November. More inclined to rename it/just have a party. no sniff of a wedding.

No need to cancel a party. Ceremony?.....never heard of the word !!

Then when the visa comes through continue on with the wedding at a court house

That's what we did then had the dinner with the family later. They all understood....or eventually had to.

[gnralph 0]

My husband and I applied for our K-1 on February 29, 2012 with the intention of getting married on October 20, 2012. I thought this was a good timeline as my terrible lawyer told me the whole process would only take 3-4 months. I discovered VJ in May of 2012 and learned how wrong I was, but I too was hopeful that everything would go through in time. Then we got an RFE in July. We didn't think that would happen, as everything was submitted neatly, but USCIS needed something, and now our process was delayed. We had the good sense to move our wedding, and thank goodness we did, because Rob didn't even get his visa until 2 days before what would have been our wedding. You're choosing to race against a time clock that is completely out of your control, and believe me, this will only cause you stress. It was really upsetting to move my wedding date because I had my heart set on an autumn day, but I would have seriously been losing my hair had we not moved the date. You WILL feel this stress if you keep your current date. The idea of coming here for an "engagement party" is really risky. Plus, what happens if you get denied at the POE? Not saying that will happen, but it could if a customs officer grows suspicious of you. My vote would be to move the wedding now while your vendors won't charge you. If you are really committed to this date, then go the CR-1 route. It sound like that might be the better route given your commitment to your job. Good luck to you.

The similarities are unreal here! Same timelines and all! Everyone is telling me here to shift the wedding and I think i will talk to herself but it will take a lot of convincing. So much stuff in my head now its fried with it all, and I've 5-7 months minimum of it!!

Thanks again for the information

[ConorBradley89 5]

Hi Another member from Ireland here, I was in the exact same position as you, filed everything correctly and booked my wedding for September of this year, parents had booked flights etc. After coming to this forum and realizing just how long everything could take i made the reluctant decision to move my wedding back to May of next year.

Although it was a painful decision at the time and I ended up having to refund my parents it was def that smarter move rather then overruniing my own wedding and losing thousands. Most venues will let you pick a later date at no additional cost if you do it early. Having any sort of ceremony that looks like a wedding puts you at great risk of getting denied for K1, my advice, bite the bullet and move it like i did. Later down the line when everything is finalized youl thank your self for doing it all now while you have the chance.