We don't want to start planning the wedding before we have the visa

[walrusbaby 20]

I know everybody says we shouldn't plan our wedding before we have the visa in hand, and being at TSC I think this is solid advice. So, what do I say if the inteviewer at the embassy asks if we have started planning the wedding?

Won't they consider we aren't serious if I say we haven't been planning anything yet?

[baron555 934]

I know everybody says we shouldn't plan our wedding before we have the visa in hand, and being at TSC I think this is solid advice. So, what do I say if the inteviewer at the embassy asks if we have started planning the wedding?

Say this: we shouldn't plan our wedding before we have the visa in hand,

Won't they consider we aren't serious if I say we haven't been planning anything yet?

No

[*Snowdrop* 604]

Well there is a difference between planning your wedding and setting dates and booking venues etc.

You can have a plan:

We will be married in a church / courthouse / on a beach etc.

We will have a reception for 70 guests including family and friends etc

I have bought my wedding dress

but you can also say

We have not set the date yet or booked the venue because we were waiting for the visa to be in hand

[Penguin_ie 5,993]

You are doing the right thing not planning anything definite.

But like Trellick says, you can do some planning, to make sure you and your fiance are on the same page, such as:

- Roughly how many guests?

- What will your budget be?

- How many bridesmaids/ groomsmen? If you have no family or friends (yet) in the USA, who will stand up for you?

- Religious wedding or justice of the peace?

- One wedding, or two (ie quicky wedding for legal stuff, then spiritual wedding/ reception later)?

- How formal?

[Zedayn 485]

Well there is a difference between planning your wedding and setting dates and booking venues etc.

This is excellent advice and I couldn't have said it better myself.

Planning a wedding does not equal booking the wedding venue, reserving the date, etc. It just means overall what are your plans?

Here is a specific example of the type of questions they may ask about wedding plans, coming from my wife's own interview experience:

The CO asked my wife about our wedding plans. They first asked her when was her plan to marry. She gave a date. Then they asked her if it was going to be a ceremony. She said yes. They asked her how many visitors. She told them just a few of my family. They asked her if she had family to be there. She said no. Then he was kind of joking and teasing my wife and said "awww, so sad". It made her laugh anyways. And that was all that was ever asked about her wedding plans.

[Vette 116]

I would not make any permanent plans or put down any deposits (that you may lose) until you are sure and have visa in hand. I have two friends who made the mistake of making plans because they both "felt" they would have their visas by a certain time. They caused their own problems by jumping the gun. One friend lost about $3000 in non-refundable deposits. Her fiance ended up getting his visa FIVE MONTHS after their planned (cancelled) wedding date.

I wouldn't do it.

[walrusbaby 20]

I would not make any permanent plans or put down any deposits (that you may lose) until you are sure and have visa in hand. I have two friends who made the mistake of making plans because they both "felt" they would have their visas by a certain time. They caused their own problems by jumping the gun. One friend lost about $3000 in non-refundable deposits. Her fiance ended up getting his visa FIVE MONTHS after their planned (cancelled) wedding date.

I wouldn't do it.

FIVE MONTHS!

[Ailyn n Dave 0]

More great things to know. We have been planning little things here n there so far. Thanks again for the information...

I have a question that just came to mind:

I've never been married before. Do Ailyn and I have to get married in the state where I live in New Jersey? Or can it be a different state. Some of her family live in Upstate New York. My best friend does too. Can we marry in Upstate New York?

Hope this question does not take this post off topic...

Dave

[Vette 116]

More great things to know. We have been planning little things here n there so far. Thanks again for the information...

I have a question that just came to mind:

I've never been married before. Do Ailyn and I have to get married in the state where I live in New Jersey? Or can it be a different state. Some of her family live in Upstate New York. My best friend does too. Can we marry in Upstate New York?

Hope this question does not take this post off topic...

Dave

You can actually get married in any state or territory, including Puerto Rico and the U.S Virgin Islands (and I believe Guam and American Samoa, not sure though). Anyways, yes you can get married upstate, downstate, and middlestate.

good luck

[Ailyn n Dave 0]

Ahhhhh this is AWESOME news... Thank you so much... We are trying to gather around some plans....

Thank you again

Dave

[usmsbow 801]

My fiancee was not asked during her interview, but she was asked about our wedding plans at the POE (more specifically when and where). She gave semi-vague answers (something along the lines of "Next month here in DC"), but it was enough to satisfy the IO.

Edit: the safe answer, if asked, is "We will get legally married right after I arrive in the USA, but we're going to plan the celebration after we know when I'll arrive in the USA."

Edited April 17, 2015 by usmsbow

[Penguin_ie 5,993]

From immigration's point of view, you can get married anywhere, but pay attention to local/ state laws; some may specify you need to be a local resident for X weeks,

[CowBoE 429]

Most convenient way is to do civil marriage at the court,

so that you can start other future processing

and then plan for the actual ceremony (if necessary).

They didn't ask my wife any questions about the wedding plan.

Edited April 18, 2015 by DualityOneness

[raven52 233]

Plans are just that, ""PLANS"".,.,., and everyone can have plans, make your plans, just "do not" plug in any dates to your plans.,.,,.,.,.

We had 3 or 4 different plans, for our entry into the USA, and the marriage, BUT.,.,., there was no dates even considered, until my wife had her visa, and we bought an airline ticket.,.,.then we started looking at the calendar.

[Ailyn n Dave 0]

There have been people purchasing flights BEFORE their visa is in hand? Ohhh my not a good idea.

Ailyn and I are only making general plan at the moment. Where we go to get married, asking friends/relatives if they would like to attend giving open invitations "when" that day should come. I have to told them all will keep them posted on our progress and give them more details as we know them. You really cannot do any more than that with an issued visa yet.