What are my options?

[Jeremy + Kristy 0]

My fiancé, Kristy, lives 15 minutes away from me, as I live right on the border. My conundrum is this: I don't think we have time to file for a K-1 as the wedding is scheduled for September 1st, 2007. I'd like her and her daughter to live with me after some point this summer, before we get married. The honeymoon is booked for the US, too.

What exactly would you guys think my options are? Being a visa waiver country are there things I'm overlooking? Am I fretting too much? Should I just file for the K-1 ASAP and cross my fingers that it will be done in time?

Jeremy

What are her quals? (maybe an outside-box option).

She's a certified day-care instructor. Too bad she wasn't a nurse.

[Jeremy + Kristy 0]

If it is remoooooooooootely possible for you to go to Vancouver then do it. Move heaven and earth to make it happen as that will be your best chance at getting your k1/2 in time. Make sure you have all legal issues as far as custody and consent for Kailey to move with her mother resolved ASAP if you havent already. So often that throws a wrench in peoples plans to move.

Don't think Vancouver would be an option. We're spreading it thin for the wedding as it is.

I tried asking Kristy about the custody thing. She says it won't be a problem since she has full custody, but wouldn't the father still have visitation rights? He never uses them, but he still has them...

Anyone have experience with that aspect?

Oh, one other thing, that may or may not help, is that my mother was born in Canada and was naturalized as a US citizen as a child.

Edited March 15, 2007 by Jeremy + Kristy

[Saddle Bronc 124]

My fiancé, Kristy, lives 15 minutes away from me, as I live right on the border. My conundrum is this: I don't think we have time to file for a K-1 as the wedding is scheduled for September 1st, 2007. I'd like her and her daughter to live with me after some point this summer, before we get married. The honeymoon is booked for the US, too.

What exactly would you guys think my options are? Being a visa waiver country are there things I'm overlooking? Am I fretting too much? Should I just file for the K-1 ASAP and cross my fingers that it will be done in time?

Jeremy

What are her quals? (maybe an outside-box option).

She's a certified day-care instructor. Too bad she wasn't a nurse.

Could she do "Social Worker"?

[CutienPurg 0]

She may have full custody but the father likely has resonable access. regardless of whether he exercises his right to access or not, he still has it.the consulate is going to want proof he is informed and on board.

On a side note.........I needed a certified letter from my ex husband just to travel into Canada with my daughter.

Good Luck

[derekkj 0]

I like the 2 wedding option!! If I forget the 1st one, I can always have the 2nd one to fall back on!! As we get older and our memory fails, I can just state "no, no dear, we already celebrated, don't u remember?" lol

Somehow I think Derek would like your logic!

[mozplay 28]

I agree on the advice to use Vancouver. Time the request right and it could shave MONTHS off your wait time once NVC approves your petition. Where will you be filing btw? What office?

Also - before you decide to do K1 and not K3 - double check wherever you are getting married that it is not considered legal. If the embassy even THINKS that you are legally married, you will be denied.

I don't mean to scare you - just give you some info that I have learned.

Monique

[Jashley820 0]

I agree on the advice to use Vancouver. Time the request right and it could shave MONTHS off your wait time once NVC approves your petition. Where will you be filing btw? What office?

Also - before you decide to do K1 and not K3 - double check wherever you are getting married that it is not considered legal. If the embassy even THINKS that you are legally married, you will be denied.

I don't mean to scare you - just give you some info that I have learned.

Monique

Monique-

I did a celebration and did NOT sign anything legal, and I also had the minister write a letter saying the social ceremony was not legal. Do you think that I will have a problem in my interview?

Any info you could provide on your experience and learning would be great!

Thanks,

J

[Flames9_RN 358]

I can't see them bringing it up unless u did at the interview.

[Jeremy + Kristy 0]

I agree on the advice to use Vancouver. Time the request right and it could shave MONTHS off your wait time once NVC approves your petition. Where will you be filing btw? What office?

Also - before you decide to do K1 and not K3 - double check wherever you are getting married that it is not considered legal. If the embassy even THINKS that you are legally married, you will be denied.

I don't mean to scare you - just give you some info that I have learned.

Monique

There's no way we can swing a trip to Vancouver. On the I-129F it asks which embassy or consulate will your fiancé be filing, I put Toronto, as that's the closest consulate, but I'm getting the impression from here, that it's either the embassy Vancouver or the embassy at Montreal, and not at any consulates.

How would I check the legality of the marriage? If I just have a family friend preside over it, there's no way that would be legal, right?

Jeremy

[Jashley820 0]

I agree on the advice to use Vancouver. Time the request right and it could shave MONTHS off your wait time once NVC approves your petition. Where will you be filing btw? What office?

Also - before you decide to do K1 and not K3 - double check wherever you are getting married that it is not considered legal. If the embassy even THINKS that you are legally married, you will be denied.

I don't mean to scare you - just give you some info that I have learned.

Monique

There's no way we can swing a trip to Vancouver. On the I-129F it asks which embassy or consulate will your fiancé be filing, I put Toronto, as that's the closest consulate, but I'm getting the impression from here, that it's either the embassy Vancouver or the embassy at Montreal, and not at any consulates.

How would I check the legality of the marriage? If I just have a family friend preside over it, there's no way that would be legal, right?

Jeremy

You could have anyone preside over it. Just don't sign ANY certificates (don't even apply for a marriage certificate) and don't have the person pronounce you Husband and Wife. We didn't even say the word marriage in our ceremony- we said 'union' instead. There's no way it's legal if you don't sign any paperwork.

[mozplay 28]

There's no way we can swing a trip to Vancouver. On the I-129F it asks which embassy or consulate will your fiancé be filing, I put Toronto, as that's the closest consulate, but I'm getting the impression from here, that it's either the embassy Vancouver or the embassy at Montreal, and not at any consulates.

How would I check the legality of the marriage? If I just have a family friend preside over it, there's no way that would be legal, right?

Jeremy

You could have anyone preside over it. Just don't sign ANY certificates (don't even apply for a marriage certificate) and don't have the person pronounce you Husband and Wife. We didn't even say the word marriage in our ceremony- we said 'union' instead. There's no way it's legal if you don't sign any paperwork.

Jeremy - never mind what you have written on the I129F - many K1ers here have put Montreal and then while the case is at NVC, asked for it to go to Vancouver instead. Easy trip - fly in, fly out, badda boom, badda bing.

I do believe that Jenash's take on a legal cermony is correct (though I wouldn't care sooo much about the words 'husband' and 'wife'. Just be very clear with whomever is officiating that NOTHING is to be registered and DON'T bring it up at the interview. If asked, sure you can say you had a non-legal ceremony for family because you don't want to lie, but if they don't ask, then don't tell.

Monique

Edited March 15, 2007 by mozplay

[mozplay 28]

Monique-

I did a celebration and did NOT sign anything legal, and I also had the minister write a letter saying the social ceremony was not legal. Do you think that I will have a problem in my interview?

Any info you could provide on your experience and learning would be great!

Thanks,

J

I don't think you should have any trouble, but I have not been in this situation, only speaking from what I have read on her of the experiences of others. But honestly, if you didn't sign anything and if the minister did not register it, then it should be ok, right?

Some cultures and countries consider religious ceremonies the same as legal ones, so you have to be careful. Luckily for us in North America, it's easier to draw the line. You just have to make sure it is drawn. And as flames said - they are not likely to bring it up .

Mo

[Flames9_RN 358]

The interview itself is very quick, and they ask very basic questions, ie how u met, where do u work now, where does ur fiance work, ur plans in the USA. Best of luck

[Cassie 8]

There's no way we can swing a trip to Vancouver. On the I-129F it asks which embassy or consulate will your fiancé be filing, I put Toronto, as that's the closest consulate, but I'm getting the impression from here, that it's either the embassy Vancouver or the embassy at Montreal, and not at any consulates.

How would I check the legality of the marriage? If I just have a family friend preside over it, there's no way that would be legal, right?

Jeremy

You could have anyone preside over it. Just don't sign ANY certificates (don't even apply for a marriage certificate) and don't have the person pronounce you Husband and Wife. We didn't even say the word marriage in our ceremony- we said 'union' instead. There's no way it's legal if you don't sign any paperwork.

Jeremy - never mind what you have written on the I129F - many K1ers here have put Montreal and then while the case is at NVC, asked for it to go to Vancouver instead. Easy trip - fly in, fly out, badda boom, badda bing.

I do believe that Jenash's take on a legal cermony is correct (though I wouldn't care sooo much about the words 'husband' and 'wife'. Just be very clear with whomever is officiating that NOTHING is to be registered and DON'T bring it up at the interview. If asked, sure you can say you had a non-legal ceremony for family because you don't want to lie, but if they don't ask, then don't tell.

Monique

yes, but not everyone that has asked to be transferred to Vancouver have been successful. Please research here on VJ on other members' experience r/t this.

I also humbly suggest you pm zyggy, who was a former border agent. he may be able to give you some helpful advice about what to do from his experience as far as crossing the border is concerned for your fiance and daughter.

[Autumnchik 6]

My fiancé, Kristy, lives 15 minutes away from me, as I live right on the border. My conundrum is this: I don't think we have time to file for a K-1 as the wedding is scheduled for September 1st, 2007. I'd like her and her daughter to live with me after some point this summer, before we get married. The honeymoon is booked for the US, too.

What exactly would you guys think my options are? Being a visa waiver country are there things I'm overlooking? Am I fretting too much? Should I just file for the K-1 ASAP and cross my fingers that it will be done in time?

Jeremy

What are her quals? (maybe an outside-box option).

She's a certified day-care instructor. Too bad she wasn't a nurse.

Could she do "Social Worker"?

I would imagine that, unless she has a specific social work degree, she could not do "Social Worker".