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How do I plan a wedding from up here?

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Filed: AOS (apr) Country: Canada
Timeline

We're planning on getting married in October....seems iffy right now. I'm hoping for an interview before September. We DO NOT want to get married by a J.O.P.

I won't be moving until at least mid Sept and that only gives me a few weeks to get everything together. I can't expect much help from him because he's trying to build a house for us and he's already killing himself between that and his fulltime, overtime job :( I know he can get the church though.

I'm just wondering if anyone has any advice.

He's in Arkansas.

Hmmm think I have done everything I can with the K1, now I have to find something else to stress about :lol:

2006/11/29 : I-129F Sent

2006/12/12: I-129F NOA1 (Receipt)

2007/02/22: I-129F NOA2 (Approved)

2007/03/06: Package Left From NVC

2007/03/21: Rec Instructions (Pkt 3)

2007/03/27: Pkt 3 sent to Montreal Consulate

2007/03/28: Pkt 3 rec. @ Montreal Consulate

2007/04/12: Entered into system

2007/04/19: Medical

2007/07/25: Phone call, interview Aug/Sept. Email, at least 6 months for interview

2007/08/01: Phone call, 5-7 months

2007/08/08: Phone call. INTERVIEW

2007/08/16: Interview letter arrives.

2007/09/03: My baby girl leaves for Trent University

2007/09/12: Interview@8:15 APPROVED

2007/09/19: Visa received in hand

2007/10/08: POE Sarnia/Port Huron

2007/10/09: Home

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Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Canada
Timeline

It is very hard to do any wedding planning when you aren't where the wedding will take place.

I was very fortunate in that we only lived 3 hours from each other, so I spent a lot of weekends before our wedding in Seattle, where the wedding took place.

You could always do a civil ceremony once you arrive in the U.S. and then plan the big wedding while you are in the U.S.

Good luck.

"THE SHORT STORY"

KURT & RAYMA (K-1 Visa)

Oct. 9/03... I-129F sent to NSC

June 10/04... K-1 Interview - APPROVED!!!!

July 31/04... Entered U.S.

Aug. 28/04... WEDDING DAY!!!!

Aug. 30/04... I-485, I-765 & I-131 sent to Seattle

Dec. 10/04... AOS Interview - APPROVED!!!!! (Passport stamped)

Sept. 9/06... I-751 sent to NSC

May 15/07... 10-Yr. PR Card arrives in the mail

Sept. 13/07... N-400 sent to NSC

Aug. 21/08... Interview - PASSED!!!!

Sept. 2/08... Oath Ceremony

Sept. 5/08... Sent in Voter Registration Card

Sept. 9/08... SSA office to change status to "U.S. citizen"

Oct. 8/08... Applied in person for U.S. Passport

Oct. 22/08... U.S. Passport received

DONE!!! DONE!!! DONE!!! DONE!!!

KAELY (K-2 Visa)

Apr. 6/05... DS-230, Part I faxed to Vancouver Consulate

May 26/05... K-2 Interview - APPROVED!!!!

Sept. 5/05... Entered U.S.

Sept. 7/05... I-485 & I-131 sent to CLB

Feb. 22/06... AOS Interview - APPROVED!!!!! (Passport NOT stamped)

Dec. 4/07... I-751 sent to NSC

May 23/08... 10-Yr. PR Card arrives in the mail

Mar. 22/11.... N-400 sent to AZ

June 27/11..... Interview - PASSED!!!

July 12/11..... Oath Ceremony

We're NOT lawyers.... just your average folks who had to find their own way!!!!! Anything we post here is simply our own opinions/suggestions/experiences and should not be taken as LAW!!!!

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My wife and I tried to get as much done in advance as we could. That didn't work like we were hoping. She did a lot of looking online as far as caterers/photographers went. She would ask how far things were and we went from there. Once we had the interview set, we booked things. My church was the most flexible out of anything as we changed the date a few times. As we got prices for the caterer, I would go and visit. A lot of things were me taking pictures and her deciding if a place looked nice enough.

CIS Office : Philadelphia PA

08/25/09 I-751 Sent to VSC

08/26/09 Package arrives at VSC

08/31/09 Check is Cashed/Clears

08/27/09 NOA

09/24/09 Biometrics

11/24/09 Approval letter arrives!

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Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Canada
Timeline

We have been looking at Eureka Springs as a possibility. My understanding is there are packaged deals or you can rent the sites and plan your own.

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Met Playing Everquest in 2005
Engaged 9-15-2006
K-1 & 4 K-2'S
Filed 05-09-07
Interview 03-12-08
Visa received 04-21-08
Entry 05-06-08
Married 06-21-08
AOS X5
Filed 07-08-08
Cards Received01-22-09
Roc X5
Filed 10-17-10
Cards Received02-22-11
Citizenship
Filed 10-17-11
Interview 01-12-12
Oath 06-29-12

Citizenship for older 2 boys

Filed 03/08/2014

NOA/fee waiver 03/19/2014

Biometrics 04/15/14

Interview 05/29/14

In line for Oath 06/20/14

Oath 09/19/2014 We are all done! All USC no more USCIS

 

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Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Canada
Timeline

I guess you need to give us some more information, like is this your "dream" wedding and you want things to be just so, and have a lot of ideas already what you would like etc. Or are you hoping to keep it simple, and want just to have your friends there.

You mentioned you didn't want a JOP, but does that just mean you don't want to get married in a court house? our JOP came to our apartment and married us there! I've heard of others who had a garden party and he just showed up there too.. Or do you want a full out wedding service!!

I just think a few more details could help us try to brainstorm together :)

AOS:

2007-02-22: Sent AOS /EAD

2007-03-06 : NOA1 AOS /EAD

2007-03-28: Transferred to CSC

2007-05-17: EAD Card Production Ordered

2007-05-21: I485 Approved

2007-05-24: EAD Card Received

2007-06-01: Green Card Received!!

Removal of Conditions:

2009-02-27: Sent I-751

2009-03-07: NOA I-751

2009-03-31: Biometrics Appt. Hartford

2009-07-21: Touched (first time since biometrics) Perhaps address change?

2009-07-28: Approved at VSC

2009-08-25: Received card in the mail

Naturalization

2012-08-20: Submitted N-400

2013-01-18: Became Citizen

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Filed: AOS (apr) Country: Canada
Timeline

Eureka Springs would be really nice in the fall :yes:

I guess I need to get him a digital camera, lol. One good thing is there's Micheals here and there.

Oh just seen emancipation's post. Small church wedding, I don't want too formal, but something nice. OKAY, on the dreamy side :whistle: Both of our previous marriages were by a J.O.P. at the urging of both of our ex's. We both want something different. thinking maybe not getting married in a church jinxed us :wacko: The church is just down the road from the house, so I suppose if the house has the septic system in by then....lol. I have to get him to try and figure out if there's a hall he wants to use.

I just got overwhelmed when I went to look at wedding things at Micheals and realized how much is actually running around and putting things on.

I know my family won't be coming down for it, so the wedding invitations going out once I ,hopefully, get the visa isn't a problem. Most of his family live in state. They're not going to be much help though.

I guess I'm just wondering, do I pick out everything we want now, and buy it when I get down there. I can't see trying to bring it all when I move.

OH, I've also seen alot of people get married by a JP, and never get around to the "Wedding" and we're afraid we'll get too caught up in the house and the AOS and everything else, it will get put off.

Edited by Tinker

2006/11/29 : I-129F Sent

2006/12/12: I-129F NOA1 (Receipt)

2007/02/22: I-129F NOA2 (Approved)

2007/03/06: Package Left From NVC

2007/03/21: Rec Instructions (Pkt 3)

2007/03/27: Pkt 3 sent to Montreal Consulate

2007/03/28: Pkt 3 rec. @ Montreal Consulate

2007/04/12: Entered into system

2007/04/19: Medical

2007/07/25: Phone call, interview Aug/Sept. Email, at least 6 months for interview

2007/08/01: Phone call, 5-7 months

2007/08/08: Phone call. INTERVIEW

2007/08/16: Interview letter arrives.

2007/09/03: My baby girl leaves for Trent University

2007/09/12: Interview@8:15 APPROVED

2007/09/19: Visa received in hand

2007/10/08: POE Sarnia/Port Huron

2007/10/09: Home

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Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Canada
Timeline

Okay.. small church wedding.. I'm a delegator and that's what we did. We had a small celebration before we came down to CT but some of what you said rang true with me.

Michael's 40% off coupons. I had EVERYONE and their dogs saving those for me and I went there 4-5 times a week to buy things. The coupons that you get in the flyer REALLY helped in lowering the costs. Plus if you don't get them where you live (the flyer), then you can tell the cashier that, and she will write down your postal code and STILL give you the 40% off one item - sweet deal! I dunno if you can get them here in the US so it might save you to buy the stuff in Canada.

I had a budget for decorating, colors picked out (with swatches of color for a guague), said "I love twinkle lights", gave my teens at my church the $$ for decorating and it was their gift to me. Perhaps there are cousins, friends relations of your hubby that you could propose a similar thing to? that way you don't have to worry about that. If the decorating isn't something that you really care about.

We didn't do formal invitations. I did e-invites (evite.com) and that way I could update things as i needed and it would be sent to everyone's e-mail (you can print them off the site as well).

My suggestion is to pick a few things that you are ABSOLUTELY wanting - no questions asked, and the rest.. well either cut or delegate. We did an open house also before we left which was a really nice way of saying goodbye and replaced a "reception", everyone just stopped by and said hello and brought prezzies, then after the service you could just leave on your honeymoon! I love just heading out to a restaurant as well, or having the ladies of the church (missionary society whatever) cater. They often love to do that and will often do it quite cheaply.

It can be beautiful and simple.

Edited by Emancipation

AOS:

2007-02-22: Sent AOS /EAD

2007-03-06 : NOA1 AOS /EAD

2007-03-28: Transferred to CSC

2007-05-17: EAD Card Production Ordered

2007-05-21: I485 Approved

2007-05-24: EAD Card Received

2007-06-01: Green Card Received!!

Removal of Conditions:

2009-02-27: Sent I-751

2009-03-07: NOA I-751

2009-03-31: Biometrics Appt. Hartford

2009-07-21: Touched (first time since biometrics) Perhaps address change?

2009-07-28: Approved at VSC

2009-08-25: Received card in the mail

Naturalization

2012-08-20: Submitted N-400

2013-01-18: Became Citizen

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Filed: AOS (pnd) Country: Canada
Timeline
We're planning on getting married in October....seems iffy right now. I'm hoping for an interview before September. We DO NOT want to get married by a J.O.P.

I won't be moving until at least mid Sept and that only gives me a few weeks to get everything together. I can't expect much help from him because he's trying to build a house for us and he's already killing himself between that and his fulltime, overtime job :( I know he can get the church though.

I'm just wondering if anyone has any advice.

He's in Arkansas.

Hmmm think I have done everything I can with the K1, now I have to find something else to stress about :lol:

Hi.......... I arrived last month in March here in the US and we drove from Tulsa to Eureka Springs to get married. In Arkansas you can not get married by a JP. The are all ordained ministers. We chose to go there as we are older, second marriage for both of us and we didn't want a fuss. You don't need to have any blood tests, any witnesses and there is no waiting time once you buy your licence. We bought our licence and headed right over to the chapel, got married, took the paperwork back to the courthouse and we had our certified marriage certifcate within minutes. There are many many chapels etc. that will cater to all kinds of needs...... just do a search on google for Eureka Springs weddings. The lady at the courthouse told us that Eureka Springs is 2nd in the US after Vegas for doing weddings so I would start looking into things if that's where you think you want to get married. It was pretty quiet in March but I guess it is a happening place in the summer and the weather in September would still be really nice so will probably still be busy. I thought it was a beautiful little town. Good luck and best wishes.

Susan

Feb 17/06 - I-129F Petition sent

Mar 1/06 - I-129F NOA1

May 12/06 - I-129F NOA2

June 7/06 - Packet 3 rec'd

Sept 6/06 - Packet 3 sent

Sept 15/06 - Rec'd letter with interview date

Sept 28/06 - Interview in Vancouver,BC and Visa in hand!

March 13/07 - US Entry

March 15/07 - WEDDING DAY

March 21/07 - AOS application & Interview through DORA Day 1

April 13/07 - Rec'd letter with Bio Appt. date Day 24

April 27/07 - Biometrics Appointment "touched" Day 38

April 30/07 - "Touched" Day 40

June 8/07 - Day 79...still waiting, haven't been touched or heard anything.

June 13/07 - Day 84..... I'm not having much faith in this DORA process..... closing in on the 90 day time frame real fast.....

June 19/07 - Day 90 ......nothing (Hubby calls Senator's Office)

June 20/07 - Day 91 - Got the "70 Day Letter" in the mail today :-(

June 22/07 - Mailed out EAD and AP by Priority Post Day 93

June 24/07 - EAD rec'd at Chicago Lockbox

June 29/07 - Day 100 - Infopass appt in OKC..... AOS stuck in name check

July 3/07 - Day 104 - Rec'd NOA for EAD

July 6/07 - Day 107 - Rec'd letter for EAD Bio Appt. for July 18th

July 18/07 -Biometrics

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Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Senegal
Timeline
We're planning on getting married in October....seems iffy right now. I'm hoping for an interview before September. We DO NOT want to get married by a J.O.P.

I won't be moving until at least mid Sept and that only gives me a few weeks to get everything together. I can't expect much help from him because he's trying to build a house for us and he's already killing himself between that and his fulltime, overtime job :( I know he can get the church though.

I'm just wondering if anyone has any advice.

He's in Arkansas.

Hmmm think I have done everything I can with the K1, now I have to find something else to stress about :lol:

Try http://www.weddingsolutions.com/

I-130 Sent : 03-08-2007

I-130 NOA1 : 03-19-2007

I-130 Approved : 06-06-2007

NVC Received : 06-20-2007

Received DS-3032 / I-864 Bill : 07-09-2007

Pay I-864 Bill : 07-10-2007

Receive I-864 Package : 08-02-2007

Returned I-864 Package : 08-03-2007

Return Completed DS-3032 : 07-04-2007 (e-mailed)

NVC confirmation of the e-mail : 07-16-2007

IV fee bill generated : 07- 23-2007

Receive IV Bill : 08-02-2007

Pay IV Bill : 08-06-2007

IV Fee entered into NVC's system : 08-21-2007

DS-230 generated : 08-27-07

Receive Instruction Package : 09-14-07

Submit Ds-230 and originals to NVC : 09-20-07

DS-230 Delivered to NVC : 09-21-07

DS-230 Accepted at NVC : 09-25-07

Case Completed at NVC : 10-05-07

Visa in hand : 11-25-08

NVC Left : 11-15-07

Packet 4 received-petitoner : 11-19-07

Consulate Received :

Interview : 12-13-07

AP: 12:13:07

2nd interview: 11-20-08

Visa in hard:11-25-08

Entered US: 12-16-08

Green Card received: 01-05-09

SS card recieved: 01-07-09

First Job: 01-20-09

In school: 06-08-09

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Filed: AOS (apr) Country: Canada
Timeline
just do a search on google for Eureka Springs weddings. The lady at the courthouse told us that Eureka Springs is 2nd in the US after Vegas for doing weddings so I would start looking into things if that's where you think you want to get married.

Susan

Hi, okay, that sounded nice and easy, but HE says, well if everyone is going there, we're not. :lol:

Cherri, yeah well....that's the kind of sites I was looking at today and got all fuddled up :wacko:

Emacipation, I get the 40% off coupons, I didn't even clue in to use them on anything useful!! I was reading all the great replies I've gotten to him and he says "What colours?" :lol: and I'm sitting here wondering colours? That's all good, something I didn't even think of! Great advice! I think you hit it on the head there.

Thanks for the great input guys :)

2006/11/29 : I-129F Sent

2006/12/12: I-129F NOA1 (Receipt)

2007/02/22: I-129F NOA2 (Approved)

2007/03/06: Package Left From NVC

2007/03/21: Rec Instructions (Pkt 3)

2007/03/27: Pkt 3 sent to Montreal Consulate

2007/03/28: Pkt 3 rec. @ Montreal Consulate

2007/04/12: Entered into system

2007/04/19: Medical

2007/07/25: Phone call, interview Aug/Sept. Email, at least 6 months for interview

2007/08/01: Phone call, 5-7 months

2007/08/08: Phone call. INTERVIEW

2007/08/16: Interview letter arrives.

2007/09/03: My baby girl leaves for Trent University

2007/09/12: Interview@8:15 APPROVED

2007/09/19: Visa received in hand

2007/10/08: POE Sarnia/Port Huron

2007/10/09: Home

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Filed: Country: Canada
Timeline

This is what we did. Our wedding was in the garden of a very close friend. She is an ordained minister as well. The minister of the church we attend occasionally was a part of it too. It was small....we did everything ourselves and as for planning, there wasn't that much to plan. We talked about what we wanted for months before he actually arrived in the States. With me being Native American we had a two part ceremony...the traditional vows and the Native American Blanket Ceremony. We had friends helping us along the way as I have no family left (all passed away). The only family he had at the wedding were his mom and stepdad. Very simple, yet it was quite elegant. We only had about 20 people in attendance and that was with the wedding party. BTW, our wedding was just under 1K. Dress, tux, and reception. :)

As Mr. Ripley says...."Believe it, or not!"

Teaching is the essential profession...the one that makes ALL other professions possible - David Haselkorn

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I live in Missouri, and we had to have a "minister" perform the marriage or go to the court house. There was a local site on the internet that provided names of ministers that perform non-denominational ceremonies anywhere you want. We found a great guy through there. We had our ceremony in our garden.

Two things that really helped us in planning our wedding was to do a lot of things yourself, like make things...remember... Michael's is your friend! haha Seriously, between Michael's, and the internet, within a few weeks at most, I had most things done, or had ordered things on the internet and they had arrived.

I also made my own programs and placecards for the reception. We commissioned three people to take pictures. My mother-in-law made our wedding cake. Not professional, but very pretty and it tasted fantastic!

The day goes SO fast. Remember to enjoy it. Whatever is not done the day of the wedding, isn't going to get done! You're publically committing to marriage and celebrating that committment in front of family and friends. That circle is what matters.

Carla (F)

Edited by cartoboy123
carlahmsb4.gif
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Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Canada
Timeline

I assume the USA citizen is the "guy" I would just leave it in his trusty hands!! What could go wrong?

Canadians Visiting the USA while undergoing the visa process, my free advice:

1) Always tell the TRUTH. never lie to the POE officer

2) Be confident in ur replies

3) keep ur response short and to the point, don't tell ur life story!!

4) look the POE officer in the eye when speaking to them. They are looking for people lieing and have been trained to find them!

5) Pack light! No job resumes with you

6) Bring ties to Canada (letter from employer when ur expected back at work, lease, etc etc)

7) Always be polite, being rude isn't going to get ya anywhere, and could make things worse!!

8) Have a plan in case u do get denied (be polite) It wont harm ur visa application if ur denied,that is if ur polite and didn't lie! Refer to #1

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I assume the USA citizen is the "guy" I would just leave it in his trusty hands!! What could go wrong?

Hey now. I'm actually looking at the wedding planning stuff more than my fiancee it seems, some times. We are pretty much in the same boat as you are, and we found a site that we loved (although quite expensive) and usually booked a good two years in advance, but we got it for this September 1st. So, we are getting "married" that day whether we have the visa or not (more than likely not, but I still have my fingers crossed). We found a minister online that will perform a non legally binding wedding and for another $25 he will even perform a very small (us and two witnesses) second legally binding cermony at a later time. He said that he's done actually done that before for other K1 visa applicants.

Jeremy

Adjustment of Status / EAD / AP
Day 000: 2007-12-27 Mailed Application
Day 002: 2007-12-29 Received at Chicago Lockbox
Day 003: 2007-12-30 "Received Date"
Day 007: 2008-01-03 All 5 NOAs (K1 + K2 AOS, K1 EAD, K1 + K2 AP)
Day 008: 2008-01-04 K-2 AOS Touched
Day 011: 2008-01-07 $1610 Check cleared
Day 011: 2008-01-07 All 5 physical NOAs received
Day 012: 2008-01-08 K-1 files Touched, but not K-2
Day 014: 2008-01-10 K-2 AP Touched
Day 016: 2008-01-12 Biometrics Appt. Letter Received
Day 029: 2008-01-25 Biometrics Appt.
Day 043: 2008-02-08 K-2 Notice of interview received
Day 044: 2008-02-09 K-1 Notice of interview received
Day 056: 2008-02-21 APs approved and EAD card production ordered
Day 126: 2008-05-01 Interviews
-----------------------------------------------------------
K1/K2 Application
Day 000: 2007-03-16 Sent out I-129F Package
Day 012: 2007-03-28 NOA1
Day 082: 2007-06-06 NOA2
Day 103: 2007-06-27 NVC Received
Day 105: 2007-06-29 NVC Forwarded to Montreal
Day 117: 2007-07-11 Montreal Sends Packet 3
Day 125: 2007-07-19 Receive Packet 3
Day 129: 2007-07-23 Send Checklist and Forms Back
Day 131: 2007-07-25 Montreal Receives Packet 3
Day 137: 2007-07-31 Medical
Day 169: 2007-09-01 "Wedding" (aka the $10K party)
Day 192: 2007-09-24 Receive "Packet 4" (Interview letter)
Day 238: 2007-11-09 Interview in Montreal
Day 245: 2007-11-16 Visas Received
Day 248: 2007-11-19 Moved to USA
Day 249: 2007-11-20 Legal wedding


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Filed: Country: Jamaica
Timeline
We have been looking at Eureka Springs as a possibility. My understanding is there are packaged deals or you can rent the sites and plan your own.

I loved the Crescent Hotel and Spa in Eureka Springs.

Beautiful hotel.

Life's just a crazy ride on a run away train

You can't go back for what you've missed

So make it count, hold on tight find a way to make it right

You only get one trip

So make it good, make it last 'cause it all flies by so fast

You only get one trip

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