Time is running out... Need advice

[Californiansunset 336]

OP, if you think that you can hide all that (ceremony and then no one who's attending that arrangement posting pics about it on Social Media) be prepared for an uncomfortable AOS or even K1 interview. I'm sure there's a way to go through the hassle to hide it all and take all precautions so nothing gets leaked and then don't mention it towards the CO and IO but you'll always have to live with the thought "What if...". You think you can brush it off now to please your family and friends but once these interviews come closer you'll wish you wouldn't have to worry about that stuff and hadn't done something that could jeopardize your immigration future.

 

 

[Illiria 980]

4 hours ago, ambrella said:

Bit harsh?? This process is hard enough without people being rude.

 

 

Having a ceremony is a risk, but if you don't tell anyone, hide all evidence at point of entry it could work. People on this forum always give you worst case scenarios. People have been denied before for this but I don't *think* they've been people from our backgrounds in the UK? Do a search and find out. 

 

Have you asked your family how they would feel about changing their plane tickets? 

I’m from the U.K. and I posted my experience earlier in this thread where it wasn’t even my ceremony and they gave me a hard time. 

[usmsbow 801]

2 hours ago, Jabberwocky1969 said:

This is on topic. Guess who may have called the USCIS and told them to sit on the approved apps for weeks? The State Dept. are prima donnas, view themselves as an independent operation.

 

I have am immediate relative who works in DC, at the highest level, in Dept. of Homeland Security and in ICE.  I've worked in document control processing for 20 years.  Oldest trick in the book, keep your stats shiny by refusing work in the first place.  I deal daily with prima donna millenials whose main professional skill is looking good and doing the absolute minimum.

 

1. The delays from NOA2 to NVC pop up from time to time for K-1 visas. It is ALWAYS CSC that is the problem, never TSC, VSC, or any other service center. That would indicate it is a CSC problem, not a NVC (or USCIC at large) problem. And yes, CSC is the only one that handles K-1s now, but back when I applied, TSC did too. VSC at one point did as well I believe. 

 

2. How do I know this? Personal experience. It took FOUR MONTHS for our application/petition to get from USCIS to NVC AFTER our NOA2. We were one of about a dozen on VJ at that time who went through that experience. We all got different answers from USCIS when we sent inquiries asking what the heck was going on. I can't remember all the stories we were told. Finally, after contacting the USCIS ombudsman, my case was finally found! Miracle of miracles!

 

3. ICE and USCIS are very different. Hell, CBP and ICE are very different. Yes, they all are involved in immigration policy, but that doesn't mean much. You have an immediate relative who works for ICE, ok. Great. I have a very close friend who was the chief of staff for some assistant secretary in the State Dept. Of course it was in the arena of economics and nothing to do with visas, but hey, I guess that helps my case going by your line of argument. 

 

 

[ambrella 62]

26 minutes ago, Illiria said:

I’m from the U.K. and I posted my experience earlier in this thread where it wasn’t even my ceremony and they gave me a hard time. 

Ok I take it back after reading this and the Australian one. I thought it was more of a cultural thing. Abort. Don't do iiitt. 

[Wuozopo 4,293]

33 minutes ago, usmsbow said:

VSC at one point did as well I believe. 

Yes they did. And we went from NOA2 at VSC >NVC > arrival in London in 10 calendar days. Times change. The fast place is suddenly the slow place. Groups seem to get left behind  in the shuffle. Sad really when you can't accurately predict how it's all going to play out so it drives you mad. 

[TNJ17 1,329]

Look, it was stupid of you to make wedding plans. No one makes wedding plans while going through this process because EVERYONE knows how unpredictable immigration is. If you try to sneak in a wedding party without a marriage license, you will get denied your K1. It’s as simple as that. They have ways of finding out about everything and you will be caught in a lie and that’s much worse. You shouldn’t have made wedding plans period. If you are dead set on going through with this “fake” wedding, you’re gonna have to either cancel the K1 and file for CR1 and that will take 12-14 months from the day of filing. If you try to sneak in past the K1, they’ll deny you then you’re gonna go through a long process of letting your K1 petition expire, because after a denial you have nothing to cancel and have to wait for an expired which takes months, then and only then can you start CR1. You are looking at years down the road before you make it there versus postponing your wedding that you should have never planned in the first place. People here aren’t being rude to you. We are just telling you like it is. No sugar coating. You asked for advice, you got it. Just because it wasn’t the sunshine and rainbows that you wanted doesn’t mean people are being rude to you. Do you think you’re the only person here who wants to plan a wedding? We all do. We all want to celebrate our marriages whichever way that might be and plan accordingly, but we are all realistic and know we can’t do any of that until we get there. 

[John & Rose 7,239]

First rule I learned here was to not plan anything until VOH.  That is great advice.  When I started this journey being together in November or early December was a no brainer.  My VJ timeline was anticipated approval by Sept 6.  A few weeks at NVC, a few weeks for interview, a week for VOH...no problem at all.

 

Now I'm on day 238 waiting for NOA2.  I was going to plan the plane tickets just before Christmas and a wedding between Christmas and New Years.  A lot of people here have lost thousands of dollars because they made assumptions.  I am so glad I listened to the advice.  Plan NOTHING until you have the visa in hand.  This can go quick and it can be slow.  It is not worth the extra stress of trying to plan a wedding that would be impossible to make.  There is still a slim chance to do this but it isn't worth the stress.  At this point I have nothing planned.  We may be together in March or it may be in July or later.  There is no way to know until we have the visas and book the trip.