Does the consular officer at interview, or the CBP officers at POE, care about a late-ish wedding date? (~80 days after POE)

[TimonLovesSkylour 7]

Hi there everyone,

 

So, my question is basically in the topic title... my fiancée and I are wanting to get married on January 17, 2019. As long as things go well at the interview (October 10) with getting my visa and passport back, we're hoping I'll be able to make entry to the US on October 26, 2018 (please also let me know if this part of the timeline is overly optimistic or anything).

 

The thing is, this is 83 days after the date of POE -- it is within the 90 days, but it is close to the end. So will that bother the Consular Officer at the interview, or the Customs agents I'll be speaking to at POE once I'm flying there?

 

If it helps clarify things, the reason we'd like to wait is because there are so many other special days coming up (Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's, her birthday in early January) -- and we want our wedding to happen at its own time, and not be rolled into the holidays, or her birthday, and the stresses that can come from running around to different people's houses for those events.

[Boiler 45,525]

Not an issue, delays EAD etc could complicate Health Insurance.

[TimonLovesSkylour 7]

8 minutes ago, Boiler said:

Not an issue, delays EAD etc could complicate Health Insurance.

Hmmm...good points.. hadn't had time yet to consider things like that, we've just been trying to finalise a time this weekend (a lot of family travelling from other places to coordinate with). Thank you for pointing it out!

[databit 328]

If you marry by December 31, you get to file your taxes as married for all of 2018.

[ITMFA 241]

You could also do what my partner and I are planning, which is a courthouse wedding soon after POE and then a celebration with friends and family next summer when we're settled and I have all my papers submitted etc. 

1 minute ago, databit said:

If you marry by December 31, you get to file your taxes as married for all of 2018.

Also this! 

[Loren Y 2,755]

After Visa is issued you have 6 months to enter from the date of the medical exam. I was planning the same thing. Have had Visa since August and my fiancee will not enter until November 20th right before Thanksgiving. We are planning a Valentines Day wedding on February 14th, 2019, and that will be 86 days into the process. Will ship out the AOS next day the 15th after picking up the wedding certificate, and should be received at the exact 90 day mark.

 EAD is going to take forever anyway, I learned a long time ago into this process to expect everything to take years or more, then you don't worry about the process at all, why sweat the little things.

 

And heath insurance can be bought at any time for a temporary short term policy, then after marriage add her to your insurance, not sure how that complicates health insurance. I already have health insurance for my fiancee paid for that starts the day she lands November 20th, and continues for 90 days. It's not a cover everything policy, but it will protect me in case she has a heart attack or some other unforeseen illness that would otherwise destroy you financially. It is a calamity policy I believe they called it.

 

And if you are getting married for the Tax break, or the discount in auto insurance, you should reconsider the relationship.

 

Edited October 9, 2018 by Loren Y

[Boiler 45,525]

Delaying a few months delays many things, EAD, AP etc.

 

Having to pay full wack for Obama compliant Insurance can be a challenge to some.

[Loren Y 2,755]

15 minutes ago, Boiler said:

Delaying a few months delays many things, EAD, AP etc.

 

Having to pay full wack for Obama compliant Insurance can be a challenge to some.

Yes, the EAD and AP are delayed by a few months that is true, but on the insurance side of things they removed the Insurance mandate penalty starting in 2019. If the OP fiancee arrives late October 2018, they can use any insurance they want, it does not have to be Obama compliant. You can go without insurance for up to 90 days without penalty under the current laws in effect for 2018 by filing for an exemption ( Just checking a box on your tax form) and explaining why you didn't have coverage for up to the 90 days. Obviously you didn't even enter the country until late October is a good reason that you didn't have coverage for the rest of the year, and in this case pretty easy to prove if questioned as you will have passport stamps and I94 to reference if they want to make a big deal out of it.

 

So get a Aflack, or similar policy to cover any really expensive things, and if you really need to visit a doctor as crappy as the insurance is in this country anyway you would be amazed the discount you get for paying cash. I believe the 90 day policy I got was around 300 dollars or so for the 90 days coverage, so about a hundred a month. not bad as when I add her to my policy at work next year it will cost me around 140 a month extra out of my paycheck to add a spouse with all the coverage I have in place., and I just have the Core plan, the general run of the mill insurance.

[Loren Y 2,755]

As another note, she won't Technically have to file taxes for the year 2018 anyway because she won't even come close to the 183 days of stay to be considered a resident for the tax year. they would be considered a Non-resident alien, and not required to file. Now if you are here on a work visa or something that is a whole other story.

[Boiler 45,525]

Aflac?

 

Really?

 

PS There was a reason it was cheap.

 

[debbiedoo 2,339]

as long as its within 90 days its fine. alternatively, you can can get married (legally) as soon as she arrives and have the wedding later. that is what we will be doing.

 

 

[NikLR 13,227]

No issue with getting married later as long as it's within 90 days. 

[KaeAlexandria 3]

18 hours ago, TimonLovesSkylour said:

As long as things go well at the interview (October 10) with getting my visa and passport back, we're hoping I'll be able to make entry to the US on October 26, 2018 (please also let me know if this part of the timeline is overly optimistic or anything).

This MAY be possible as long as all your ducks are in a row, however be prepared just in case they want additional documents / a new form of a document that you have. I did my interview Aug 15th, and they wanted a new medical from me. Got the medical to them the next week, they took 4 weeks to process it, and another 2 for me to send my passport and get my official "VISA ISSUED" status.

 

However, that very easily couldn't be the case, just want you prepared!  Wishing you the best of luck.

[TimonLovesSkylour 7]

On 10/8/2018 at 9:00 PM, Loren Y said:

After Visa is issued you have 6 months to enter from the date of the medical exam. I was planning the same thing. Have had Visa since August and my fiancee will not enter until November 20th right before Thanksgiving. We are planning a Valentines Day wedding on February 14th, 2019, and that will be 86 days into the process. Will ship out the AOS next day the 15th after picking up the wedding certificate, and should be received at the exact 90 day mark.

 EAD is going to take forever anyway, I learned a long time ago into this process to expect everything to take years or more, then you don't worry about the process at all, why sweat the little things.

 

And heath insurance can be bought at any time for a temporary short term policy, then after marriage add her to your insurance, not sure how that complicates health insurance. I already have health insurance for my fiancee paid for that starts the day she lands November 20th, and continues for 90 days. It's not a cover everything policy, but it will protect me in case she has a heart attack or some other unforeseen illness that would otherwise destroy you financially. It is a calamity policy I believe they called it.

 

And if you are getting married for the Tax break, or the discount in auto insurance, you should reconsider the relationship.

 

Well, just to clarify, I'm the Canadian beneficiary, she is the US petitioner. Anyway, I'm young, and in very good health...so I'm not really sure it's worth it to spend the money on insurance for a few months, I don't know... I suppose freak accidents are possible. We haven't specifically addressed that yet. We'll give it some consideration, thank you for raising the issue.

 

On 10/9/2018 at 2:45 PM, KaeAlexandria said:

This MAY be possible as long as all your ducks are in a row, however be prepared just in case they want additional documents / a new form of a document that you have. I did my interview Aug 15th, and they wanted a new medical from me. Got the medical to them the next week, they took 4 weeks to process it, and another 2 for me to send my passport and get my official "VISA ISSUED" status.

 

However, that very easily couldn't be the case, just want you prepared!  Wishing you the best of luck.

Thank you!

 

The interview went smoothly and I received my visa a couple of days later via Canada Post Xpresspost (paid for the to-house courier delivery), so it looks like things are going to work out on the timeline we were hoping for!

 

The medical exam I had was done by Dr. Lyndon Mascarenhas, in Toronto (office is at St Clair and Bathurst), for anyone wondering, and the consulate had no issues with it.