How do you decide when to get married (the legal marriage) after interview?

[Melyssa 0]

I was just wondering how you guys all timed or plan to time your legal wedding after entering the U.S. using your K1 Visa. We want and plan to get married as soon as possible after I have my visa in my hands. But I noticed that generally it seems like your marriages don't take place until a few weeks later... I know I am only looking at a small percentage of timelines/cases, but is this because that's how long it takes to get your marriage licenses, or is there something else I am missing? Also do any of you know if we can get our license before I have my K1 visa, or do I actually have to be in the country?

Edited May 24, 2007 by melytha

[Emancipation 2]

I moved on February 5th to the US, and we were married on the 9th.. We wanted to get married as soon as possible as well. We got married by the Justice of the Peace in our apartment. There was no "family" in this state to co-ordinate, so it was just hubby & I there.. SO it can be done quick like

Our license was a 15 min process, no waiting period.. easy peesy!

Edited May 24, 2007 by Emancipation

[misa 2]

Check out mercy's timeline (do a search for her profile). I believe she got married ASAP after entering and filed her AOS the same day (they picked up the certicate the same day as well from the courthouse).

[Eli 0]

Melytha- guessing from the fact that the local office on your profile is Vermont, I am going to make the guess that Vermont is the state you will be planning on marrying in. This link should give you some information about obtaining a marriage license in Vermont (every state is different). My then fiance and I were able to pick up a marriage license when I went to visit him (Washington State) before my K1 interview. We wanted to get married ASAP as well, our only delay after my entry was trying to find someone to marry us in our small town. The only judge circuited between courts in the nearby cities on a daily basis and was very booked, so it took almost 9 days before we could catch him with a free moment. We got to sit in on a DUI and a Minor with Possesion he was presiding over before he got to us - quite the interesting story now

-Eli-

[Krikit 1,164]

We had a civil ceremony the week following my entry to the U.S., then had our formal ceremony two months later. We both had to apply for the license in person as we were required to provide identification and signatures, and take oaths. We then had to wait 3 days (the "cooling off period") before we could marry. I believe the license was only valid for 30 days. (This was all in Florida, BTW.)

Congratulations on your upcoming marriage!

[~Nini~ 2]

From what I've seen with PA, it's a three-day wait to get a marriage license. Then either we're going to find a district judge (I'm not sure what the wait will be on that) or one of our friends, who just so happens to be an officiant. Formal ceremony to follow, though, once we have enough money to clear our debts and buy a house. Whenever that will be...

Edited May 25, 2007 by Nini & Bee

[Autumnchik 6]

We got married in New Hampshire, by a JOP in our living room My now husband entered the country on Feb. 11, we got the license on the 12th (no waiting period, we just had to appear in person together) and got married on Feb. 14th. We wanted to get married as soon as possible so that we could begin the AOS process. We had a formal wedding a couple months later.

[HannahP 119]

We're planning on getting a JoP wedding and than holding a family ceremony a year later. (Gives people to save up the money for the plane ride here!) There really isn't any way that you can reliably plan a traditional wedding on a visa, unless you can get really a really flexible timeline from your wedding vendors.

Etiquette-wise, having a second "white wedding" after you've been married by a JoP is a big faux pas. But whatever. It's a first wedding for both of us, so I don't really think that anyone will be gossiping behind our backs or anything.

[Melyssa 0]

I moved on February 5th to the US, and we were married on the 9th.. We wanted to get married as soon as possible as well. We got married by the Justice of the Peace in our apartment. There was no "family" in this state to co-ordinate, so it was just hubby & I there.. SO it can be done quick like

Our license was a 15 min process, no waiting period.. easy peesy!

Did the Justice of the Peace cost much money? We were planning on just going to the courthouse/County Clerk's office...but would rather something more personal... I'm just concerned it might cost $100+ and we'd need to schedule him/her in advance.

[Melyssa 0]

Melytha- guessing from the fact that the local office on your profile is Vermont, I am going to make the guess that Vermont is the state you will be planning on marrying in. This link should give you some information about obtaining a marriage license in Vermont (every state is different). My then fiance and I were able to pick up a marriage license when I went to visit him (Washington State) before my K1 interview. We wanted to get married ASAP as well, our only delay after my entry was trying to find someone to marry us in our small town. The only judge circuited between courts in the nearby cities on a daily basis and was very booked, so it took almost 9 days before we could catch him with a free moment. We got to sit in on a DUI and a Minor with Possesion he was presiding over before he got to us - quite the interesting story now

-Eli-

It would be so ironic if we came in the courthouse with me wearing a white wedding dress and him wearing a suit (if we decided to go that route), and we had to sit in on a case like that hehe that would make for an interesting story though; you're right!

From what I've seen with PA, it's a three-day wait to get a marriage license. Then either we're going to find a district judge (I'm not sure what the wait will be on that) or one of our friends, who just so happens to be an officiant. Formal ceremony to follow, though, once we have enough money to clear our debts and buy a house. Whenever that will be...

Wish we had a friend who was an officiant

We got married in New Hampshire, by a JOP in our living room My now husband entered the country on Feb. 11, we got the license on the 12th (no waiting period, we just had to appear in person together) and got married on Feb. 14th. We wanted to get married as soon as possible so that we could begin the AOS process. We had a formal wedding a couple months later.

I like that idea! I'm curious how much it would cost to bring a JOP to our residence now... hmmmm

Edited May 25, 2007 by melytha

[Melyssa 0]

We're planning on getting a JoP wedding and than holding a family ceremony a year later. (Gives people to save up the money for the plane ride here!) There really isn't any way that you can reliably plan a traditional wedding on a visa, unless you can get really a really flexible timeline from your wedding vendors.

Etiquette-wise, having a second "white wedding" after you've been married by a JoP is a big faux pas. But whatever. It's a first wedding for both of us, so I don't really think that anyone will be gossiping behind our backs or anything.

We were thinking of doing the same... the legal wedding, just for us and two close friends, and then a bigger celebration later on...

[misa 2]

Did the Justice of the Peace cost much money? We were planning on just going to the courthouse/County Clerk's office...but would rather something more personal... I'm just concerned it might cost $100+ and we'd need to schedule him/her in advance.

You might want to start searching around now and have a list ready. You'd probably have to schedule in advance if you want them to come to your house. We got married by a JoP in his house. Cost us $75 and only 3 days in advance. Most of them just do it on the side for extra cash so if they can accomodate you, they probably will.

[Autumnchik 6]

We live in a pretty small town; may be why the JOP was so flexible. She knew the people we had bought our house from, etc etc etc .... all the perks of small town living! She didn't charge much at all .... I think maybe 30 or 40 dollars. We gave her a bit more, because she trekked to our house in the middle of a snowstorm!!!!!

What state are you getting married in?

[Misty1979 0]

We got married last minute-ish during my second trip down here in NC. (How sad is this.. when I typed NC just now, I made a boo boo and typed NVC instead. I think this immigration stuff is getting to me lol.)

Anyways, we were able to get our marriage license same day for $50. The lady at the courthouse recommended a very nice man who just happened to be a Chaplain at the country police department to perform the ceremony for us. We reserved him one week in advance and paid $100.

Both of us really wanted to get married on the beach, so we called Fort Macon and managed to reserve a really nice spot here on the beach...for free! Considering it is a tourist attraction we were both pleasantly surprised that we didn't have to pay for it.

Make sure to post some pictures for us when you do get married!

[Flames9_RN 358]

We got married by a JP just so we could start the CR-1 process, then had a family wedding many months later. No one in the family (and many still don't) that the "2nd" wedding wasn't real,lol The JP was cheap, believe it was liek $50!! We went to the courthouse, got our license, thye Jp's office was acros the street,lol Went into her office, she shut her door, blah blah blah, 5 mins later we were married. the second time,(unofficial wedding) was done by a JP as well in RI, his price was a bit more as he had to come to weddings, but was only a $100 I belive.