Where to get married?

[millefleur 5,047]

Just now, Cheburashka34 said:

Millefleur, how did you two marry?

I had a work visa in Russia so we got married in Russia. It wasn't a problem for me to wait and travel back/forth to Moscow at that time to get all the necessary documents since I lived there.

[Cheburashka34 228]

Just now, millefleur said:

I had a work visa in Russia so we got married in Russia. It wasn't a problem for me to wait and travel back/forth to Moscow at that time to get all the necessary documents since I lived there.

How were you able to prove sufficient income? I've thought of moving to Russia to live with him while waiting for anything to be approved, but Russian salary's are so low  

[millefleur 5,047]

Just now, Cheburashka34 said:

How were you able to prove sufficient income? I've thought of moving to Russia to live with him while waiting for anything to be approved, but Russian salary's are so low  

Oh we had a joint sponsor for the CR-1 application. A lot of people get joint sponsors. As long as they meet the income guidelines, it is not a problem. You just need them to gather all the financial documents and sign the forms.

[Cheburashka34 228]

4 minutes ago, millefleur said:

Oh we had a joint sponsor for the CR-1 application. A lot of people get joint sponsors. As long as they meet the income guidelines, it is not a problem. You just need them to gather all the financial documents and sign the forms.

Is it possible to go to Russia and apply for marriage and fly back to get married? (Since you have to wait a month to be approved)

[Just Paul 4,595]

7 minutes ago, Cheburashka34 said:

How were you able to prove sufficient income? I've thought of moving to Russia to live with him while waiting for anything to be approved, but Russian salary's are so low  

You can use a joint sponsor and / or any savings (assets) you have.   You could also move back to the US during the process and work there.

[millefleur 5,047]

3 minutes ago, Cheburashka34 said:

Is it possible to go to Russia and apply for marriage and fly back to get married? (Since you have to wait a month to be approved)

I think that is possible. There isn't any residency requirement to get married, you just need a valid visa and that's it. The hardest part is getting all that other paperwork from Moscow, which you could also just apply for and then pick it up later. But it does require an in person visit to Moscow.

 

I just don't know about the US Citizen Services department in Moscow right now. It says they're only doing doing emergency passports right now (see website: https://ru.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/) because of Covid-19, so you may not be able to get the "standard affidavit form (svidetel’stvo)" form there, which is required to get married in Russia.

[Cheburashka34 228]

1 minute ago, millefleur said:

I think that is possible. There isn't any residency requirement to get married, you just need a valid visa and that's it. The hardest part is getting all that other paperwork from Moscow, which you could also just apply for and then pick it up later. But it does require an in person visit to Moscow.

 

I just don't know about the US Citizen Services department in Moscow right now. It says they're only doing doing emergency passports right now (see website: https://ru.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/) because of Covid-19, so you may not be able to get the "standard affidavit form (svidetel’stvo)" form there, which is required to get married in Russia.

Oh I see I guess we'll just stick with K1 and hope he gets here maybe by the end of next year. I put the whole list of countries he can visit in a word document that don't require a formal visa and most of them that seem to have a straight forward easy, quick marriage process are far off islands like Fiji and St Lucia where I can barely even find flights sadly. 

[millefleur 5,047]

Just now, Cheburashka34 said:

Oh I see I guess we'll just stick with K1 and hope he gets here maybe by the end of next year. I put the whole list of countries he can visit in a word document that don't require a formal visa and most of them that seem to have a straight forward easy, quick marriage process are far off islands like Fiji and St Lucia where I can barely even find flights sadly. 

Honestly since you started with the K-1 I don't blame you for just waiting it out. The Covid-19 thing has certainly complicated everything. It can be hard for Russians and Americans to find a mutual place to get married and it's even more difficult now because of Covid.

[Cheburashka34 228]

1 hour ago, millefleur said:

Honestly since you started with the K-1 I don't blame you for just waiting it out. The Covid-19 thing has certainly complicated everything. It can be hard for Russians and Americans to find a mutual place to get married and it's even more difficult now because of Covid.

Yes absolutely. When I was with him earlier in march my flight was actually cancelled coming back home, I wish I would've stayed in Russia with him and gotten married. But then I would've lost my job and had to find another one and it may have made things more difficult since I'm still in school. Oh well

[millefleur 5,047]

29 minutes ago, Cheburashka34 said:

Yes absolutely. When I was with him earlier in march my flight was actually cancelled coming back home, I wish I would've stayed in Russia with him and gotten married. But then I would've lost my job and had to find another one and it may have made things more difficult since I'm still in school. Oh well

Just remember that thousands of other people are in the same boat. It's hard but hopefully if the virus situation calms, that will mean flights and embassy schedules will also return to some semblance of stability. I do think we are going to get to a point where this virus will die down, just like Zika virus did in Brazil.

[Cheburashka34 228]

29 minutes ago, millefleur said:

Just remember that thousands of other people are in the same boat. It's hard but hopefully if the virus situation calms, that will mean flights and embassy schedules will also return to some semblance of stability. I do think we are going to get to a point where this virus will die down, just like Zika virus did in Brazil.

Thank you for your help and kind words. I hope at least Russia might be open for US visitors by December, since that's the earliest I can take another vacation and maybe soon after at least the petition will be approved 🤞