Proof of Financial Support

[Just Paul 4,595]

Our wedding in Hong Kong cost about $45 for a civil ceremony.  No rings, no flowers, no vows required - but we did say some that we wrote.  I used airline miles to fly my parents in so we didn't need 2 witnesses plus they had never been to Asia.  Lunch afterwards would have been the most expensive part but my dad insisted on paying.  Sunday we registered the marriage at the Filipino Consulate and flew back to Manila.  We had a big party with her family in the provinces the next week, another one in Mexico and yet another big party once we got to the US.

 

We didn't have any plans to come to the US when we did as I was planning to work on a project in Panama.  That got cancelled and we were able to fasttrack it to the US.

[Cndn 98]

9 hours ago, Chancy said:

 

Good that you seem to be starting your visa journey with your eyes wide open.  I'm just hoping you're not underestimating the mental stress that can result from being forced to be unemployed for that long.

 

The reason VJ members seem very eager to push people to choose CR1 over K1 is that this site is full of people who have come back here regretting their decision to go for K1.  Check out the "Adjustment of Status - K1" and "Effects of Major Family Changes" forums for a peek at some of these stressed out and regretful people.

 

Facts. I am so mad at myself for going with the K1. Here I am 18 months after having filed AOS (backlogged Seattle) and still seeing “case is ready to be scheduled for interview.” 
 

I wish I had known how much of a headache (AOS) I would be avoiding with the spouse visa. For the sake of a few flipping months the K1 was so not worth it. 

[SalishSea 17,711]

38 minutes ago, Cndn said:

Facts. I am so mad at myself for going with the K1. Here I am 18 months after having filed AOS (backlogged Seattle) and still seeing “case is ready to be scheduled for interview.” 
 

I wish I had known how much of a headache (AOS) I would be avoiding with the spouse visa. For the sake of a few flipping months the K1 was so not worth it. 

Totally agree.  We 'only' waited 14 months for my husband's AOS interview.  However, we were lucky enough that pre-covid, combo card wait times were not so terrible, so he was working 5 months after POE.    With the USCIS office closures this year and biometrics holdups,  the backlog is going to get worse before it gets better.

[Diane and Chris 651]

40 minutes ago, Cndn said:

Facts. I am so mad at myself for going with the K1. Here I am 18 months after having filed AOS (backlogged Seattle) and still seeing “case is ready to be scheduled for interview.” 
 

I wish I had known how much of a headache (AOS) I would be avoiding with the spouse visa. For the sake of a few flipping months the K1 was so not worth it. 

I agree. AOS was a headache. Then you must turn around and file for 10 year green card less than 2 years later. One more thing is that the fees for AOS are going up quite a bit since you need to pay for EAD as well. 

[Zoeeeeeee 797]

My husband and I got married in PF Changs while having lunch with our officiant - our witness was the bartender 😂.

 

I actually came in on a K1 - but our big wedding was planned for February 2020 and I arrived in November 2019, so we wanted to get the ball rolling quicker on my AOS. So, we said no vows and we just count the November date as our 'paperwork' date...then in February, we had a gorgeous wedding with our families and friends, said our vows, swapped rings...and none of them knew it wasn't our actual marriage date 🙃.

[RM1996 4]

18 hours ago, HRQX said:

Yes, that is sufficient. Some couples then choose to do vow renewal ceremony with guests in the US after entering with the Immigrant Visa.

I think you are referring to US domicile for the petitioner. That requirement comes in later after I-130 petition approval and some consulates accept the intent to re-establish US domicile.

Oh perfect! Thanks for the clarification! So she'll just need written statement and evidence of living aboard and intents of moving back  Thanks for that

[Cndn 98]

9 hours ago, Jorgedig said:

Totally agree.  We 'only' waited 14 months for my husband's AOS interview.  However, we were lucky enough that pre-covid, combo card wait times were not so terrible, so he was working 5 months after POE.    With the USCIS office closures this year and biometrics holdups,  the backlog is going to get worse before it gets better.

Yup. You’re so lucky to have been done within 14 months. 18 months and counting. Now with everything going on I see no light at the end of this tunnel. 

9 hours ago, Diane and Chris said:

I agree. AOS was a headache. Then you must turn around and file for 10 year green card less than 2 years later. One more thing is that the fees for AOS are going up quite a bit since you need to pay for EAD as well. 

I guess that’s the only silver lining here - it’s taken so long I’ve already been married 2 years. 

[Ryan H 3,812]

Moved from Progress Reports to Process & Procedures.