MArriage location and honeymoon

[sunflower3 0]

Hi Everyone

I'm just starting the K1 visa process and have a few questions that I'm hoping someone on this sit can help me with:

1) should i be getting an immigration lawyer?

2) after i am approved for the K1 visa can I still enter the USA to visit my fiancee (prior to our wedding) or will he have to come visit me always? we still have 9 months to our wedding!

3) i want to have the wedding ceremony in Canada - i was planning to have the ceremony in Canada and the legal marriage in the US. We are planning a spring wedding next year in Canada followed by a honeymoon somewhere outside of the USA and then we were going to enter the USA and have a legal marriage there. Is this risky? Has anyone faced the same issue?

ANy help would be great! Thanks

[Dan J 277]

Hi Everyone

I'm just starting the K1 visa process and have a few questions that I'm hoping someone on this sit can help me with:

1) should i be getting an immigration lawyer?

2) after i am approved for the K1 visa can I still enter the USA to visit my fiancee (prior to our wedding) or will he have to come visit me always? we still have 9 months to our wedding!

3) i want to have the wedding ceremony in Canada - i was planning to have the ceremony in Canada and the legal marriage in the US. We are planning a spring wedding next year in Canada followed by a honeymoon somewhere outside of the USA and then we were going to enter the USA and have a legal marriage there. Is this risky? Has anyone faced the same issue?

ANy help would be great! Thanks

1. You can do it on your own, but if your case has complications, a lawyer might help you sort out any issues.

2. You can only enter once with a K-1 visa, and if you enter with a K-1 visa, it will be used over any visa wavier program or any other visa free programs.

3. You can do that if you want, but be aware. You are not married yet, and saying anything else could confuse border agents and cause problems with entry into the US. Many people have done it, especially with countries where its hard if not impossible to get a visa to the US. But if you are concerned about issues related to that, you could get legally married now and take one of the spousal visa paths. And still have your wedding ceremony in the spring.

[no name 1]

Hi Everyone

I'm just starting the K1 visa process and have a few questions that I'm hoping someone on this sit can help me with:

1) should i be getting an immigration lawyer?

2) after i am approved for the K1 visa can I still enter the USA to visit my fiancee (prior to our wedding) or will he have to come visit me always? we still have 9 months to our wedding!

3) i want to have the wedding ceremony in Canada - i was planning to have the ceremony in Canada and the legal marriage in the US. We are planning a spring wedding next year in Canada followed by a honeymoon somewhere outside of the USA and then we were going to enter the USA and have a legal marriage there. Is this risky? Has anyone faced the same issue?

ANy help would be great! Thanks

#1 - read the guides on here - then decide if your case merits a lawyer or not.

#2 - once the K1 is issued, you have 6 months to use it and 90 days after entering the US to get married.

#3 - Look at the timelines for K1 & if you file thro Vermont or California. CSC is a longer waiting period. Look at timeline for Canada & if you are Vancouver or Montreal. Vancouver is a much longer wait. PLease don't make any firm wedding plans until your visa is in hand - timelines vary greatly.

http://www.visajourney.com/timeline/k1list.php?op3=1

Fees go up signnifcantly on July 30, so if you can, file before then.

[sunflower3 0]

Can I enter the US as just a visitor even if i have a K- visa. For example, say i get my K1 and then i want to go visit my fiancee in the US can I enter the US just as a visitor (not under th K-1) visa?

[Lance27 19]

Hi Everyone

I'm just starting the K1 visa process and have a few questions that I'm hoping someone on this sit can help me with:

1) should i be getting an immigration lawyer?

2) after i am approved for the K1 visa can I still enter the USA to visit my fiancee (prior to our wedding) or will he have to come visit me always? we still have 9 months to our wedding!

3) i want to have the wedding ceremony in Canada - i was planning to have the ceremony in Canada and the legal marriage in the US. We are planning a spring wedding next year in Canada followed by a honeymoon somewhere outside of the USA and then we were going to enter the USA and have a legal marriage there. Is this risky? Has anyone faced the same issue?

ANy help would be great! Thanks

#1 - read the guides on here - then decide if your case merits a lawyer or not.

#2 - once the K1 is issued, you have 6 months to use it and 90 days after entering the US to get married.

#3 - Look at the timelines for K1 & if you file thro Vermont or California. CSC is a longer waiting period. Look at timeline for Canada & if you are Vancouver or Montreal. Vancouver is a much longer wait. PLease don't make any firm wedding plans until your visa is in hand - timelines vary greatly.

http://www.visajourney.com/timeline/k1list.php?op3=1

Fees go up signnifcantly on July 30, so if you can, file before then.

Actually Montreal is the longer wait. Vancouver schedules interviews about a month from sending packet 3 checklist. Montreal about 5-7 months.

Good luck

[Lance27 19]

Can I enter the US as just a visitor even if i have a K- visa. For example, say i get my K1 and then i want to go visit my fiancee in the US can I enter the US just as a visitor (not under th K-1) visa?

Yes you can but it is up to the CBP officer to parole or deny you at the POE. Make sure that you carry as much proof of ties to Canada. like Lease agreements/Mortgage papers, Letter from employer, Pay stubs, K1/K3 papers (NOA1 NOA2 etc), Return ticket etc.

[sunflower3 0]

wow this is so crazy! thanks for all the info!

[no name 1]

Can I enter the US as just a visitor even if i have a K- visa. For example, say i get my K1 and then i want to go visit my fiancee in the US can I enter the US just as a visitor (not under th K-1) visa?

A Canadian just mentioned she was able to do this freely. I do not think it is the norm though. Once your K1 is issued, you need ot be prepared to use it when you next enter the US.

[gflova 0]

i am pretty sure with the K-1 visa u can't get married in Canada....actually, you CAN'T GET MARRIED OUTSIDE THE USA.

[Lance27 19]

i am pretty sure with the K-1 visa u can't get married in Canada....actually, you CAN'T GET MARRIED OUTSIDE THE USA.

The OP mentioned that she is only having the wedding ceremony in Canada and the legal wedding in the US

3) i want to have the wedding ceremony in Canada - i was planning to have the ceremony in Canada and the legal marriage in the US.

[frosty13 0]

ok. So I've sent in the form, gotten a NOA (Notice of Action) and now we're just trying to plan the honeymoon. I was wondering if anyone knew if, after getting married in the US, we would be able to travel out of the country for the honeymoon? Thanks!!!

[TracyTN 237]

ok. So I've sent in the form, gotten a NOA (Notice of Action) and now we're just trying to plan the honeymoon. I was wondering if anyone knew if, after getting married in the US, we would be able to travel out of the country for the honeymoon? Thanks!!!

You can, but you need to have Advanced Parole in order to re-enter.

[payxibka 10,045]

ok. So I've sent in the form, gotten a NOA (Notice of Action) and now we're just trying to plan the honeymoon. I was wondering if anyone knew if, after getting married in the US, we would be able to travel out of the country for the honeymoon? Thanks!!!

Certainly ... Returning will be problematic until AOS or Advance Parole has been approved

Edited July 18, 2007 by fwaguy

[lucyrich 20]

ok. So I've sent in the form, gotten a NOA (Notice of Action) and now we're just trying to plan the honeymoon. I was wondering if anyone knew if, after getting married in the US, we would be able to travel out of the country for the honeymoon? Thanks!!!

You can freely leave the US at any time, but you'll have no way to re-enter. Your K-1 is no good after you're married, and it's a single entry visa anyway. You've clearly established immigrant intent, so the visa waiver or any other program for visiting won't work.

If you file for, and receive advance parole before you leave the US, then that will provide you a way back in. If you file for and are granted adjustment of status, then that will provide you a way back in. Either of these options will take time; typically more time than you want to spend between wedding and honeymoon.

Or you could do as some have done, leave the US immediately after the wedding and start all over from square one as a married couple, filing for a K-3 and/or CR-1 to use for re-entering the US. This will take time, of course, but it allows leaving the US immediately. Most of the couples I've seen take this route did it accidentally. "We didn't realize that we weren't supposed to leave the US, not even for a quick walk across the bridge at Niagra Falls".

Most would recommend staying inside the US at least until advance parole is granted. Save the international trip for an anniversary.

[jundp 191]

ok. So I've sent in the form, gotten a NOA (Notice of Action) and now we're just trying to plan the honeymoon. I was wondering if anyone knew if, after getting married in the US, we would be able to travel out of the country for the honeymoon? Thanks!!!

Most would recommend staying inside the US at least until advance parole is granted. Save the international trip for an anniversary.

Or do the "honeymoon" outside of the US before you ever enter and have the legal ceremony. That's what we're doing. So it's technically not a honeymoon, it's a pre-honeymoon, but once we have the legally ceremony and file for AOS, etc, we wouldn't be able to afford to do what we want anyway