court marriage vs traditional

[moch123]

Hello!

I'm Canadian and married my fiance (USC) back in July in a courthouse ceremony in the US. We submitted our AOS filing in Sept, and we're planning to have the traditional wedding June 2019 in Canada so that all my family can make it to celebrate (traditional wedding pushed out to 2019 due to various circumstances). Wanted to know if anyone else had any similar experiences and if the two separate wedding dates would be a problem during a AOS interview since I'd be bringing photos of the wedding and the wedding invites would say June 2019 instead of July 2018).

Thanks in advance!

[UScitizenFilingforspouse]

Hello!

I'm Canadian and married my fiance (USC) back in July in a courthouse ceremony in the US. We submitted our AOS filing in Sept, and we're planning to have the traditional wedding June 2019 in Canada so that all my family can make it to celebrate (traditional wedding pushed out to 2019 due to various circumstances). Wanted to know if anyone else had any similar experiences and if the two separate wedding dates would be a problem during a AOS interview since I'd be bringing photos of the wedding and the wedding invites would say June 2019 instead of July 2018).

Thanks in advance!

They care that your marriage is legally VALID. Photos of ceremonies and pictures in general carry the least weight. They care about concrete evidence of bona fide marriage - evidence of commingling of finances: joint property, joint assets, being the beneficiary on each other's 401k and life insurance. Evidence of cohabitation.

Focus on concrete evidence of bona fide marriage. https://www.immihelp.com/forum/showt...892#post589892

[seattle2903]

Hello!

I'm Canadian and married my fiance (USC) back in July in a courthouse ceremony in the US. We submitted our AOS filing in Sept, and we're planning to have the traditional wedding June 2019 in Canada so that all my family can make it to celebrate (traditional wedding pushed out to 2019 due to various circumstances). Wanted to know if anyone else had any similar experiences and if the two separate wedding dates would be a problem during a AOS interview since I'd be bringing photos of the wedding and the wedding invites would say June 2019 instead of July 2018).

Thanks in advance!

I got married in a courtroom in between trials, and were witnessed by only my husband’s parents. Called a judge, set up the appointment, showed up, signed papers, done. Took 10 mins. We are having our big party in June 2019 in Europe with our families, friends, etc. It does not matter how big or where you got married. If your relationship is genuine and your have proof of that, no worries.

[UScitizenFilingforspouse]

We didn't have a party, proposal or anything like that. Gather concrete evidence of bona fide marriage and you will be fine. Not every couple will have evidence of a fancy destination wedding/honey moon. But every couple has to pay for bills and split expenses, or text each other to remind your spouse that you are out of milk and to please get some on your way home from work.

[miiki]

We did something similar. Just a small wedding that cost less than $500. We submitted photos for the first one and brought photos of the big one to the interview. The IO was interested in it. We explained that we needed to save money for the dream wedding and it was in his home country, so his family could be apart of it (and some of my family went too). Wasn’t a problem.

[KM24]

We didn't have a party, proposal or anything like that. Gather concrete evidence of bona fide marriage and you will be fine. Not every couple will have evidence of a fancy destination wedding/honey moon. But every couple has to pay for bills and split expenses, or text each other to remind your spouse that you are out of milk and to please get some on your way home from work.

How are you going to explain that there wasn’t a proposal in case they ask about it?

[WaitedLongEnough]

How are you going to explain that there wasn’t a proposal in case they ask about it?

I knew my husband since 2012. We were friends. We started dating June 2017, moved in December 2017 and got married February 2018.

Not everyone get engaged, also , not everyone has a huge wedding. I care for my fancy ring than a 1 day event to feed people who won’t be there with me and my husband to experience our daily struggles. I am going to explain my experience exactly as is , no lies . Nothing to add or take off. I was celebate after my daughters father. I was not going to have sex with any man who didn’t make me his wife. I stood my grounds. My husband saw the wife material in me, knew he didn’t want to lose me and wanted to marry me the moment I told him what I wanted (we obviously dated for some time). My story is similar to the Ciara and Russell story. I didn’t get the fancy engagement but I am a testimony to letting go of a jerk, started loving myself , wanted the best for my and my daughter , changed my taste in men and got a A WINNER!

My husband loves me, knew my circumstances and wanted to experience every bit of this life changing journey with me. I hope the IO officer shed a tear or two at OUR STORY hahahhaha

[UScitizenFilingforspouse]

I knew my husband since 2012. We were friends. We started dating June 2017, moved in December 2017 and got married February 2018.

Not everyone get engaged, also , not everyone has a huge wedding. I care for my fancy ring than a 1 day event to feed people who won’t be there with me and my husband to experience our daily struggles. I am going to explain my experience exactly as is , no lies . Nothing to add or take off. I was celebate after my daughters father. I was not going to have sex with any man who didn’t make me his wife. I stood my grounds. My husband saw the wife material in me, knew he didn’t want to lose me and wanted to marry me the moment I told him what I wanted (we obviously dated for some time). My story is similar to the Ciara and Russell story. I didn’t get the fancy engagement but I am a testimony to letting go of a jerk, started loving myself , wanted the best for my and my daughter , changed my taste in men and got a A WINNER!

My husband loves me, knew my circumstances and wanted to experience every bit of this life changing journey with me. I hope the IO officer shed a tear or two at OUR STORY hahahhaha

Well, I ALMOST did! That's a beautiful story! Same here. I am not telling anything but the truth. We met on a dating app. If they want to see those messages, sure... I have screenshots of all of them. We got rid of the app after a few weeks. We knew we wanted to get married early on.

FOLKS... FOCUS ON CONCRETE EVIDENCE OF BONA FIDE MARRIAGE.

FOCUS ON THE PAPER TRAIL.

[okccanary]

We did exactly that

Hello!

I'm Canadian and married my fiance (USC) back in July in a courthouse ceremony in the US. We submitted our AOS filing in Sept, and we're planning to have the traditional wedding June 2019 in Canada so that all my family can make it to celebrate (traditional wedding pushed out to 2019 due to various circumstances). Wanted to know if anyone else had any similar experiences and if the two separate wedding dates would be a problem during a AOS interview since I'd be bringing photos of the wedding and the wedding invites would say June 2019 instead of July 2018).

Thanks in advance!

We did exactly that. Got married at the courthouse in March 2018 so we could get the ball rolling on this and didn't tell anyone about it except my father and mother in law who were witnesses. We then had our big traditional wedding in August which we count as our actual wedding date. My family are all teachers and August was the only time they could all come over for the celebration. We sent our pictures from the courthouse with our initial packet which looked pretty bleak as it was just me, my wife and my in laws in front of the courthouse with a certificate (I was initially worried about how this might come across). When we got interviewed last month we took a binder of our wedding in August which has lots of pictures of family and friends there. My IO officer didn't seem to mind one bit at all. In fact he told us he pretty much made his mind up to approve us before the interview took place. While he did look through our August wedding photos and signature book, I think its more important to prove the boring everyday aspect of your relationship than just showing a fancy wedding. I received my GC last week. Hope this helps/ease fears

[KM24]

Guys you have no idea how much your stories help!! I was worried they would focus a lot on the wedding/engagement and I don‘t have any of that yet but can pretty much prove our bona Fide marriage with all the other stuff this forum‘s more helpful than any attorney could ever be lol

[RIMB]

Well, I ALMOST did! That's a beautiful story! Same here. I am not telling anything but the truth. We met on a dating app. If they want to see those messages, sure... I have screenshots of all of them. We got rid of the app after a few weeks. We knew we wanted to get married early on.

FOLKS... FOCUS ON CONCRETE EVIDENCE OF BONA FIDE MARRIAGE.

FOCUS ON THE PAPER TRAIL.

Hahahaha~ Hey same experience here. I met my husband on Tinder. He was my first Tinder date and we ended up together.
Everybody is saying Tinder is a place for hookup, Not for serious relationship, but guess what I found.

[RIMB]

Hello!

I'm Canadian and married my fiance (USC) back in July in a courthouse ceremony in the US. We submitted our AOS filing in Sept, and we're planning to have the traditional wedding June 2019 in Canada so that all my family can make it to celebrate (traditional wedding pushed out to 2019 due to various circumstances). Wanted to know if anyone else had any similar experiences and if the two separate wedding dates would be a problem during a AOS interview since I'd be bringing photos of the wedding and the wedding invites would say June 2019 instead of July 2018).

Thanks in advance!

Hi Moch123,

I am on the same boat. No engagement. Not traditional wedding yet - planning June 2020.

I was married in a courthouse with only my husband family participated. Everybody took a day off from work. We went for lunch after next to the water. That was it.

If they ever ask why no engagement, just tell them "After XX Yrs/Periods of dating, we cannot wait to start a life together". I was once worried and got the advice from USCFFS. I think a lot of people in this forum are on the same boat, and IO will understand not every wedding has to go through the same formulas.

Good luck.

Best,
RIMB

[UScitizenFilingforspouse]

Hahahaha~ Hey same experience here. I met my husband on Tinder. He was my first Tinder date and we ended up together.
Everybody is saying Tinder is a place for hookup, Not for serious relationship, but guess what I found.

Haha, EXACTLY! We met on Scruff. We wouldn't have otherwise met! Every story is unique and you are helping the next person by sharing your unique, no-frills story.

I wanted no one at our ceremony. I did not want anyone clearing their throats at key moments. I wanted to be able to speak my heart out during our vows. It was very special to us. And I did have one of the perfect strangers who served as witnesses - record the whole thing. If they thought it was cheesy or whatever, I don't care. Those people aren't in my immediate circle and don't have the ability to hurt me or get under my skin.

So yes, I will say we met on Scruff. That helps the next hetero or same-sex couple who met online, too. That educates Immigration Officers, too.

Thank you for sharing your story, RIMB!

[RIMB]

Haha, EXACTLY! We met on Scruff. We wouldn't have otherwise met! Every story is unique and you are helping the next person by sharing your unique, no-frills story.

I wanted no one at our ceremony. I did not want anyone clearing their throats at key moments. I wanted to be able to speak my heart out during our vows. It was very special to us. And I did have one of the perfect strangers who served as witnesses - record the whole thing. If they thought it was cheesy or whatever, I don't care. Those people aren't in my immediate circle and don't have the ability to hurt me or get under my skin.

So yes, I will say we met on Scruff. That helps the next hetero or same-sex couple who met online, too. That educates Immigration Officers, too.

Thank you for sharing your story, RIMB!

Of course. Thank you for always there to help and share your stories!
I can totally understand that you want no one else there. It is a very intimate/private moment that you two committed to each other.
I think it is totally okay to say that your meet each other on Scruff. Now a days, It sounds much more legit than meeting someone at a bar.

[UScitizenFilingforspouse]

Of course. Thank you for always there to help and share your stories!
I can totally understand that you want no one else there. It is a very intimate/private moment that you two committed to each other.
I think it is totally okay to say that your meet each other on Scruff. Now a days, It sounds much more legit than meeting someone at a bar.

I am glad you and others appreciate it. I am not worried about how we met, really. It is how we met, and that is it. To anyone reading this thread, your story is your story. Do not change anything. It is easier to catch a LIAR than a THIEF. My grandma always said that. Never lie.