Noorah101

No problem, you're welcome. It seems overwhelming right now, but just enjoy being engaged today, and then begin doing research on how to get married in the UK, and then the Immigrant Visa.

Congratulations on your engagement.

Rene

meauxna

hi, congratulations on your engagement.

Further to Rene's questions, can you tell us more about living in Thailand? How long have you (both) been there, and under what circumstances? Are you working there? When you do plan to leave? Have you considered marrying there?

ajcmals

My best advice to you... Listen to Rene aka Noorah and follow the guides on the forum.

The wait for a K1 Visa can be painful without your fiance but mine took from October 2008 to May 2009 as I said before, in the grand scheme of things it's not that long.

I got married secretly in May 2009 (Justice of the Peace came to our house!) without telling friends or family, then my family came over for the 'main' wedding in October (we told the preacher we were already married and he just played along).

Start your K1 Visa application now if you want to get married in USA.

I will make you aware, try save up as much cash as you can in the meantime. For me life is tough in the USA but there are many benefits if you do well, are lucky and chose the right path...

avanutria

Might there be a version of DCF for people living in Thailand?

meauxna

There is, but I'm not sure that's where I would go with it.. but it just might openn up some other alternatives for them.

Noorah101

There might be. Something for the OP to look into, if they have lived in Thailand long enough with the right status and are willing to get married there.

Rene

jeffreyhy

a,

Excellent choice of words - "a version of" - there is a CIS District Office in Bangkok where one could submit their I-130 petition if they can demonstrate that Thailand is their place of residence.

But then there's the problem of quickly re-establishing domicile in the USA.

Regards, JEff

jeffreyhy

It doesn't matter where they get, or got, married. One submits their I-130 petition to the CIS office (or consulate, for DCF) that serves their place of residence.

Regards, JEff

NashvilleBrit

I started thinking about this idea last night!!
Is it possible to get married to start the process of visas, then when it is all sorted, we can then have our 'real' wedding!
I said earlier! this is supposed to be the happiest time in my life! It is turning into a big ball of stress right now!!!

NashvilleBrit

We have both been living in Thailand for 3 years, we work in private schools here and have non-immigrant B visas, we met 2 years ago and have decided that Thailand is no longer for us. The 2 year itch got us, but we wanted to wait out another year here as some great job opportunities arose.

We plan on leaving at the end of the academic year (April) and had planned on going to the states, then marry in the UK. (Looks like that is out of the question now though!)

We don't want to marry out here, it is a big deal for us to have our families with us when we do. (Plus, we have been here so long that the attraction of an exotic wedding here, just isn't the same!!!)

meauxna

It's just the 2-year plan.

Depends on when YOU want to live in the US and how you two feel about when you want to be separated. Or, having two weddings.

Noorah101

Yes, it's possible. Many people do that.

Rene

jeffreyhy

Wts,

If you like this idea and want to consider it let's recognize a few things semantic.
- A wedding ceremony is not getting married. Not in Thailand, anyway.
- To get married in Thailand the couple goes to their local amphur, signs the registration papers, and they are married. This being recognized as a marriage by the Thai government, it is recognized as a marriage by the US government as well.


As foreigners in Thailand, you will each have fill out a form and have it notarized by your respective consulates certifying that you are presently single. If either of you are divorced there is a form to certify that as well.

Take these forms to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to be 'legalized'.

Take the notarized and legalized forms to an amphur office, fill out the registration form, and you are married.

Your husband is now ready to submit his I-130 to the CIS office in Bangkok.

Do this now and you should have your immigrant visa by the time you are ready to leave in April. Provided that he can pass the financial and domicile hurdles of I-864.

Have your wedding wherever and whenever you want after you leave Thailand.

May I suggest a consultation with Bill White, a US immigration attorney practicing in Bangkok. http://usfamilyvisa.com/ Give him a call, he's a great guy and can explain in detail what I've summarized for you. Also the US embassy's web site has info on getting married in Thailand, I expect that the UK embassy's web site does also.

Regards, JEff

[Disclosures: I got married in Thailand, and Bill White is my attorney for matters Thai.]