Thinking of going to NY, Marrying - then Embassy 4 spouse Visa in one week,crzy?

  Hi there! I am hoping someone can be of help! 

I am from California orig and have been here in the UK with my boyfriend...and now fiance  for just under two years. We have plans for a wedding in Santa Barbara, but can't do it until at least Sept 2005. I was on a Student Visa until recently and have just been granted (WENT TO CROYDON) "limited leave to remain" just to stay here in the UK until our wedding (we did not want to go back to the US to get a fiance Visa - did not know rules while we were there over x-mas - oops!). Obviously I cannot work on this Visa or come and go anywhere out of the UK (if I do..it is not good anymore)...so it's a bit frustrating and I really would love to be able to work in the meantime. So...we are debating running off to NY or LA and doing a "secret" "paperwork" marriage and then still continuing on with our wedding plans (ceremony and reception) in Sept in Santa Barbara CA. Sneaky huh? Only parents will know. It's either this or we elope earlier to the Caribbean  and then have receptions to follow in the UK and US. Both are options...Anyhow...that is besides the point.

I have called the Embassy and it is so hard to get through...and when I DID....they were very vague and to be honest NOT very helpful at all.

So..my question is to anyone who has been in a similar situation or who may know...about both NY and LA Embassy's procedures : FIRST CHOICE - We would like to try and go to NY for about 5 days, have a civil ceremony at the city clerk's office (license and marraige) and then go straight to the NY Embassy (Obviously with appts.) to apply (and hopefully GET) my Spouse Visa stamp. Has anyone done this? If so, was it issued the same day? We would need to have it before returning to the UK. I am also concerened about THIS : I am from SF, ca orig and so that is where all my records are, Can a "California" resident (before living in the UK here on Student or Leave to Remain visas) complete all this in NY? Or am I sopposed to do all this in LA...does it matter? Confusing! I was told two different things when speaking to NY...and we are not sure if we should chance it...if we would just be told "you need to go to LA actually" once we were there.

Seconed Choice - would be LA... - anyone familiar with LA's waiting time and procedures etc?

Thanks so much & hopefully this made sense!

I appreciated it!

Kirstin

Just thought of this -- if you've been living with your fiance close to two years, you could qualify for an unmarried partner's visa...same benefits as the spousal visa, but you won't have to go through the sneaky wedding part -- thought that might save you some stress!   

Hi lOLA...

Thank so much for the advice and your posts to me.

Yes we had debated that option, but it will not "technically" be 2 years until June - July 2005.

Soo..I am currently on a "limted leave to remain" (just stamped last Tues in Croydon) and looks like we are going to get married very soon...like in the next couple weeks in very simple civil ceremony in the US!  We are flying out to Vegas (yes Vegas!) to do it...getting married (fun!) , we found an officiant who can RUSH us our marriage certificate (after it's been certified and recorded) within 2 days... and then have an appointment in LA at the Embassy for that Friday. It's a little nerve racking not knowing what the outcome will be...and a bit "CRAZY"...but we will cross our fingers and pray!

Then - we are actually having a "big normal wedding" in a year...complete with family..vows..dad..the isle...whole nine yards!    Call us cazy! Nobody knows though except his Mom...

It's kind of exciting and it's like we are getting the best of both worlds...fun and exciting "us day" of eloping and having this very personal and fun day together...but then also getting to have our big fairy tale beach wedding.

Just hopin' LA Embassy can complete our paperwork in one day though....

Knock on wood.



Kirstin