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time required to do a russian wedding?
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Posted by: bigl21601

I'm planing a wedding in russia, that way Olga's family and friends will be able to see it. the thing is it looks like a very long process and I can only afford to take 2 weeks off from work. Does anyone know if that will be long enough or am I just going to have forget about that and do only an american wedding?

Posted by: Leprechaun

when do you wish to marry?

Lep.

Posted by: bigl21601

I'm looking at late july early august, I know I can take care of most of the stuff here and she can take care of some of her stuff there but I believe there is some stuff that I have to do over in Russia and thats really that part that I'm worried about, because I can only be there for 2 weeks.

Posted by: Ms.Smarty Pants

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigl21601

I'm planing a wedding in russia, that way Olga's family and friends will be able to see it. the thing is it looks like a very long process and I can only afford to take 2 weeks off from work. Does anyone know if that will be long enough or am I just going to have forget about that and do only an american wedding?

You have to have all needed documents. Your future wife can visit local ZAGS before your arriving. Two weeks is good time.

Posted by: Leprechaun

Yep MS smarty is right, I've read here of others in the same position, they will post soon.

Posted by: waiting123

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leprechaun

Yep MS smarty is right, I've read here of others in the same position, they will post soon.

That is what what I did, sent all docs... it is in my post here the time line from filing at zags to her arrival.

http://www.russianmeetingplace.com/...hlight=citizens

Posted by: Ms.Smarty Pants

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigl21601

I'm looking at late july early august...

July or August 2007? You will file visa case for your wife after this. It will took about 6-12 monthes. So, you wife will live with you at beginning 2008? Hmmm
May be you need to file K-1 visa? You and your girlfriend can have two wedding ceremonies in the USA and in the Russia.

Posted by: bigl21601

I really have no idea what the best approach is going to be. I'm really just kind of winging it based on information that I've gotten from others who have posted. but I guess in a perfect situation she would be able to leave with me next year (2007) after the russian wedding. but I am completly ignorant on how fast it all really works

Posted by: Ms.Smarty Pants

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigl21601

... after the russian wedding...

After getting visa.

Posted by: bigl21601

yeah I want to be able to do everything both get married in Russia and do whatever to get her visa in the 2 weeks that I'll be over there

Posted by: waiting123

ummm, I know of no way to get her visa in 2 weeks.

If you take her to moscow with you, you can petition for her visa there. Then she will have to get the medical exam and police check. then they will schedule her interview in about 4-6 weeks.

Make sure if you file in Moscow, you take with you all divorce decree's (should you have any), tax returns, letter from employer to file with your I-130 and I-864

Posted by: novotul

Different jurisdictions vary. Our local ZAGS is rather inflexible and the process, including document preparation in Moscow, would take us a minimum of about 40 days. They are inflexible on the 32-day waiting time. In fact, they made my future son-in-law wait 60 days before he was allowed to get married.

Investigate carefully. Expect unexpected surprises, on both the positive and negative sides.

Posted by: Ms.Smarty Pants

Quote:

Originally Posted by novotul

Different jurisdictions vary. Our local ZAGS is rather inflexible and the process, including document preparation in Moscow, would take us a minimum of about 40 days. They are inflexible on the 32-day waiting time. In fact, they made my future son-in-law wait 60 days before he was allowed to get married.

Investigate carefully. Expect unexpected surprises, on both the positive and negative sides.

Novotul, you are right.
However, russian civil law has an exeption to the rule and lets people like Bigl21601 to have married during several days.

Posted by: waiting123

Quote:

Originally Posted by novotul

GoingtoRussia just was married on the 7th, he arrived in Russia I believe on the 1st.

There are exceptions to this GTR took a letter from his employer stating that it was not possible for him to return in 32 days, nor could he stay for the 32 days. So he registered and was married all within 1 week.

Posted by: deccie

It took three visits to get a date fixed for our wedding with the local ZAGS.

During that time we met three types of public servant. Those who would do everything to help you get what you wanted, those who didn't care either way and those who would actively try to hinder the process.

Even within one office it just might be the luck of the draw as to who you get..

Posted by: EZE

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigl21601

I'm looking at late july early august, I know I can take care of most of the stuff here and she can take care of some of her stuff there but I believe there is some stuff that I have to do over in Russia and thats really that part that I'm worried about, because I can only be there for 2 weeks.

I am confused...nothing new there of course.

You mean NEXT July/August....like 9/10 months?

Apply for the K-1 visa NOW! Otherwise you will be filing for a K-3 after the wedding. The Visa's take roughly the same time (6 to 10 months), but you will be bringing your wife home with you after the Russian wedding with a K=1, instead of just starting the process with a K=3. (You didn't really think you were going to show up, get married, get a visa approved, in a two week time frame did you?)

For a K-1 the wedding can take place either here or in Russia. If in Russian just have a certified copy made in English (or spanish in some states).

Also keep in mind there are two kinds of weddings in Russia. The ZAGS wedding and the Church Wedding. Unlike in the US, the Church wedding carries no legal standing. The ZAGS wedding does. So the Russians that do a Church wedding also go to ZAGS.

So to directly answer your first question. To get married in Russia the two documents you need are your birth certificate and a raised stamp thingy (eptisle, apestile....or something like that) from the secretary of state from your state (not the federal) certifying you are single. You also need her to check with the local ZAGS on if a waiver of the 30/32? day waiting period is availabe (have her bring a gift of perfume or chocolate cake when asking).

The answer to what would probably work out best for you to start the K-1 NOW, TONIGHT! and then the Church wedding and celebrations in Russia next July, and do the stand in front of the judge quickie in the US for the paperwork once she is here on a K-1. Of course this will obligate you to celebrate your anniversary two times a year (Have you read up on how RWs tend to add as many reasons to have a celebration as possible...combine US holidays...Russian holidays....Holidays with special meaning for both of you....etc...oh well, another subject altogether).

Also, for final advice, read the official government website and documents on how to do everything. Advice from the forums is nice, but the official website provides...guess what!? The Official answer to your questions. And they can change more quickly than the forum keeps up with. You are dealing with the two largest bueracracies in the world. Stick by the latest official writings.

OK, for the really final advice... bring some of your family along for the wedding. REALLY helps with both sides accepting everything... and having a once in a lifetime blast together.

Congratulations!

Posted by: novotul

I would be careful with EZE's advice.

If you get married in Russia, you are ... well ... married.

K1 visas are for couples who are not yet married. To apply for a K1 and be already married is fraud.

If you go to ZAGS and do the civil registry thing, wait the specified time, and then do the final formalities, you are legally married. Then, your path in the USA is K3/CR1.

Posted by: EZE

I would be careful with EZE's advice. [ As you should with anyone's]

If you get married in Russia, you are ... well ... married.[ DOH! I thought that was the point!]

K1 visas are for couples who are not yet married. To apply for a K1 and be already married is fraud.DOH! If you apply for the K=1 now your ARE unmarried. After that,you get married in the mean time. It is not fraud. More of an indication you are really going to get married.]

If you go to ZAGS and do the civil registry thing,[so with your 2 week time frame, this is irrelavent and not an option.] wait the specified time, and then do the final formalities, you are legally married. Then, your path in the USA is K3/CR1.[ OK, wait ten months.... do the ZAGS and the Church ceremony in Russia, then wait another 6 to 10 months before she can travel here.... gee this sounds like sound advice. Apply for the K-1, like I said before, do the Church wedding in Russia (not a legal wedding, but a great time for the family, you and your bride), then stand in front of a judge in the US to finish the paperwork, also mentioned in my last post. No fraud. Your path is the K-1. Even if you did the legal ZAGS wedding in the interim....you get a hi five from the immigration officer during the interview here if you already concluded the wedding between the K-1 application and her arrival. Been there, done that.]

hugs and kisses EZE

Married 4 years and our 2 year old daughter seems pretty happy about it.

Posted by: novotul

Since EZE seems a bit argumentative, I will quote authority:

"this is from the Fiance Chat Session on the Manila Embassy website. I realize it doesn't differentiate between a wedding ceromony and having a marriage license. guess it's just up to the individual what they feel comfortable with. for me, i wouldn't since it could cause unnecessary risks of denial or AR.

User Asked: Philip - Does the marriage have to be held in the United States after approval? Can the petitioner come to the Philippines to get married and will that marriage be valid in the U.S. and satisfy the K-1 question of marriage? Or will there still have to be another marriage once they come into the United States?

CONSUL: Philip
If you have been issued a K-1 visa DO NOT get married before leaving for the U.S. You must get married within 90 days of arriving in the U.S. but if you marry before you leave then you are entering the U.S. as a spouse of an American Citizen. You have been issued a visa stating that you are a fianc�e of an American Citizen. If you are the spouse, then you are entering the U.S. illegally"

If you apply for a K-1 visa, you must not get married until after the beneficiary enters the United States. If you marry before the beneficiary enters the USA, you are committing visa fraud. For this reason, I urge caution with following EZE's suggestion, since, if I understand his suggestion correctly, it appears to be illegal.