Thursday, June 20, 2013

Visitor for Marriage

I just want you to know, dear readers, that I spent a solid hour last night listening to all your first dance songs.  You have great taste!  We're thrilled with the song we've picked, but we should have come to you all for suggestions first - we really needed help! Case in point: if we were getting married earlier in the day, we would have very seriously considered this for our first dance.  (Family, please don't click on that link.)

But you should also know that I spent quite a lot of time gazing lovingly at my passport after getting home from work yesterday.  You ask why?

Because it has been returned to me, adorned with a muti-entry visa that will allow me to fly to England next Friday for a 12-day visit to get our marriage license and then to return in mid-August for our wedding!


This whole process was relatively painless, other than the self-inflicted stress and worry I've enjoyed since March.  I submitted my online application on May 26 and was able to schedule the biometrics appointment for May 31.  The hard-copy application and all of the relevant supporting documents were in the post on June 3 and I received an email from the British Consulate the next day telling me that it had been received.  Apparently the average processing time is 13 business days, but I got another email from the consulate on June 17 that my visa had been issued and a final notification on June 18 that it had been shipped to me; it arrived at my apartment on June 19 and, honestly, I considered sleeping with it under my pillow last night because I was so happy.

Onward and upward, dear readers!  Now Jon and I start preparing to apply for the visa that will allow him to come live and work in the United States as my husband after our wedding.  Wish us luck!

By the way, let me know if you want recommendations for immigration lawyers either in Washington or in London - we've had some great experiences.  And if you're not quite at that stage yet but still want to meet up with your foreign love, check out TripCommon and start planning that adventure!



9 comments:

  1. Yay yay yay! So excited for you!!

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  2. yay you can get married now!

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  3. Betsy, I'm currently waiting for a decision on my UK spouse visa, so this happy post is making me feel a bit better!! Thank you and congrats! :)

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  4. I'm so glad you got the visit visa sorted, now comes the fun bit(s)!

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  5. YAYAYAYYAYAYAYYAYAYYAY!!


    So excited that you can check this off the list!

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  6. Congratulations! Still waiting for my Settlement visa so I'm so happy for you that the stress is over! xx

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  7. congrats on your visa! We start the settlement visa process in a few months for my husband and so I'm always glad to hear when people are getting good news on the visa front. x

    Bonnie Rose | A Compass Rose

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  8. I clicked the link and spit out my tea! Funny, naughty you!

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  9. THEY MAKE THINGS SO DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE IN LOVE. hehe :P

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