Civil ceremony for family based GC

[msun79]

I am in the final year of my H1B, my company is sponsoring for my employment based GC (about to file I140 in a couple of weeks). I am also engaged to an US citizen with whom I have been living for the last 2 years. We are planning to have a civil marriage soon so that I can start the GC process. We will most likely have a more elaborate marriage ceremony next year.

Would a civil marriage ceremony suffice as evidence for a family based GC?

Also I did read a few posts on this forum about the various forms involved - I130, I485 (AOS), I765 (EAD) and I131 (Advanced Parole). Is the I131 approval independent of the GC interview?

I hope to travel abroad in August of this year and am wondering if I need to use my H1B docs/advanced parole from GC application to re-enter.

How long does this process approximately take and is it risky to travel abroad during this time?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Jackolantern]

If you can even have 5 or 6 family members show up, that is better than just a plain civil wedding in a courthouse.

I-131 is optional if you're not going to travel outside the US while the I-485 is pending, or if you have a valid H or L visa you can travel with. It's not going to be brought up in the interview unless you traveled outside the US after you filed the I-485, except that if they're approving you on the spot they may ask you to hand in the Advance Parole. If they do ask for it, don't just hand it in immediately; tell them you need the I-551 stamp if you're going to hand in the AP, otherwise you'll be stuck inside the US.

For a marriage-based case, 3-6 months is a reasonable time frame to expect for the whole process. A few people get lucky and it's done in 2 months, others are unlucky and it takes 9 months or more, but for most people it's 3-6 months.

However, Advance Parole can take 2-3 months, so if you need to travel in August you may need to rely on your H1B visa.

 

[LucyMO]

If you can even have 5 or 6 family members show up, that is better than just a plain civil wedding in a courthouse.

two couples I know (my close friends) got married in a courthouse with a random person for a witness. Both ladies successfully adjusted their status and later became citizens.

 

[happ]

it would be better to have a couple of families show up, it will make an stronger impression and I think that would be the best case. A couple of friends will make it as well I know a lots of people who has even show up by themselves and have gotten their GC.

 

[Boston2009]

>> it would be better to have a couple of families show up, it will make an stronger impression and I think that would be the best case.
I don't think it makes a difference at all.

I had a civil ceremony - just the two of us - GC is on the way. No one is interested in your wedding details especially if you've been living with the person for the last couple of years. Don't waste your money - we didn't have rings at the interview - no reason to. The immigration people understand (at least in Boston) that most of us are foreigners - and especially during these tough economic times and the fact that half of the family is overseas - that a civil ceremony is fine.

Just be yourself and don't stress out

FYI, we don't keep many photos of ourselves (because I'm usually the photographer) - I went to CVS, printed 6 photos of 'us' and we didn't have to show anything to the I.O. They're trained to ask you questions that will search for cracks. As long as you're not faking a marriage etc, there is no reason to jump over hoops.

 

[msun79]

Thanks for all your suggestions guys, really appreciate it. I will have a few friends at the civil ceremony, involving the family probably gives it an air of authenticity but makes things complicated for me. But we do have proofs of trips that we took - both abroad and in this country and the fact that we have been living together also helps.

Thanks for the travel tips as well Jackolantern, I will keep them in mind while planning things.