I know it has been FAR too long since I have given a proper update. SO much has happened in the last few months. After James and the girls left to return to France we spent weeks trying to figure out the process of how to be on the same continent. We looked at many visa options and it was so frustrating trying to figure out the documents needed for them. The plan that seemed the most appropriate for us was for me to file for a fiancee visa. This would allow me to reside in France, then marry James, and stay in the country (however it still did not allow me the opportunity to work). We began to try and gather the documents needed for this visa. It seemed that every corner we turned there was some other ridiculous document needed. I mean how in the world do you prove you are single and then once you have figured that out have that document "officially" translated into French?!?! It seemed that the more we dug into this process the more discouraging it became. It didn't help that the French Consulate isn't the most helpful source of information.
I was linked up to a friend of James' sister who is a French native and married to an American woman. We chatted and he asked why we hadn't considered getting married in the US and then apply for the spouse visa for France. Well that was not something considered because we thought we had our "plan" figured out a different way. To make a really long story short it proves to be MUCH easier to get married in the US. So that is what we are doing! After much contemplation about how we wanted to do the wedding (a small justice of the peace and bigger wedding later, a justice of the peace, wedding in France and then celebration back in MN...) it was decided that we would do a "proper" wedding here in the US with a reception and then do a wedding celebration in France.
So within 4-5 weeks we have planned a wedding. It is amazing to think that most people make these plans over a years time. I am delighted to report that we are all ready to go (minus the little things yet to do) and we will be getting married on December 30th!!! Our friends and family have been very supportive in our change of plans and have been able to embrace our nontraditional path of life. Most of our love affair hasn't been traditional so why should we start now right :)
James arrives in MN 3 weeks from tomorrow and will get to spend Christmas here. I don't think words can express how excited I am for what the next month has in store for us!!!
22 days until James arrives
31 days until I am Mrs. Leger :)
