A HAMPSHIRE man's dream Valentine's Day wedding has been saved - thanks to US presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.
Winchester romantic Tim Randall and his American girlfriend Whitney Edwards won a competition to be married at the top of New York's Empire State Building, but the wedding was threatened as Tim struggled to get a visa in time.
With no help available on Tim's side of the pond, Whitney took their fight to the top - and to the rescue came Mrs Clinton who took time out from campaiging to become the Democratic party presidential candidate and "opened the doors" for Tim.
The pair will now go ahead with their sky-high nuptials on Valentine's Day.
Tim, 25, who grew up in Winchester and studied at Henry Beaufort School, started his transatlantic romance with Whitney, 24, when they met while studying at university in London.
Their wedding was planned for July this year - but was rocketed forward when Whitney won a competition in US bridal magazine Brides.com.
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Tim's mother Noreen Randall said: "Just before Christmas, Whitney entered a competition to win a wedding at the top of the Empire State Building on Valentine's Day.
“Whatever she (Hillary) did, she opened the doors for Tim. Now he can have his dream wedding.”
Noreen Randall
"Amazingly, she and Tim were one of 14 couples who won the top prize.
"That was just amazing news.
"Whitney had taken Tim to the Empire State Building on his first trip to the States and they both thought it was the most romantic place they had ever been."
However, the couple hit problems when they tried to quickly arrange a green card for Tim so he could move to the US.
Mrs Randall, of Mews Lane, Winchester, added: "Tim wasn't expecting to move out until July, so there was a real rush to get things sorted in time.
"We went to our local MP in Winchester, but he couldn't help.
"Tim was getting desperate, so Whitney tried to help from her end. She knew someone who knew someone who knew Hillary Clinton, so they went to her for help.
"Whatever she did, she opened the doors for Tim. Now he can have his dream wedding."
Tim and Whitney will tie the knot at 8.30am on Valentine's Day in a luxury ceremony paid for by Brides.com.
Posted by: Six degrees of separation on 9:10am Thu 7 Feb 08
[quote][bold]hmm[/bold] wrote:
Is there any explanation of what Hillary Clinton actually did?[/quote] More likely Brides.com had a word with a friend of a friend of a friend.
More advertising pretending to be news.
A visa isn't required to actually get married there.
hmm wrote:
Is there any explanation of what Hillary Clinton actually did?
More likely Brides.com had a word with a friend of a friend of a friend.
More advertising pretending to be news.
A visa isn't required to actually get married there.
Posted by: Redfield, Winchester on 9:22am Thu 7 Feb 08
"However, the couple hit problems when they tried to quickly arrange a green card for Tim so he could move to the US."
That's the reason she was asked to intervene. Having recently visited NY and been up the Empire State building it should be a wonderful day for them - providing it isn't too windy and it's a clear day. Good on them!!
"However, the couple hit problems when they tried to quickly arrange a green card for Tim so he could move to the US."
That's the reason she was asked to intervene. Having recently visited NY and been up the Empire State building it should be a wonderful day for them - providing it isn't too windy and it's a clear day. Good on them!!
[quote][bold]Libertarian[/bold] wrote:
Obama for president[/quote] Their choices are even worse than we get here - but Obama - no thank you.
McCain would have to get my vote.
Libertarian wrote:
Obama for president
Their choices are even worse than we get here - but Obama - no thank you.
Posted by: Yum Yum, The Oven Door on 10:09am Thu 7 Feb 08
[quote][bold]Adrian Smith[/bold] wrote:
[quote][bold]Libertarian[/bold] wrote: Obama for president[/quote] Their choices are even worse than we get here - but Obama - no thank you. McCain would have to get my vote.[/quote] Plus Mr McCain does lovely oven chips!
Adrian Smith wrote:
Libertarian wrote: Obama for president
Their choices are even worse than we get here - but Obama - no thank you. McCain would have to get my vote.
Posted by: Paramjit Bahia, Southampton on 10:16am Thu 7 Feb 08
[quote][bold]Adrian Smith[/bold] wrote:
[quote][bold]Libertarian[/bold] wrote: Obama for president[/quote] Their choices are even worse than we get here - but Obama - no thank you. McCain would have to get my vote.[/quote] John Edwards was the best candidate....BUT...
Obama? Does this world really need another Tony Blair?
Adrian Smith wrote:
Libertarian wrote: Obama for president
Their choices are even worse than we get here - but Obama - no thank you. McCain would have to get my vote.
John Edwards was the best candidate....BUT...
Obama? Does this world really need another Tony Blair?
Posted by: Stede le Stupide, Southampton on 2:04pm Thu 7 Feb 08
[quote][bold]One Dollar[/bold] wrote:
Blimey I didn\'t know Aunt Bessie did chips, thought she only did yorkshire puds .... must admit I do prefer McCains though.[/quote] The fact that you didn't know Aunt Bessie made chips suggests you have never tried them. So how can you judge which chips are the best? You need to take a trip to Fresco's...
One Dollar wrote:
Blimey I didn\'t know Aunt Bessie did chips, thought she only did yorkshire puds .... must admit I do prefer McCains though.
The fact that you didn't know Aunt Bessie made chips suggests you have never tried them. So how can you judge which chips are the best? You need to take a trip to Fresco's...
Posted by: One Dollar, Iceland on 2:18pm Thu 7 Feb 08
[quote][bold]Stede le Stupide[/bold] wrote:
[quote][bold]One Dollar[/bold] wrote: Blimey I didn\\\'t know Aunt Bessie did chips, thought she only did yorkshire puds .... must admit I do prefer McCains though.[/quote] The fact that you didn\'t know Aunt Bessie made chips suggests you have never tried them. So how can you judge which chips are the best? You need to take a trip to Fresco\'s...[/quote] Ah ha, found me out, I haven't tried them but I know which chips are the best and they are definitely (or should I spell that d-e-f-i-n-a-t-e-l-y as do most people on here)McCains
Stede le Stupide wrote:
One Dollar wrote: Blimey I didn't know Aunt Bessie did chips, thought she only did yorkshire puds .... must admit I do prefer McCains though.
The fact that you didn\'t know Aunt Bessie made chips suggests you have never tried them. So how can you judge which chips are the best? You need to take a trip to Fresco\'s...
Ah ha, found me out, I haven't tried them but I know which chips are the best and they are definitely (or should I spell that d-e-f-i-n-a-t-e-l-y as do most people on here)McCains
Posted by: Eartha mcguinness, down the pub on 5:13pm Thu 7 Feb 08
Whitney had taken Tim to the Empire State Building on his first trip to the States and they both thought it was the most romantic place they had ever been."
Dont get out much then do they
Whitney had taken Tim to the Empire State Building on his first trip to the States and they both thought it was the most romantic place they had ever been."
Posted by: Laura, Southampton on 9:29pm Thu 7 Feb 08
My son has been living in America for some time. He has been married to an American girl for nearly 3 years, he has a little boy, and he is still waiting for his last interveiw for his green card. Just seen to me that it's not what you know but who you know !!!!!!!!!!! (by the way a visa and green card are not the same thing)My son has a working Visa but you usually have to wait for quite a long time for a green card.
My son has been living in America for some time. He has been married to an American girl for nearly 3 years, he has a little boy, and he is still waiting for his last interveiw for his green card. Just seen to me that it's not what you know but who you know !!!!!!!!!!! (by the way a visa and green card are not the same thing)My son has a working Visa but you usually have to wait for quite a long time for a green card.
Look at the picture, she HAS just farted, If she gets elected, just see what else comes out of that end onto America and the rest of the free world. Remember her disastrous interference in the medical care program even when she wasn't an elected official !!
Look at the picture, she HAS just farted, If she gets elected, just see what else comes out of that end onto America and the rest of the free world. Remember her disastrous interference in the medical care program even when she wasn't an elected official !!
Posted by: Get it right, Hants on 11:09pm Thu 7 Feb 08
[quote][bold]Six degrees of separation[/bold] wrote:
[quote][bold]hmm[/bold] wrote: Is there any explanation of what Hillary Clinton actually did?[/quote] More likely Brides.com had a word with a friend of a friend of a friend. More advertising pretending to be news. A visa isn't required to actually get married there.[/quote] You don't need a visa to get married there, but unless you have a passport with an e-chip you still need a visa to enter the USA for stays of less than 90 days.
If Tim or anyone else is planning to stay for more than 90 days, a visa is always required whether you have an e-chip passport or not.
As Tim is 25, I'm guessing his passport was issued when he was 16 and wouldn't have the e-chip in it. So, yes, he would need to obtain a visa
Six degrees of separation wrote:
hmm wrote: Is there any explanation of what Hillary Clinton actually did?
More likely Brides.com had a word with a friend of a friend of a friend. More advertising pretending to be news. A visa isn't required to actually get married there.
You don't need a visa to get married there, but unless you have a passport with an e-chip you still need a visa to enter the USA for stays of less than 90 days.
If Tim or anyone else is planning to stay for more than 90 days, a visa is always required whether you have an e-chip passport or not.
As Tim is 25, I'm guessing his passport was issued when he was 16 and wouldn't have the e-chip in it. So, yes, he would need to obtain a visa
Posted by: David Mutton, UK on 10:15pm Wed 13 Feb 08
Actually you do need a visa for a non US citizen to marry a US citizen, I know as I am going through this process. It is known as a fiance visa, and allows 90 days in the country in which to marry, and then apply for permanent residency (the K1 visa, if anybody really wants to know). As somebody, along with 1000s of others, who is in an approximately 8 month wait to get this visa I find it pretty disgusting that this couple could skip the wait just because they had contacts. How exactly is this not plain and simple corruption?
Actually you do need a visa for a non US citizen to marry a US citizen, I know as I am going through this process. It is known as a fiance visa, and allows 90 days in the country in which to marry, and then apply for permanent residency (the K1 visa, if anybody really wants to know). As somebody, along with 1000s of others, who is in an approximately 8 month wait to get this visa I find it pretty disgusting that this couple could skip the wait just because they had contacts. How exactly is this not plain and simple corruption?
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