Engagement ceremony proof

[dagnytaggart 0]

Hi all. I have a question about proof for a K-1 visa interview. My fiancé just got packet 3 and we are going to be sending it in soon. I know at the interview they ask for proof of relationship which we have but we do not have any pictures from our engagement ceremony. It was in August and it was kind of a last minute trip to India as my other travel plans fell through so within a week I got my visa to India and the plane tickets and off I went. Anyway there was no real formal ceremony just his parents, brother and sister in law. No pictures were taken or anything. Is this going to be a problem at the interview? He will be going through the Mumbai embassy for his interview.

Edited February 14, 2009 by dagnytaggart

[YuAndDan 153]

This is NOT a problem, we did not have any formal party prior to our interview.

The officer looks at all your evidence, an engagement party may be a very small piece of the puzzle. Communications tends to be a big piece, communication evidence from beginning to time of interview.

[Moksha 1]

This is NOT a problem, we did not have any formal party prior to our interview.

The officer looks at all your evidence, an engagement party may be a very small piece of the puzzle. Communications tends to be a big piece, communication evidence from beginning to time of interview.

Actually that's not necessarily true in India. I'm not too sure about Mumbai, but New Delhi has been very tough lately and one of the things they have been asking people for is proof of an engagement ceremony. I 100% agree with YuandDan that the biggest piece will be proof of bonafides, but we didn't have an engagement ceremony so just in case we are going to bring a notorized letter from each of us and our parents about why we didn't have one.

There may be someone else who went through Mumbai who can shed some more light on this, but I just wanted to throw in what I've been hearing lately.

Edited February 14, 2009 by Moksha

[dagnytaggart 0]

This is NOT a problem, we did not have any formal party prior to our interview.

The officer looks at all your evidence, an engagement party may be a very small piece of the puzzle. Communications tends to be a big piece, communication evidence from beginning to time of interview.

Actually that's not necessarily true in India. I'm not too sure about Mumbai, but New Delhi has been very tough lately and one of the things they have been asking people for is proof of an engagement ceremony. I 100% agree with YuandDan that the biggest piece will be proof of bonafides, but we didn't have an engagement ceremony so just in case we are going to bring a notorized letter from each of us and our parents about why we didn't have one.

There may be someone else who went through Mumbai who can shed some more light on this, but I just wanted to throw in what I've been hearing lately.

Do you think it would be a good idea for me to have a letter done by me, my fiance and his parents saying why there are no pictures of the ceremony?

[Moksha 1]

We are bringing it with us just in case we need it. It can't hurt. My theory is I would rather have more than not enough. And like I said...I'm not 100% sure how Mumbai has been as far as K-1, but Delhi has been requesting a lot of additional evidence. I'm going to go for his interview so I will bring everything with me and if they ask for it I will have it right there for them.

[catknit 144]

I believe there was a tread a couple of months back where the CO in Mumbai was looking for receipts on catering for the upcoming wedding...I couldn't find it with just a quick look. If I can, I'll post the link.

It appears, especially recently, that all the consulates in India may ask for just about anything at any time. They will typically give you a shot at providing the information after the interview with a 221g if you don't have it with you at the time.

I know of some K1 applicants that had engagement ceremony info requested where the couple didn't have a ceremony and they still received the visa. I think in many cases the entire relationship is looked at, not just whether or not a specific "item" needs to be crossed off the list. There are those of us who didn't have the ceremony and have gotten denials. There was also a member on vj last year out of Hyderabad [i think] who had an engagement ceremony where the CO thought it was actually a marriage and was denied. My point - a lot of things can be taken an awful lot of ways!

Just do what you can and tell your story - but be thorough!!!!

[dagnytaggart 0]

We are bringing it with us just in case we need it. It can't hurt. My theory is I would rather have more than not enough. And like I said...I'm not 100% sure how Mumbai has been as far as K-1, but Delhi has been requesting a lot of additional evidence. I'm going to go for his interview so I will bring everything with me and if they ask for it I will have it right there for them.

I unfortunately cant go to the interview because of my job but I have made folders clearly marked for different things and copies of everything just in case something gets lost and am sending it to him.

Thanks for the advice. And good luck to you and your SO with the interview!

[Moksha 1]

Good luck to you guys as well!!!

[DanielParul 50]

Write the letters and submit copies to the VFS and carry originals to the interview. You don't want to get a 221g just coz they want you to submit the same after the interview. It has been happening lately. All the best