I129F Filer, Wedding Reception & Pictures Taken Before Interview

[Phuong 0]

CraigCam - I just sent an email to hcmcinfo@state.gov asking pretty much the same question you posted. I'm sure I will get the same reply. I will then print out a copy of this reply and attach it as part of the whole evidence package. This evidence plus my dated records (photographer, wedding reception receipts, hotel receipt, passport dated I left VN before the last Single status record was issued, etc.) should be good to go. Of course I will inform my fiancee to only give them the evidence that they need, but definitely not to intentionally hide anything...

[Haonie 0]

Like Melrose Plant said, “don’t ever mention the word “wedding” if I was you. We will have a wedding's picture at the Church, but we will not show them at the interview, because I do not want my K1 compliate.

I personally don’t trust the US Consulate General (Info Unit Staff) eventhough an email was clear. But heck knows.

So, be careful, buddy.

Haonie

[CraigCam 0]

I talked it over with my fiancee and we decided not to show any pictures of the wedding ceremony. We will show pictures of the reception party and refer to it as an engagement party.

[hope2018 25]

Ok We had a engagement cermony in Vietnam and got married over here I would not say a word of the marriage K1 is for your Fiancee not your wife so No dont show your photos or I think you will have a huge mess on your hands.

[Manasa Krishna 0]

Hi All-

Been asking around and searching on this forum, but no dice. I am an I129F filer, and currently my fiance (or wife) is waiting for the interview date as wel as instructions for medical exam. I have been stressing about this for a while now. Here's a quick timeline of what has occurred:

April '07 - went back to visit her; went Thailand for vacation, and went to Vung Tau for wedding pictures (we hired a shop call Casta to take wedding pictures, basically for our own album safekeep).

June '07 - Filed the I129F, and subsequent NOA followed (the normal stuff)

December '07 and January '08 - Went back again to be in the wedding reception, which was planned out months prior. We did not obtain marriage certificate or license as we knew we have to do that here in the US, and that's what we wanted to do.

Here's my question - will this wedding picture taking, in April, and wedding reception in January have a negative affect at her interview. Will it possibly be a case for them to deny her? We hired an agent in VN to help her with the paperwork, and we have asked him and he said as long as you did not obtain a marriaged certificate you should be OK. Of course you would think it would be OK, but from all of my research it sounds like they do whatever they feel like to. So, if there are any members out there that have done something similar to what I have done, please please please reply back to this post. Your feedback is greatly appreciated, and best of luck to everyone and his/her journey.

Thanks,

Phuong

Since you didn't apply for I130 you can bring her as fiance only if they find out about marriage they stop this and start over with I130 as a spouse. don't even bring the photo album to US with her

[TinTin and Samby 11]

Hi All-

Been asking around and searching on this forum, but no dice. I am an I129F filer, and currently my fiance (or wife) is waiting for the interview date as wel as instructions for medical exam. I have been stressing about this for a while now. Here's a quick timeline of what has occurred:

April '07 - went back to visit her; went Thailand for vacation, and went to Vung Tau for wedding pictures (we hired a shop call Casta to take wedding pictures, basically for our own album safekeep).

June '07 - Filed the I129F, and subsequent NOA followed (the normal stuff)

December '07 and January '08 - Went back again to be in the wedding reception, which was planned out months prior. We did not obtain marriage certificate or license as we knew we have to do that here in the US, and that's what we wanted to do.

Here's my question - will this wedding picture taking, in April, and wedding reception in January have a negative affect at her interview. Will it possibly be a case for them to deny her? We hired an agent in VN to help her with the paperwork, and we have asked him and he said as long as you did not obtain a marriaged certificate you should be OK. Of course you would think it would be OK, but from all of my research it sounds like they do whatever they feel like to. So, if there are any members out there that have done something similar to what I have done, please please please reply back to this post. Your feedback is greatly appreciated, and best of luck to everyone and his/her journey.

Thanks,

Phuong

Hi Phunong,

I agree with the other posters about NOT showing the photos. In addition, I would recommend that you and your fiance stop making any references to "Wife" and "Wedding Pictures" and "Wedding Reception". What you have is a "Fiance" and "Engagement Photos" and "Engagement Party". Repetition of the words is important: The last thing you want to do is make a "slip of the tongue" in front of the embassy and say "Wife" or "Wedding" when you are there for a "Fiance" visa.

Best of luck to you two!

Warm Regards,

Samby

[chuckandkim 0]

We will show pictures of the reception party and refer to it as an engagement party.

Everything you do without the Marriage Certificate signed and sealed is considered: HUGE @$$ Party with dressing up like marriage couples and bunch of people who you don't personally know, come, eat, drink your foods and beers and they seem to be very important to your fiance's family.

What Craig said is clear and simple, Phuong please take note! Your picture with you and your "wife/fiance" whatever you want to call it, is just a picture, C.O. is fully aware of this tradition in Vietnam. No respectable family will let their beloved daughter marry a foreigner and leave with him, without having some kind of "Official Announcement Ceremonial Party" to the whole neighborhood and klans to share the good news. Therefore, your "wedding-lite"/"engagement" ceremony is not only wanted but expected by HCMC. Do not, I mean do not hide the information or appear to be deciving as some suggested on this thread. HCMC knows you think you married her, no wedding-look-alike will override the "Certificate of Single Status" from both of you. Also, you know how easy it is for HCMC to pick up the phone and call over the Dept of Vital Records and ask: hey, did Phuong and such and such get married last year, they claim they aren't! The answer would be devastating for you if it is YES and clear up everything if it is NO.

Remember, your relationship is REAL, isn't it? Then you can only give HCMC what you have. You can't give what you don't! Focus here, everything you do and worry these days is a very good attitude, you are anticipate the worse and hope for the best. So you worry about the "wedding" pictures? Get your Single Status Certified notes ready, both of you. Having a letter stating that your relationship is ABC and you can't wait to bring her to America to "get married" officially. C.O. will not just deny/delay your Visa for one reason, usually, they aren't sure if your story is real! And it's up to you to help them to see that it is...

Focus, not a single piece of evidence will make or break your case, it's the totality of your love story that backed with supportive and convincing evidence will give the C.O. a FULLER view of the "big picture" of your relationship, and as the result, will decide the fate of your fiance's visa application, hopefully in your favor!

Think big picture!

[Haonie 0]

I just want to share with you a story, my fiancé and I still don’t know what we should or should NOT.

1. I have a friend (a brother of brother-in-law). He went back to Vietnam on 2004 and had the engagement party. On summer 2005 he flew back there again (15 days before an interview). He celebrated his wedding at the Church (they are both Catholic).

Interview: They asked her why K1 with wedding’s picture at the church. Said, “because my family could not come to US to attend our wedding, and my parents expected my fiancé could do it here and …. lah, lah.. “only the Church’s pictureâ€). They accepted and the pink was given out.

My case:

Of course we will have the engagement party, but we will also have pictures at the Church (my case looks like him, her parents expect).

At Interview: If we present "the wedding Church's pictures, I will then write a letter with explanation why, and why, and I am already done with it (she will take with her at interview).

My friend said, "Church's pictures are one of the strongest evidence for your case". I am concern it now.

I have 3 week to think about this issue. Is this too risk? Or roll a dice.

What do you think? Present Church's pictures with an explain letter. 2005 and 2008 totally different

Thanks,

Edited March 22, 2008 by Haonie

[Phuong 0]

All-

Below is the email I sent to, and the reply I got from HCMC Consular Info. My fiance will print a copy of this and take it to the interview. We will present all evidence, including wedding ceremony pictures, and not hide anything. Again, we are not legally married yet as we have not signed any marriage certificate or license.

Phuong

From: Phuong (removed my email address)

Sent: Thursday, March 20, 2008 6:33 PM

To: HCMC Consular Info

Subject:

Hello,

I am in the process of filing a K-1 Visa, I129F, and have a question that hopefully you can answer. One of the requirements for the I129F is that my fiancee and I should not be legally married, meaning we should be Single in our marital status and should not sign a marriage license or certificate. Does having a wedding ceremony and/or reception prior to the K-1 Visa interview, but not signing a marriage license or certificate, still qualify us for the I129F Petition for Alien Fiancee filing? Your reply is greatly appreciated.

Thank you in advance,

Phuong

________________________________

RE: ‏

From: Bui, Loan Thi Thu (Ho Chi Minh City) (built@state.gov) on behalf of HCMC Consular Info (HCMCinfo@state.gov)

Sent: Wed 3/26/08 2:38 AM

To: Phuong (Removed my email address...)

Dear Phuong,

You are correct. K-1 visa petition is only valid if you and your fiancée do NOT obtain marriage certificate. If you have or do not have a wedding ceremony and/or reception, your K-1 visa petition is still valid.

Sincerely,

Info Unit Staff

Consular Section

U.S. Consulate General HCMC

Tel: (84-8) 822 9433 – ext 4636

Fax: (84-8) 824 5572

E-mail: hcmcinfo@state.gov (regarding visa issues)

acshcmc@state.gov (regarding services for U.S. citizens)

Adoption: HanoiAdoptions@state.gov

Website: http://hochiminh.usconsulate.gov

This e-mail is UNCLASSIFIED based on the definitions provided in E.O. 12958.

[visao 1]

Thank you Phuong, this will clear up any confusions out there.

[CraigCam 0]

Nice work, Phuong. I think you are doing the right thing. The more I think about it the more comfortable I am with your decision. We will probably do the same thing.

Is the Single Certificate something that is requested in Packet 3, or is it an extra precaution that you are taking in your case? Where would my fiancee go in HCMC to obtain this and what are the fees and process times?

Good luck to you!

[Phuong 0]

CraigCam - we hired an agent to do the paperwork for my fiance in HCMC, and according to him this single status cert (not sure the exact name) is required for her. I don't know exactly where she got it, but I think the first or best place to find out is the local Police office/headquarter or whatever. The cost is a few hundred thousand "dong" (VN money), this is peanuts if you look at all of the other fees. I believe the process time is 30 days or less, but please don't quote me on this. If you haven't noticed by now, but my knowledge of HCMC's geography and all of the governmental services is extrememly limited.

As for the petitioner, there is no such thing as a marital status certificate (or something like that) in the US, at least not in the county I live in. I asked PeterFB on this forum, and he mentioned he did not have anything like this. I called two different Cook County Clerk's Office, and one rep told me all you can do is an affidavit of single status - signed and notarized. The other rep told me I can get a certified letter (it has the Clerk's Office seal) of "No Records" found. So, I ended up doing both, although the certified letter from the Clerk's Office didn't really specify anything about marital status.

Hope this helps...

Phuong