Ceremony vs. Legal Marriage

[pushbrk 13,173]

Thanks everyone for your replies. My question was whether anyone has had any issues at POE. We will not have had any ceremony at the time of the interview. I guess the bottom line is there's no reason to mention a ceremony in Japan at the interview or POE. There' no way they will know about it unless they happen to read vj in their spare time. I guess I'm just a little paranoid.

No worries in your case as long as the legal marriage takes place in the US within the 90 days allowed.

[ga1jin 0]

Thanks everyone for your replies. My question was whether anyone has had any issues at POE. We will not have had any ceremony at the time of the interview. I guess the bottom line is there's no reason to mention a ceremony in Japan at the interview or POE. There' no way they will know about it unless they happen to read vj in their spare time. I guess I'm just a little paranoid.

No worries in your case as long as the legal marriage takes place in the US within the 90 days allowed.

Thank you, pushbrk.

[eric_and_teresa 10]

Have you heard first-hand from people on vj (or elsewhere) who say they were denied entry at POE because they admitted to having a non-legal ceremony? The reason I'm asking is because my fiancee and I are planning on having a church ceremony in Japan before coming here (but after receiving the K-1). I've checked, and religious ceremonies are definitely not recognized by the Japanese government. Papers must be signed.

We have no reason to tell them we've had a ceremony, but if we are asked our options are to tell them or bold-faced lie. I don't want to tell them if this has really been a problem for people. But I also don't like the idea of lying. I hope you don't mind me challenging your post. I just want to know if this really is a problem since we have been moving forward with our visa and wedding plans.

The link that others have already submitted is the couple I was referring to, it was not at the POE where they had trouble, they were denied at the interiew.

Just like you guys, my fiance and I are planing to have a non religious ceremony and celebration in my country before I depart and use the K-1. I'm more than aware what constitutes a legal here marriage and what is not. BUT one should not assume that POE officers know what constitutes a legal wedding abroad. In theory, a non-legal ceremony that was performed abroad and that does not constitue a legal marriage in the country it took place, should not be considered a legal marriage in the U.S. But on the case mentioned before, a non-legal hindu ceremony was the reason for the K-1 to be denied and they made the foreign fiance (she was obviously not well informed either) sign some papers to quit the K-1 process and was asked to file for K-3. So from their experience we can tell, that the CO would assume any type of ceremony constitutes legal wedding even when its not!

I'm NOT saying that you should lie at the POE, I just think its wise not to offer any unsolicited information. If they don't ask.. then do not bring nor try to explain that you had a non-legal wedding, it might only cause you trouble. Example of Question at the interview: "When will you get married?" Wrong Answer: We are going to have non-legal ceremony here in April, and then we're planning to get married in July when arrive to the U.S." as opposed to just answering: "We are planning to get married in July when I arrive to the U.S. " PERIOD. Same type of question might and will be asked at the POE, and it can be answered, on the same way, you are not lying you are saying WHEN you will get legally married, no need to explain about the non-legal wedding or you'll be in deep trouble as the couple who decided to bring pictures of the non-legal wedding to the interview to prove on going relationship!

If a couple takes the risk (yes, even if it does not constitute legal marriage abroad, I still consider it a risk, since the CO and POE officers take it as legal marriage even when its not!) then be prepared to answer honestly and wisely every question, and if you are directly asked about non-legal ceremonies, then tell the truth... but you must be well informed of what constitutes and what does not constitute legal marriage in your fiance's country. Get informed about the process, learn where the marriage has to be registered and which authority needs to perform it and any other legalities about marriage on the foreign fiance's country.

[candyace 0]

Have you heard first-hand from people on vj (or elsewhere) who say they were denied entry at POE because they admitted to having a non-legal ceremony? The reason I'm asking is because my fiancee and I are planning on having a church ceremony in Japan before coming here (but after receiving the K-1). I've checked, and religious ceremonies are definitely not recognized by the Japanese government. Papers must be signed.

We have no reason to tell them we've had a ceremony, but if we are asked our options are to tell them or bold-faced lie. I don't want to tell them if this has really been a problem for people. But I also don't like the idea of lying. I hope you don't mind me challenging your post. I just want to know if this really is a problem since we have been moving forward with our visa and wedding plans.

The link that others have already submitted is the couple I was referring to, it was not at the POE where they had trouble, they were denied at the interiew.

Just like you guys, my fiance and I are planing to have a non religious ceremony and celebration in my country before I depart and use the K-1. I'm more than aware what constitutes a legal here marriage and what is not. BUT one should not assume that POE officers know what constitutes a legal wedding abroad. In theory, a non-legal ceremony that was performed abroad and that does not constitue a legal marriage in the country it took place, should not be considered a legal marriage in the U.S. But on the case mentioned before, a non-legal hindu ceremony was the reason for the K-1 to be denied and they made the foreign fiance (she was obviously not well informed either) sign some papers to quit the K-1 process and was asked to file for K-3. So from their experience we can tell, that the CO would assume any type of ceremony constitutes legal wedding even when its not!

I'm NOT saying that you should lie at the POE, I just think its wise not to offer any unsolicited information. If they don't ask.. then do not bring nor try to explain that you had a non-legal wedding, it might only cause you trouble. Example of Question at the interview: "When will you get married?" Wrong Answer: We are going to have non-legal ceremony here in April, and then we're planning to get married in July when arrive to the U.S." as opposed to just answering: "We are planning to get married in July when I arrive to the U.S. " PERIOD. Same type of question might and will be asked at the POE, and it can be answered, on the same way, you are not lying you are saying WHEN you will get legally married, no need to explain about the non-legal wedding or you'll be in deep trouble as the couple who decided to bring pictures of the non-legal wedding to the interview to prove on going relationship!

If a couple takes the risk (yes, even if it does not constitute legal marriage abroad, I still consider it a risk, since the CO and POE officers take it as legal marriage even when its not!) then be prepared to answer honestly and wisely every question, and if you are directly asked about non-legal ceremonies, then tell the truth... but you must be well informed of what constitutes and what does not constitute legal marriage in your fiance's country. Get informed about the process, learn where the marriage has to be registered and which authority needs to perform it and any other legalities about marriage on the foreign fiance's country.

Thank you very much for your advice. We have scheduled an Interview with the USCIS on April 29th to ask them our questions and make sure it will be okay. We plan to get it in writing as well if we can so that incase we run into any problems we can show that at our interview etc. I hope it all goes well! What a bummer if everything were to be set back!

[rebeccajo 14]

There is a member on VJ whose husband/fiance was denied at entry.

[candyace 0]

Hey All,

My Fiance had an interview with an USCIS agent yesterday and they said having a ceremony that is NOT legal in Canada before coming down to the US to be legally married is perfectly fine. As long as nothing is LEGAL.

Yaay!

[pushbrk 13,173]

Hey All,

My Fiance had an interview with an USCIS agent yesterday and they said having a ceremony that is NOT legal in Canada before coming down to the US to be legally married is perfectly fine. As long as nothing is LEGAL.

Yaay!

Of course this is true. The problem comes with having a ceremony that isn't legal. If the ceremony is performed by a person authorized to perform legal marriages, then the marriage is legal. Catch 22.

The key question is, "Will the officiant of the religious ceremony be a person authorized to perform a legal marraige?"

Edited May 1, 2008 by pushbrk

[rebeccajo 14]

Hey All,

My Fiance had an interview with an USCIS agent yesterday and they said having a ceremony that is NOT legal in Canada before coming down to the US to be legally married is perfectly fine. As long as nothing is LEGAL.

Yaay!

Of course this is true. The problem comes with having a ceremony that isn't legal. If the ceremony is performed by a person authorized to perform legal marriages, then the marriage is legal. Catch 22.

The key question is, "Will the officiant of the religious ceremony be a person authorized to perform a legal marraige?"

You might as well give it up, Mike. She's bound and determined to do what she wants to do anyway.

[KimandRuss 0]

Candy, I think what you have to understand is that different people throughout this process could very well take your version of a 'non-legal ceremony' as legal. No matter what words you find in the law or who says what... from whatever government agency. Nothing in this process is as concrete as it seems.

They may tell you one thing, and even show you the law to back that up BUT another person, say the CO or POE officer, may find fault with it...and they have their own laws to back what they say up.

Ulitmately, it's your choice...people here are trying to throw you words of caution because we have seen it happen... more than once.

good luck, whatever you decide.

[payxibka 10,047]

Then there is the poor guy who at his fiancee's K-1 interview produced a copy of a unused marriage license... The CO denied the visa... This whole thing is so very subjective that no one can say... "No Problem"... because the person saying "No problem" will not be the CO deciding on the visa or CBP officer making the entry decision.

[pushbrk 13,173]

Then there is the poor guy who at his fiancee's K-1 interview produced a copy of a unused marriage license... The CO denied the visa... This whole thing is so very subjective that no one can say... "No Problem"... because the person saying "No problem" will not be the CO deciding on the visa or CBP officer making the entry decision.

The US immigration process does tend to provide some rude awakenings for the princess or princes among us.

[candyace 0]

The person doing our religious ceremony is not qualified to do a legal ceremony. He is just my Grandpa.

[pushbrk 13,173]

The person doing our religious ceremony is not qualified to do a legal ceremony. He is just my Grandpa.

Sounds like you're good to go.

Of course, my Grandpa was a minister but not in Canada.

[candyace 0]

How exciting, just checked my email and we've been approved already! Just applied in December, and it says they're only processing papers from October right now...what a pleasant surprise! Now to hoping everything else goes smoothly. Maybe the interview to ask questions made us get it faster... I doubt it though

[Herolmounia 0]

How exciting, just checked my email and we've been approved already! Just applied in December, and it says they're only processing papers from October right now...what a pleasant surprise! Now to hoping everything else goes smoothly. Maybe the interview to ask questions made us get it faster... I doubt it though

CONGRATULATIONS