No Engagement Ceremony

[rebelsoul 0]

Hi all,

I had read everywhere that Fiancé according to US is someone you have been with for the past two years and plan to marry.

We did NOT have an engagement ceremony, no exchange of rings, etc... as we believed that it is not important (personal beliefs).

My parents did come to her parents house, very unofficially, and talked about it.

NOW, i just received packet 3. And among the list of documents that i need to submit, there is "proof of relationship" (no problem here), and..... "engagement ceremony photos"!!!

I am starting to panic, as I was feeling that things are going great. I need to know your opinion, if you had a similar experience at the US embassy in Lebanon or elsewhere.

I need your advise... do you think a written letter explaining that there was no ceremony will do? should i do this in the checklist email that want us to send? or are we in a bad situation?

Thanks a lot....

[Saddle Bronc 124]

Does it say SPECIFICALLY "engagement ceremony photos" or "proof of having met in last 2 years"?

[rebelsoul 0]

Does it say SPECIFICALLY "engagement ceremony photos" or "proof of having met in last 2 years"?

in the instruction list, there are two separate items:

- proof of ongoing relationship

- engagement or wedding ceremony pictures

[Jack and Barbara 0]

Does it say SPECIFICALLY "engagement ceremony photos" or "proof of having met in last 2 years"?

in the instruction list, there are two separate items:

- proof of ongoing relationship

- engagement or wedding ceremony pictures

engagement pictures are unnecessary but can be used as secondary evidence such as phone call, IM, e-mail logs, pictures, etc.

In most cases, proof of having met in the past two years and/or proof of ongoing relationship are necessary to prove that you are engaged and that the beneficiary is coming for the purpose of marrying the petitioner. My fiancee and I got engaged officially after we sent in the K1 so we sent pictures of our previoous trips as well as letters from all parents involved stating our intentions to marry along with our own.

[rebelsoul 0]

please admins, can you move this thread to the K1 area? I think I have posted it in the wrong place.

[rebelsoul 0]

please admins, can you move this thread to the K1 area? I think I have posted it in the wrong place.

i e-mailed the embassy asking them the question directly. I'll be awaiting their response and will keep you posted. any thoughts meanwhile? since the world has suddenly turned gloomy?

[LuckyDucky 0]

Each embassy seems to be a little bit different in what they ask for in the packet 3. Unfortunately, I don't know about the embassy in Lebanon, but my understanding is that engagement ceremony photos are usually just considered evidence of a relationship and not required. They are just more proof of a relationship like photos, emails, letters, etc.

Just to be safe, it might be good to get letters from your parents and/or her parents stating they have met each other and discussed marriage. That way if you are asked about it, at least you can have evidence that the families met. I would think that would make a stronger case of it being a real relationship.

I'd wait to see what the embassy says about it.

[Ban Hammer 13,558]

please admins, can you move this thread to the K1 area? I think I have posted it in the wrong place.

actually, the topic really belongs over in The Foreign Embassy and Consulate General Discussion as it's primarily focused on the packages from the embassy/consulate and the paperwork between the beneficiary and the embassy/consulate.

[rebelsoul 0]

alright everybody, seems like i got good news: the embassy notified me that i should bring photos of us together, not necessarily engagement ceremony.

i am glad the consulate is being helpful