Indians/ Religious Engagement / Wedding

[dilbert30 0]

Hello all -

For Naturalized US citizens who are of East Indian origin, I would like to hear your experiences on the following when applying for K1.

1. Religious Engagement - traditional - what are the do's and don't of submitting pictures etc.

2. Religious Informal Wedding ceremony - do's and dont's. I understand that the religious ceremony is not legal. Are there folks in this forum, who went to K1 interview after a religious south Indian or North Indian wedding. Thanks.

Regards,

Dilbert

Edited August 25, 2008 by dilbert30

[payxibka 10,045]

K-1 application or I-129F petition? Subtle but important distinction as the answer could be very different....

[dilbert30 0]

K-1 application or I-129F petition? Subtle but important distinction as the answer could be very different....

Thanks. I have not realized the subtle difference.Please explain to me.

I mean the K1 process itself - applying I129f./G325a and then presenting one self before the interview int he consulate. Thanks.

[payxibka 10,045]

K-1 application or I-129F petition? Subtle but important distinction as the answer could be very different....

Thanks. I have not realized the subtle difference.Please explain to me.

I mean the K1 process itself - applying I129f./G325a and then presenting one self before the interview int he consulate. Thanks.

The USCIS will have no knowledge about the traditions or culture of the different countries, so presenting photos that look like a wedding ceremony (but only an engagement ceremony) might get your petition denied... so DONT do it.

The consulate should have a better idea of local tradition or customs and may understand and presenting pictures might be more likely accepted as they are... but still may get your fiance(e)'s visa application refused.

General overall reccomendation would be unless there is some significant reason to present these types of photos... most here will say DON"T.

[dilbert30 0]

Thanks. In my I129f application, I will just present photos that show a couple during their initial phase of dating. If there is an engagement ceremony, do I need to show picture w/ a ring? Thanks

[payxibka 10,045]

Thanks. In my I129f application, I will just present photos that show a couple during their initial phase of dating. If there is an engagement ceremony, do I need to show picture w/ a ring? Thanks

nope.. you present what you decide... there are no required photos

[andy desai 3]

I had an engagement ceremony and i presented them pictures. The maharaj who did the religious ceremony also documented in english and in gujarati that an engagement event has taken place. the document was signed by both parties. I guess all of this was not really needed. I dont know how much all this will support the case. The general rule of thumb is that one needs to provide primary form of evidence. Like railway tickets, airline tickets, visa stamps, baggage stamps, boarding pass etc. You need to submit some form of pictures doesnt need to be engagement. If there is an engagement ceremony which has taken place but the ceremony almost appears to be like a traditional hindu wedding ceremony, then you have to be careful. DONOT submit obvious pictures where both the bride and groom look married... like a bad example would be a picture with garlands or doing the seven pheras and stuff like that.. regular pictures like you are exchanges rings or family pictures or something is fine....

this is what i did.. please tell me if someone is not on the same page as i am..

[KimandRuss 0]

I say why take the risk when

#1 photos are only secondary evidence with the I129f anyway

and....

#2 there has to be plenty of other pictures to choose from

judging by the experiences of others here I wouldn't send anything having to do with any ceremony...certainly not photos with rings being exchanged.

[andy desai 3]

maybe you right kim.. but dont you think that would be a good proof of being that she is my fiancee... i can take pictures of with any other girl and submit it.. but here its like a secondary proof that i meet her and i am serious about the relationship..

but i do agree with Kim overall.

[KimandRuss 0]

I do see your point and before coming to VJ, I probably would have agreed with you.

The truth is that they dont care what you call each other really, they dont care how big your diamond is or how much money your fiance is willing to spend on you. They dont care about fancy clothes and that you have had a nice party with your family. They care that you are a bonafide couple. Anyone can have a party.

Think about it... if you're going to circumvent immigration laws with a scam marriage wouldn't you go through the same things you think someone else would...even moreso?? It proves nothing really.

What it can, and has done, is create problems for the couple because the CO thinks that perhaps you are already married. True, in some cultures this ceremony is as important as the marriage and that should be respected but the CO cares only that you are following the rules and at some Consulates they make it pretty difficult even when you do everything right.

[Saddle Bronc 124]

For pictures of an engagement ceremony, a good approach may be to take a picture OF THE SIGN announcing the ceremony, and send that.

[DanielParul 50]

At the petition stage all the USCIS is concerned with is you meeting the requirement of having met in the last 2 yrs. Don't send any pictures that they might perceive to be a wedding instead of an engagement (they do not have guidelines to different kinds of marriages and engagements around the world). Keep that for the Interview stage. The Consulate will want to check the seriousness of your relationship.

Do not send too much right now- sometimes that can work as a negative too

[Shannon and David 0]

Hi! I actually do remember reading here on VJ somewhere that someone had their K-1 denied because USCIS saw pictures that made it look like they had already had a wedding ceremony. Indian ceremony too.

Just a thought.

[sara..... 371]

if u show pics like that they can assume our married........i would leave it alone and not show anything that resembles a wedding

[catknit 144]

Here's a link from earlier this summer - one of the vj community went into a K1 interveiw with engagement ceromony proof and his fiancee was berated for bringing in wedding pics. It's a bit of a saga but totally shows what can happen:

Kshatriya Link

It can just be a very very very sticky situation - that's why a lot of members here shy away from including pics of anything that could be construed as a wedding and not just an engagement. And in a place that has been historically high fraud and has many different religious groups with many different rituals and traditions that may be construed as actual weddings - the consulates' officials seem to side more on the conservative side that a wedding may have happened.