Marriage before K1...?

[Shilps.Vik 0]

Hi all, your wisdom and advice needed again...

Is it possible to apply for a K-1 Visa, recieve it, and then to get religiously married (not civil marriage) in another country (say India or UK), and then arrive in the USA on the same K-1 with intent to get married in the USA legally/civilly...?

Would immigration see the religious marriage as grounds to refuse entry to the USA on a K-1 Visa, and send the fiance back to his/her country of origin in order to start again with a K-3 visa instead?

As always, many thanks and your guidance is much appreciated.

[Old Dominion 26]

It will make no difference so long as the marriage is not registered with the government and is unofficial. I assume the idea is for religious or family reasons? Why wait until getting the K-1?

Edited February 3, 2009 by Old Dominion

[Shilps.Vik 0]

It will make no difference so long as the marriage is not registered with the government and is unofficial. I assume the idea is for religious or family reasons? Why wait until getting the K-1?

Many thanks - The main thing for us is doing everything legally and above board, so we want to find out if having an 'unregistered' marriage ceremony (religious) will affect the process negatively. We don't want to be turned away after 9 months of waiting!

[English Muffin 59]

Many thanks - The main thing for us is doing everything legally and above board, so we want to find out if having an 'unregistered' marriage ceremony (religious) will affect the process negatively. We don't want to be turned away after 9 months of waiting!

Although there's no legal problem with what you suggest you need to be very, very careful. If USCIS get the slightest hint of a 'wedding' of any kind it is unlikely that they will issue your visa. There have been two people that I know of on VJ who had that problem. I wish I could remember their user names, perhaps someone else will come along who can. There have also been people who have successfully done what you are suggesting - just bear in mind that it does carry some kind of risk.

[Shilps.Vik 0]

Many thanks - The main thing for us is doing everything legally and above board, so we want to find out if having an 'unregistered' marriage ceremony (religious) will affect the process negatively. We don't want to be turned away after 9 months of waiting!

Although there's no legal problem with what you suggest you need to be very, very careful. If USCIS get the slightest hint of a 'wedding' of any kind it is unlikely that they will issue your visa. There have been two people that I know of on VJ who had that problem. I wish I could remember their user names, perhaps someone else will come along who can. There have also been people who have successfully done what you are suggesting - just bear in mind that it does carry some kind of risk.

Thanks for the good advice mate, and you've hit the nail on the head - it is risky and we don't want to give any cause for extra worry or stress. Although I think its 'technically' possible, I just feel that it would have long-term repercussions should the USCIS inadvertently find out.

It would be great to hear from anyone who has been through this same dilemma and lived to tell the tale.

[payxibka 10,045]

Thanks for the good advice mate, and you've hit the nail on the head - it is risky and we don't want to give any cause for extra worry or stress. Although I think its 'technically' possible, I just feel that it would have long-term repercussions should the USCIS inadvertently find out.

It would be great to hear from anyone who has been through this same dilemma and lived to tell the tale.

I don't know if this is truth or legend but there was a story a while back where a USC went abroad and had a non-legal ceremony... upon attempted entry, the CBP oficer somehow learned of this ceremony (pictures, statements, else) and thought the fiance(e) was in fact married and denied the entry....

[morocco4ever 63]

I recall some time back that a couple, I believe from Egypt, had this type of wedding. It is not legally recognized by the US. He was granted the K-1 visa, and at the port of entry, when they were interviewing him, he referred to his fiance as his "wife". He was sent back.

You haven't given specific reasons as to why you would want to do this ceremony before you come, and I suspect it is religious reasons. I can't comment on that, but if it were me I would play it safe and delay anything that even resembles a marriage, even if it isn't registered. Personally I don't think it is worth the risk, but this is really your decision. So best of luck.

[Sinergy 3]

Me and Edi had a Romanian wedding for his parents in Romania...it was not documented, more a ceremony. There were no issues with that.

If you want to have a "ceremony" in your fiances country...make sure its not a documented marriage, and NEVER during the process...like the interview or any corrospondence with USCIS say you got "MARRIED" in your fiances country. Bc techniclly....if its not documented..you didnt. If its a documented wedding/marriage, you are no longer elegible for the K1 and will need to go the K3..or DCF route

Edited February 3, 2009 by Sinergy

[Jasman0717 9]

It will make no difference so long as the marriage is not registered with the government and is unofficial. I assume the idea is for religious or family reasons? Why wait until getting the K-1?

[Amin&Ani 0]

Hi all, your wisdom and advice needed again...

Is it possible to apply for a K-1 Visa, recieve it, and then to get religiously married (not civil marriage) in another country (say India or UK), and then arrive in the USA on the same K-1 with intent to get married in the USA legally/civilly...?

Would immigration see the religious marriage as grounds to refuse entry to the USA on a K-1 Visa, and send the fiance back to his/her country of origin in order to start again with a K-3 visa instead?

As always, many thanks and your guidance is much appreciated.

http://www.visajourney.com/faq/k1k2visa-application.html

See the last question...

I have almost the same issue. we are trying to have a small ceremony religiously just for parents , but after seeing this...it makes it pretty hard...so we will probably keep it "an engagement party"

[Dakine 26]

Best to do the K1 process and marry in the US and then return and have a ceremonial wedding!