Can you file K3 before marriage?

[~Johnny~ 27]

Hi folks, I've spent the last few hours on VJ searching and looking for this specific question and found ALL kinds of good info about the K3 but nothing about whether I can begin the paper work before the wedding. My finance is in Peru, I am a US Citizen in Alaska. Yes...yes..Alaska...I know I know That's another story....I have been down to visit her 3 times and we email and call each other everyday for about the last 6 months. She absolutely wants a local wedding with her family/friends and I fully support her in that desire. I know it will make her and her family happy to witness their daughter married. I am going down to Peru in June and we are planning a wedding for sometime towards the end of this year. I am wondering if we can file the K3 in June and get the process rolling so that it will (hopefully) coincide with our wedding plans. Any answers/suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Johnny

[Chica Yeyé 41]

No. K-3 is for legally married couples at the time of filing.

[corinne from oz 0]

Hi folks, I've spent the last few hours on VJ searching and looking for this specific question and found ALL kinds of good info about the K3 but nothing about whether I can begin the paper work before the wedding. My finance is in Peru, I am a US Citizen in Alaska. Yes...yes..Alaska...I know I know That's another story....I have been down to visit her 3 times and we email and call each other everyday for about the last 6 months. She absolutely wants a local wedding with her family/friends and I fully support her in that desire. I know it will make her and her family happy to witness their daughter married. I am going down to Peru in June and we are planning a wedding for sometime towards the end of this year. I am wondering if we can file the K3 in June and get the process rolling so that it will (hopefully) coincide with our wedding plans. Any answers/suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Johnny

FYI - I think Alaska is one of the most gorgeous places in the US. I love Skagway in particular! I cruised Alaska for 5 weeks and I will never forget the experience. Sorry, I am not sure why you are blushing about being from Alaska?

[Otto 83]

No - can not petition for a Spousal Visa without a spouse.

(Doesn't matter if 'you'll be married by they time the approve it' - when you submit the forms, you're attesting to it being a fact at that time.)

[robbyrob 2]

Not possible, you need to send copy of marriage certificate with the I130 and I129F applications when you start the filing. Goodluck.

Hi folks, I've spent the last few hours on VJ searching and looking for this specific question and found ALL kinds of good info about the K3 but nothing about whether I can begin the paper work before the wedding. My finance is in Peru, I am a US Citizen in Alaska. Yes...yes..Alaska...I know I know That's another story....I have been down to visit her 3 times and we email and call each other everyday for about the last 6 months. She absolutely wants a local wedding with her family/friends and I fully support her in that desire. I know it will make her and her family happy to witness their daughter married. I am going down to Peru in June and we are planning a wedding for sometime towards the end of this year. I am wondering if we can file the K3 in June and get the process rolling so that it will (hopefully) coincide with our wedding plans. Any answers/suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Johnny

[~Johnny~ 27]

Hey thanks for the speedy responses. You guys sort of confirmed my concerns. I didn't want to wait 6-7 months more to be married, then another 6-8 months for the VISA application process. I know the K1 is easier and smoother but I respect that she wants to have a nice wedding with friends and family. Peru has two wedding ceremonies (one civil and one religious) .....maybe we can do the religious one in Peru for her family/friends and the Civil one in the US under the K1?

{Karin and Otto - thanks for the subliminal hint} Sorta what I was thinking...but we don't want to break any laws here.

Yeah, Alaska is beautiful...is just most people think we live in igloos and there's 10 big strapping mountain men for every woman (more like 2 men for every woman - and....some of them aren't so strapping).

[Chica Yeyé 41]

Hey thanks for the speedy responses. You guys sort of confirmed my concerns. I didn't want to wait 6-7 months more to be married, then another 6-8 months for the VISA application process. I know the K1 is easier and smoother but I respect that she wants to have a nice wedding with friends and family. Peru has two wedding ceremonies (one civil and one religious) .....maybe we can do the religious one in Peru for her family/friends and the Civil one in the US under the K1?

{Karin and Otto - thanks for the subliminal hint} Sorta what I was thinking...but we don't want to break any laws here.

Yeah, Alaska is beautiful...is just most people think we live in igloos and there's 10 big strapping mountain men for every woman (more like 2 men for every woman - and....some of them aren't so strapping).

The K-1 is not easier or smoother.

Be careful as to the religious ceremony though, some countries equate it with civil marriage and that would put you in a bind if you apply for the K-1 (fiancee) visa. The K-1 visa is intended for marriage in the US only.

[~Johnny~ 27]

According to Peruvian law, the religious ceremony is not legally binding....but Peru is very very Roman Catholic. The civil ceremony is the same as in the US with a judge or magistrate. I have read that many weddings in Peru have both ceremonies on the same day. The only hard part is that, typically, before the church ceremony, the priest usually wants to see the civil certificate of marriage. This Visa business just gets harder and harder!!

Edited March 24, 2009 by duplantisjj

[Chica Yeyé 41]

According to Peruvian law, the religious ceremony is not legally binding....but Peru is very very Roman Catholic. The civil ceremony is the same as in the US with a judge or magistrate. I have read that many weddings in Peru have both ceremonies on the same day. The only hard part is that, typically, before the church ceremony, the priest usually wants to see the civil certificate of marriage. This Visa business just gets harder and harder!!

My point exactly. It works the same in Mexico.

Please be careful and

[~Johnny~ 27]

Shoot....you know...you guys just helped me answer my own question. I think my lady and I can do the Civil (or legal) ceremony in June (if she's willing)...for K3 filing purposes because then we would have a certificate of marriage......and then later in November/December we could do the Religious ceremony for family/friends. That could actually work.....and I'll be there for 10 days in June....long enough for sort of a honeymoon.

[Chica Yeyé 41]

Shoot....you know...you guys just helped me answer my own question. I think my lady and I can do the Civil (or legal) ceremony in June (if she's willing)...for K3 filing purposes because then we would have a certificate of marriage......and then later in November/December we could do the Religious ceremony for family/friends. That could actually work.....and I'll be there for 10 days in June....long enough for sort of a honeymoon.

Good choice.

Now, if you are filing after marriage; you might want to consider the CR-1 instead (or on top of) the K-3.

[~Johnny~ 27]

Thanks Len...I'll read up on the CR-1 process...I sort of know the K3 basics by now...but I'm not familiar with CR1....I'm sure there's tons of info on it in the guides and that's where I'll be lurking for a while...thanks for your help!

[Dakine 26]

Thanks Len...I'll read up on the CR-1 process...I sort of know the K3 basics by now...but I'm not familiar with CR1....I'm sure there's tons of info on it in the guides and that's where I'll be lurking for a while...thanks for your help!

The CR-1 used to be a lot slower but that's changed recently. CR-1 is a MUCH MUCH better visa. Go for it. There is a LOT of info here on K3 versus CR-1.