K-1 Visa

[baron555 934]

We plan on getting married in the USA upon arrival to fulfill the K-1 requirements. We just thought for her family and friends in the Philippines we would also have a wedding there just before departing to the USA. Does this getting married in both countries constitute fraud? If so we won't do it.

It does as you describe it. Here's what you do. File for the K-1. She comes here. You get married here. Then, you go back to the Phils and get married there. Quite simple.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

It's perfectly fine to have your legal marriage at the courthouse in the US and have a second ceremony for friends and family when you've had more time to plan the wedding you want. Lots of K-1 couples do that. There's no reason at all why you can't have a ceremony that is not legally binding and then come to the US and head down to the courthouse.

The trick would be finding an officiant willing to do that. They may be uncomfortable participating in what appears to be a legal marriage when the couple is not married. If the couple is legally married first, it's just a vow renewal and most officiants have no problem with that.

~ Catherine

The good thing about ceremonial ceremonies is you do no tneed and should not have an official officiant. Sometimes offcial officiant have morals and standards and do not want to be used for ceremonial purposes to pretend to meet some religious or family requirements. Strange, I know. So get an unofficial unofficiant. Get it. Fake ceremony, fake official. This makes SURE the cermony is fake and satisfies the only party in this case with standards. The USCIS! OMG, imagine that!

You can asks a friend or relative to be the officiant, someone who would be especially honored. The vows can be anything you want, even "I (name) solemly swear to marry you within 90 days of entering the USA on my K-1 visa"

In case you feel I am being cynical...I am. This couple chose the K-1 because it got the finacee here faster. Then try to find a way around the requirements. The way around the requirements of the K-1 is the K-3 or CR-1, but wait, then we have to be apart longer and we CAN'T do that! If religious and family values are more important to you, have a real wedding and deal with the consequences of your beliefs. If getting her here is more important than her religious beliefs and family values...to heck with it, who needs to follow that stuff if it is inconvenient? Fool them all and get her here quick!

[MikeA 0]

It's perfectly fine to have your legal marriage at the courthouse in the US and have a second ceremony for friends and family when you've had more time to plan the wedding you want. Lots of K-1 couples do that. There's no reason at all why you can't have a ceremony that is not legally binding and then come to the US and head down to the courthouse.

The trick would be finding an officiant willing to do that. They may be uncomfortable participating in what appears to be a legal marriage when the couple is not married. If the couple is legally married first, it's just a vow renewal and most officiants have no problem with that.

~ Catherine

Let this reply go to all the good hearted people who took the time and trouble to help me and my fiancee get our question answered.

It seems it is not possible or legal for that matter to get married in the Philippines and then immediately fly to USA and get married legally there too on a K-1. You can, but its really throwing the dice and we will just not do that. The overall recommendations from everyone is to just return to the Philippines and have a legal wedding there at a later date. This is the legal honorable way and is exactly what we will do. Too much time and effort has been put into this. The relationship that me and my fiancee have is truly grand, we will be together forever, so doing things right and proper is the only way for us to go.

Everyone's contributing thoughts and experiences is what helped us make this decision, so thank you so very much.

[MikeA 0]

It's perfectly fine to have your legal marriage at the courthouse in the US and have a second ceremony for friends and family when you've had more time to plan the wedding you want. Lots of K-1 couples do that. There's no reason at all why you can't have a ceremony that is not legally binding and then come to the US and head down to the courthouse.

The trick would be finding an officiant willing to do that. They may be uncomfortable participating in what appears to be a legal marriage when the couple is not married. If the couple is legally married first, it's just a vow renewal and most officiants have no problem with that.

~ Catherine

The good thing about ceremonial ceremonies is you do no tneed and should not have an official officiant. Sometimes offcial officiant have morals and standards and do not want to be used for ceremonial purposes to pretend to meet some religious or family requirements. Strange, I know. So get an unofficial unofficiant. Get it. Fake ceremony, fake official. This makes SURE the cermony is fake and satisfies the only party in this case with standards. The USCIS! OMG, imagine that!

You can asks a friend or relative to be the officiant, someone who would be especially honored. The vows can be anything you want, even "I (name) solemly swear to marry you within 90 days of entering the USA on my K-1 visa"

In case you feel I am being cynical...I am. This couple chose the K-1 because it got the finacee here faster. Then try to find a way around the requirements. The way around the requirements of the K-1 is the K-3 or CR-1, but wait, then we have to be apart longer and we CAN'T do that! If religious and family values are more important to you, have a real wedding and deal with the consequences of your beliefs. If getting her here is more important than her religious beliefs and family values...to heck with it, who needs to follow that stuff if it is inconvenient? Fool them all and get her here quick!

Let this reply go to all the good hearted people who took the time and trouble to help me and my fiancee get our question answered.

It seems it is not possible or legal for that matter to get married in the Philippines and then immediately fly to USA and get married legally there too on a K-1. You can, but its really throwing the dice and we will just not do that. The overall recommendations from everyone is to just return to the Philippines and have a legal wedding there at a later date. This is the legal honorable way and is exactly what we will do. Too much time and effort has been put into this. The relationship that me and my fiancee have is truly grand, we will be together forever, so doing things right and proper is the only way for us to go.

Everyone's contributing thoughts and experiences is what helped us make this decision, so thank you so very much.

[sunandmoon 450]

we had an engagement party. my wife is also from the Philippines. we had a proposal ceremony for her family and friends.

Edited May 31, 2009 by sunandmoon

[Brad and Vika 129]

we had an engagement party. my wife is also from the Philippines. we had a proposal ceremony for her family and friends.

That looks like a workable compromise. Maybe a chuch ceremony after AOS here.

[sam808 0]

My Fiancee and would like to get married in the Philippines before coming to the USA. We would like to have a legal ceremony after getting the Visa in our hands. Does anyone know if doing this just prior to leaving the Philippines can cause a problem with the K-1 visa. We were told as a matter of routine that in the Philippines they do not record a marriage for 3 months. Has anyone done this.

Can't do it. If she comes on a K-1 the marriage must take place HERE after she arrives on a K-1. A marriage in any other country cancels the K-1. If you wanmt to get married there, then do so and file for a K-3 or CR-1

To do what you suggest is visa fraud, she could be deported and barred from any future visas

YES I AGREE. BUT I KNOW SOME WHO GOT MARRIED AND IN THE PHILIPPINES ON A K1 VISA. I DONT KNOW HOW THEY MADE IT WORK.

[Brad and Vika 129]

My Fiancee and would like to get married in the Philippines before coming to the USA. We would like to have a legal ceremony after getting the Visa in our hands. Does anyone know if doing this just prior to leaving the Philippines can cause a problem with the K-1 visa. We were told as a matter of routine that in the Philippines they do not record a marriage for 3 months. Has anyone done this.

Can't do it. If she comes on a K-1 the marriage must take place HERE after she arrives on a K-1. A marriage in any other country cancels the K-1. If you wanmt to get married there, then do so and file for a K-3 or CR-1

To do what you suggest is visa fraud, she could be deported and barred from any future visas

YES I AGREE. BUT I KNOW SOME WHO GOT MARRIED AND IN THE PHILIPPINES ON A K1 VISA. I DONT KNOW HOW THEY MADE IT WORK.

Stop the shouting please!

[rmncm 0]

You can have a marriage ceremony in the Phils no problem, just DO NOT do the paperwork. I think you have to apply for a marriage licence from the municiaple office (mayors office) and that takes 10-14 days if I remember right. If you skip this step you marriage is NOT legal, plain and simple. So have your wedding there then fly to the US and get married legally. All that matter here is the legalitly of the paper work.

[Azzudiin 26]

I don't understand the problem, you can have as many Wedding Ceremonies as you want, have 10 or 20 if you want in various countries around the world. The only issue with the VISA is which country was the legal paperwork filed for the wedding.

Get married in the Phillipines, dont file paperwork there so it was just a ceremony, then once in the US file the paperwork at your local courthouse and have Justice of Peace sign off. That is the legal wedding

Governments only care about the legal marriage, the actual ceremony means nothing to a government official.