Civil Ceremonies/Court Marriages/Pictures

[Verde is Scrabble 0]

We don't have photographs of our marriage ceremony, as it was a civil ceremony at a foreign courthouse, performed in what would be the equivalent of a judge's chambers in the USA. We were both nervous, there was a language barrier, all of our family and friends lived in different countries, and so we did what lots of even American couples do, and have a civil ceremony. We didn't dress up or take pictures. We did have a honeymoon. We plan to have a "real" "duplicate" wedding in the U.S., with friends and family. I keep reading that a lack of "wedding pictures" will hurt our visa chances. That doesn't make sense to me, as "wedding pictures" can be faked, but phone bills and letters (with postmarks) and dated emails and other evidence cannot be faked. Sorry if I sound upset, just scared after reading other posts!!!

[selma&elvir 0]

Well you should made some wedding pictures whatever the fact you didn't wear official dress and suit, but I also do not have a lot of wedding pictures i have a few and I hope it will be enough, when I called my embassy they told me to bring a lot of pictures before wedding, from wedding and after...

[canadian_wife 1,822]

What consulate are you dealing with? If it is a particularly difficult one then they will be weary of why there are no pictures and of course the 'language barrier'

You want to focus your evidence on primary evidence - airline tickets, passport stamps, flight itenaries. Secondary evidence are your phone bills and letters. Pictures are good as it shows time the 2 of you spent together.

Good luck.

[Verde is Scrabble 0]

What consulate are you dealing with? If it is a particularly difficult one then they will be weary of why there are no pictures and of course the 'language barrier'

You want to focus your evidence on primary evidence - airline tickets, passport stamps, flight itenaries. Secondary evidence are your phone bills and letters. Pictures are good as it shows time the 2 of you spent together.

Good luck.

We have the airline tickets, flight itineraries, passport stamps, phone bills, emails, fed ex packages, and a moderate number of pictures together (during my time with him in his country, totaling about 45 days during which we lived together). We also have affidavits from our family members and affidavits we wrote ourselves. All of this evidence pretty much shows that we have been in daily contact since we met, whether in person, on the phone, or online. We also have that pesky little thing called a "marriage certificate" and a scrapbook I made of all of our "firsts". Think that's enough?

[natt141 0]

I did marry at the court house also back in the states. I didn't have the reception ceremony here in Thailand either. Like you said..wedding photos can be faked..but other evidences will prove. Don't worry..

Positive thinking..cheerful!! and wish you luck to be with your love one too.

I can't wait to be with my husband again and can't wait to have a completed family and grow our family together...

Cheers!

[Verde is Scrabble 0]

I did marry at the court house also back in the states. I didn't have the reception ceremony here in Thailand either. Like you said..wedding photos can be faked..but other evidences will prove. Don't worry..

Positive thinking..cheerful!! and wish you luck to be with your love one too.

I can't wait to be with my husband again and can't wait to have a completed family and grow our family together...

Cheers!

The language barrier was between myself and the judge and court employees - not between my husband and myself. He and I both speak English. However, I do not speak Arabic, and we were married in the UAE. Not only was our family not there (in these economic times it was not fair to ask them to pay $1200 and take so much time off of jobs now precious and rare to attend a short civil ceremony at a courthouse), and we did not have a camera (I had dropped it in water - I do have proof of taking it to get fixed under the warranty). So it really wasn't feasible to take pictures of the actual civil ceremony. It was mostly verbal - there was no physical contact between us during the ceremony, it was more like signing a contract. We have lots of pictures from before and after our wedding (honeymoon pictures) and lots of other evidence. In five months of marriage, I've made two trips to visit him and we've been in daily contact. I find the reason we don't have "marriage" photos very plausible and reasonable. What about you?

[Catt 6]

I did marry at the court house also back in the states. I didn't have the reception ceremony here in Thailand either. Like you said..wedding photos can be faked..but other evidences will prove. Don't worry..

Positive thinking..cheerful!! and wish you luck to be with your love one too.

I can't wait to be with my husband again and can't wait to have a completed family and grow our family together...

Cheers!

The language barrier was between myself and the judge and court employees - not between my husband and myself. He and I both speak English. However, I do not speak Arabic, and we were married in the UAE. Not only was our family not there (in these economic times it was not fair to ask them to pay $1200 and take so much time off of jobs now precious and rare to attend a short civil ceremony at a courthouse), and we did not have a camera (I had dropped it in water - I do have proof of taking it to get fixed under the warranty). So it really wasn't feasible to take pictures of the actual civil ceremony. It was mostly verbal - there was no physical contact between us during the ceremony, it was more like signing a contract. We have lots of pictures from before and after our wedding (honeymoon pictures) and lots of other evidence. In five months of marriage, I've made two trips to visit him and we've been in daily contact. I find the reason we don't have "marriage" photos very plausible and reasonable. What about you?

I would not worry too much about the photos.

In our case, I dragged two photo albums to the Consulate and then here in the US to the CIS Field Office (I was K3 so had to do AOS). At no time did anyone check the pictures (not even after I asked the Officer if he was sure he did not want to look at them - he had to laugh and said no there is no need, your case has been approved).

I am not saying that in your case this will also happen, since depending on the Consulate/Officer in question, the interview can be pretty tough. However my point is: the pictures are - as you have indicated yourself - not the only 'proof', and you do have photos, just not of your marriage ceremony.

One thing I don't get is, how could you understand what was being said precisely by the Judge and Court Employees if you did not speak the language? Was there no translator?

Edited December 6, 2009 by Catt

[Verde is Scrabble 0]

I did marry at the court house also back in the states. I didn't have the reception ceremony here in Thailand either. Like you said..wedding photos can be faked..but other evidences will prove. Don't worry..

Positive thinking..cheerful!! and wish you luck to be with your love one too.

I can't wait to be with my husband again and can't wait to have a completed family and grow our family together...

Cheers!

The language barrier was between myself and the judge and court employees - not between my husband and myself. He and I both speak English. However, I do not speak Arabic, and we were married in the UAE. Not only was our family not there (in these economic times it was not fair to ask them to pay $1200 and take so much time off of jobs now precious and rare to attend a short civil ceremony at a courthouse), and we did not have a camera (I had dropped it in water - I do have proof of taking it to get fixed under the warranty). So it really wasn't feasible to take pictures of the actual civil ceremony. It was mostly verbal - there was no physical contact between us during the ceremony, it was more like signing a contract. We have lots of pictures from before and after our wedding (honeymoon pictures) and lots of other evidence. In five months of marriage, I've made two trips to visit him and we've been in daily contact. I find the reason we don't have "marriage" photos very plausible and reasonable. What about you?

I would not worry too much about the photos.

In our case, I dragged two photo albums to the Consulate and then here in the US to the CIS Field Office (I was K3 so had to do AOS). At no time did anyone check the pictures (not even after I asked the Officer if he was sure he did not want to look at them - he had to laugh and said no there is no need, your case has been approved).

I am not saying that in your case this will also happen, since depending on the Consulate/Officer in question, the interview can be pretty tough. However my point is: the pictures are - as you have indicated yourself - not the only 'proof', and you do have photos, just not of your marriage ceremony.

One thing I don't get is, how could you understand what was being said precisely by the Judge and Court Employees if you did not speak the language? Was there no translator?

It was weird. A "translator" who spoke rather poor English (I can't complain as I spoke NO Arabic) explained to me in advance what would happen, and that I would have to answer in Arabic, so when the judge asked questions, my husband would answer, the translator would do a speed translation and tell me what to say in Arabic, and I would say it. I was a little worried that I was being asked and answering questions I had no idea of, and signing a contract (marriage certificate) in Arabic - but that was the way the system worked and I was in another country, so that's what I had to do to get married. If anyone else has been married in a court civil ceremony in Dubai or Abu Dhabi or another location in the UAE maybe they could explain better. We had the marriage certificate translated and it was pretty much standard stuff. Anyway, my husband's visa was approved!!!!! So, it's over!

[ronalyn 0]

how come you did not take any photo during your wedding? just because it was a civil ceremony is not a valid reason for you not to take photos because it is a very strong evidence your marriage. as with me and husband, our wedding was also a civil one but we have photos... i dont think it is easy to fake wedding pictures because if you do, there will always be a way for people. anyway, during my interview, i brought a copy of my husband's boarding pass from his 2 visits here in P.I., phonebills, courier recepits, photos from our vacations and cards, emails and chat logs... so try to gather all the evidence that will prove your marriage or relationship. Goodluck!

We don't have photographs of our marriage ceremony, as it was a civil ceremony at a foreign courthouse, performed in what would be the equivalent of a judge's chambers in the USA. We were both nervous, there was a language barrier, all of our family and friends lived in different countries, and so we did what lots of even American couples do, and have a civil ceremony. We didn't dress up or take pictures. We did have a honeymoon. We plan to have a "real" "duplicate" wedding in the U.S., with friends and family. I keep reading that a lack of "wedding pictures" will hurt our visa chances. That doesn't make sense to me, as "wedding pictures" can be faked, but phone bills and letters (with postmarks) and dated emails and other evidence cannot be faked. Sorry if I sound upset, just scared after reading other posts!!!

[natt141 0]

I did marry at the court house also back in the states. I didn't have the reception ceremony here in Thailand either. Like you said..wedding photos can be faked..but other evidences will prove. Don't worry..

Positive thinking..cheerful!! and wish you luck to be with your love one too.

I can't wait to be with my husband again and can't wait to have a completed family and grow our family together...

Cheers!

The language barrier was between myself and the judge and court employees - not between my husband and myself. He and I both speak English. However, I do not speak Arabic, and we were married in the UAE. Not only was our family not there (in these economic times it was not fair to ask them to pay $1200 and take so much time off of jobs now precious and rare to attend a short civil ceremony at a courthouse), and we did not have a camera (I had dropped it in water - I do have proof of taking it to get fixed under the warranty). So it really wasn't feasible to take pictures of the actual civil ceremony. It was mostly verbal - there was no physical contact between us during the ceremony, it was more like signing a contract. We have lots of pictures from before and after our wedding (honeymoon pictures) and lots of other evidence. In five months of marriage, I've made two trips to visit him and we've been in daily contact. I find the reason we don't have "marriage" photos very plausible and reasonable. What about you?

I think you will be fine..I dont have much pictures on the wedding day..my bro in law...messed up with the VDO..so we didn't have that...as long as you have other evidences...dont worry that much about pics..sometimes, they dont look or ask for the pics..it depends though..anyway, good luck...

[Catt 6]

I did marry at the court house also back in the states. I didn't have the reception ceremony here in Thailand either. Like you said..wedding photos can be faked..but other evidences will prove. Don't worry..

Positive thinking..cheerful!! and wish you luck to be with your love one too.

I can't wait to be with my husband again and can't wait to have a completed family and grow our family together...

Cheers!

The language barrier was between myself and the judge and court employees - not between my husband and myself. He and I both speak English. However, I do not speak Arabic, and we were married in the UAE. Not only was our family not there (in these economic times it was not fair to ask them to pay $1200 and take so much time off of jobs now precious and rare to attend a short civil ceremony at a courthouse), and we did not have a camera (I had dropped it in water - I do have proof of taking it to get fixed under the warranty). So it really wasn't feasible to take pictures of the actual civil ceremony. It was mostly verbal - there was no physical contact between us during the ceremony, it was more like signing a contract. We have lots of pictures from before and after our wedding (honeymoon pictures) and lots of other evidence. In five months of marriage, I've made two trips to visit him and we've been in daily contact. I find the reason we don't have "marriage" photos very plausible and reasonable. What about you?

I would not worry too much about the photos.

In our case, I dragged two photo albums to the Consulate and then here in the US to the CIS Field Office (I was K3 so had to do AOS). At no time did anyone check the pictures (not even after I asked the Officer if he was sure he did not want to look at them - he had to laugh and said no there is no need, your case has been approved).

I am not saying that in your case this will also happen, since depending on the Consulate/Officer in question, the interview can be pretty tough. However my point is: the pictures are - as you have indicated yourself - not the only 'proof', and you do have photos, just not of your marriage ceremony.

One thing I don't get is, how could you understand what was being said precisely by the Judge and Court Employees if you did not speak the language? Was there no translator?

It was weird. A "translator" who spoke rather poor English (I can't complain as I spoke NO Arabic) explained to me in advance what would happen, and that I would have to answer in Arabic, so when the judge asked questions, my husband would answer, the translator would do a speed translation and tell me what to say in Arabic, and I would say it. I was a little worried that I was being asked and answering questions I had no idea of, and signing a contract (marriage certificate) in Arabic - but that was the way the system worked and I was in another country, so that's what I had to do to get married. If anyone else has been married in a court civil ceremony in Dubai or Abu Dhabi or another location in the UAE maybe they could explain better. We had the marriage certificate translated and it was pretty much standard stuff. Anyway, my husband's visa was approved!!!!! So, it's over!

Congrats!