CR1 question - special case situation

[QAtester 0]

Hello all

New member here. I want to start by thanking everyone for sharing their experiences as this has been a tremendous help for me in getting my initial I-130 paperwork sent to USCIS.

I would like to ask a question. If all goes as planned I assume that my wife (non resident alien) will have her interview for the CR1 visa prior to us actually holding a wedding. The culture in Saudi Arabia which we both originally from preforms weddings in this order, the legal part is taken care of at the court house which makes the couple legally wedded, immediately after that the families hold an engagement party which starts an engagement period then months later the wedding is held and after that point the consummation of marriage occurs. Please note that after the legal part is done the couple is legally considered married and in fact if the couple would to split up then they would go through a divorce procedure as would any other married couple.

My questions are.

1- Do you see anyway that I will have an issue at the interview level that the wedding party did not yet happen, I only had the legal court document that shows us as legally married and we held and engagement party at which we took plenty of photos?

2- Do you recommend that I attend my wife's CR1 interview? do you think that would make a difference for my interview? is there any advantage to the petitioner to be there vs, not being there?

please let me know if you have applied for the CR-1 visa under similar circumstances. I would really like to hear your thoughts.

Thank you all again and good luck

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

You can only apply for a CR1 after you are married. You are asked to show your marriage certificate when you file. If you file without one you will be denied and loose your money.

[mrs. wife! 3]

You don't need to have a religious wedding for immigration purposes. If you are already legally married as you said, you should be fine.

If you can make it to the interview, go.

Good luck!

[QAtester 0]

I apologize for not being clear on this point, the marriage certificate is in hand. it was obtained at the point when we were wedded at the court house.

[christeen 966]

The only sticking point I see is that in order for a marriage to be considered by USCIS it must be legal AND consummated... I am not versed in any cultural exceptions, however I just bring this up as a possible issue... Perhaps someone from the regional forums have more specific info on similar cases...

[mrs. wife! 3]

The only sticking point I see is that in order for a marriage to be considered by USCIS it must be legal AND consummated... I am not versed in any cultural exceptions, however I just bring this up as a possible issue... Perhaps someone from the regional forums have more specific info on similar cases...

Well pointed

[QAtester 0]

I mean this in a very respectful way as I am trying to understand how to deal with this situation.

At the point of interview if the question of consummation would to come up how would they know either way? This is not to say that in our case it was or it wasn't though.

[sachinky 465]

Well, they might be well versed in cultural norms. I'd pose the question in a regional forum.

If you have the legal marriage certificate, it should be good to go.

[Penguin_ie 5,993]

I mean this in a very respectful way as I am trying to understand how to deal with this situation.

At the point of interview if the question of consummation would to come up how would they know either way? This is not to say that in our case it was or it wasn't though.

It is unlikely, but they have been known to ask outright ("when did you last have intercours" or similar). Though the only case I remember of this on here where it caused trouble, it was a Philipino K1 (fiance visa) couple. The fiancee was shy and said they hadn't had sex yet, whereas the US fiance was also asked and told the truth. They got denied for lying.

Honestly, I doubt you will get asked; they are more interested in the bonafides of your marriage (how long you have known eachother, how much you communicate and how, how often you went to visit her etc). As you had the engagement ceremony, presumably you have lots of photos, including with eachother's families, so you should be fine.

[Canadiandggal 49]

Hello,

It sounds like you two Had a Civil Courthouse ceremony and are going to renew your vows and are planning to Have a second wedding In which case you should have no problems with this.

[Amit-N-Melody 11]

The only sticking point I see is that in order for a marriage to be considered by USCIS it must be legal AND consummated... I am not versed in any cultural exceptions, however I just bring this up as a possible issue... Perhaps someone from the regional forums have more specific info on similar cases...

i agree!

[minatours 0]

Hello all

New member here. I want to start by thanking everyone for sharing their experiences as this has been a tremendous help for me in getting my initial I-130 paperwork sent to USCIS.

I would like to ask a question. If all goes as planned I assume that my wife (non resident alien) will have her interview for the CR1 visa prior to us actually holding a wedding. The culture in Saudi Arabia which we both originally from preforms weddings in this order, the legal part is taken care of at the court house which makes the couple legally wedded, immediately after that the families hold an engagement party which starts an engagement period then months later the wedding is held and after that point the consummation of marriage occurs. Please note that after the legal part is done the couple is legally considered married and in fact if the couple would to split up then they would go through a divorce procedure as would any other married couple.

My questions are.

1- Do you see anyway that I will have an issue at the interview level that the wedding party did not yet happen, I only had the legal court document that shows us as legally married and we held and engagement party at which we took plenty of photos?

2- Do you recommend that I attend my wife's CR1 interview? do you think that would make a difference for my interview? is there any advantage to the petitioner to be there vs, not being there?

first you have to demonstrate legal marriage contract to prove you guys legally married

second you have to provide sufficient evidence of the relationship

if you can attend the interview would be great it shows the officier how you committed to the relationship good luck

please let me know if you have applied for the CR-1 visa under similar circumstances. I would really like to hear your thoughts.

Thank you all again and good luck