To Marry or Not to Marry Version 2.0

[C.D 1]

Hi Family!

Looks like this would have been the best place to post this.

I would like to make a decision on the next step.

I have visited my finacee 3 times last year in the UK.

I plan to visit her (in Nigeria) but this time we plan to get traditionally weded in Nigeria (only family and friends, no registry, or court), and then get married (Church Wedding and/ or Court in the United States)

I guess my question is:

1. Is this wise to get traditionally married (no court papers or church registry, only family) and File the K1 visa or,

2. Stop the plans for the traditional marriage and just file the K1 visa or,

3. Get traditionally married (no court papers or church registry, only family) and file for the K3/CR-1 visa?

Please help! Cos the dates coming up soon!

[HoneyHummingbird 3]

Hi Family!

Looks like this would have been the best place to post this.

I would like to make a decision on the next step.

I have visited my finacee 3 times last year in the UK.

I plan to visit her (in Nigeria) but this time we plan to get traditionally weded in Nigeria (only family and friends, no registry, or court), and then get married (Church Wedding and/ or Court in the United States)

I guess my question is:

1. Is this wise to get traditionally married (no court papers or church registry, only family) and File the K1 visa or,

2. Stop the plans for the traditional marriage and just file the K1 visa or,

3. Get traditionally married (no court papers or church registry, only family) and file for the K3/CR-1 visa?

Please help! Cos the dates coming up soon!

Since you have met your fiance 3 times (and I am sure you have a good amount of evidence) I personally would do #2 or #3. Many people seem to recommend against having a traditional wedding in Nigeria because it can be viewed by the consular as you were married and your ability to prove otherwise may be difficult given the lack of organization in the country. If you both are Nigerian, I have read that having a traditional wedding or formal engagement introduction is helpful to your case because of cultural reasons.

My fiance and I discussed these options as well and erred on the side of caution by deciding to not have a traditional wedding plus K-1 visa route even though we wanted to have a traditional wedding.

Edited January 29, 2010 by HoneyHummingbird

[Penguin_ie 5,996]

3 is not possible; if you want to file a spousal visa, you need to be legally married.

[Kanyiri 0]

3 is not possible; if you want to file a spousal visa, you need to be legally married.

This is not necesarily true for Nigeria. Based on past denials from Nigeria, if you want to have a traditional ceremony the consulate will see you as being married, so just make it fully legal and file for a spousal visa - they will liekly deny a fiance visa.

[kayj 0]

Since you have met your fiance 3 times (and I am sure you have a good amount of evidence) I personally would do #2 or #3. Many people seem to recommend against having a traditional wedding in Nigeria because it can be viewed by the consular as you were married and your ability to prove otherwise may be difficult given the lack of organization in the country. If you both are Nigerian, I have read that having a traditional wedding or formal engagement introduction is helpful to your case because of cultural reasons.

My fiance and I discussed these options as well and erred on the side of caution by deciding to not have a traditional wedding plus K-1 visa route even though we wanted to have a traditional wedding.

I approve this message... well said