Marry my Nigerian Fiance in Canada?

[DebbyNSeyi 15]

My Nigerian Fiance's K1 visa was denied and the petition is being sent back to the States.

Rather than going through the process of re-affirming the petition and risk the K1 being denied again, we've decided to get married and file a petition for him to join me via an IR-1 visa.

My question is this - Do we have to get married in Nigeria for the petition to be valid or can we get married in Canada (I live in NY only a 5 hour drive from Montreal) so my kids can attend the wedding? Will a Canadian marriage certificate be valid in filing a petition when he's called into the Lagos Embassy for an interview?

Thanks for any info that anyone may have

[pushbrk 12,883]

My Nigerian Fiance's K1 visa was denied and the petition is being sent back to the States.

Rather than going through the process of re-affirming the petition and risk the K1 being denied again, we've decided to get married and file a petition for him to join me via an IR-1 visa.

My question is this - Do we have to get married in Nigeria for the petition to be valid or can we get married in Canada (I live in NY only a 5 hour drive from Montreal) so my kids can attend the wedding? Will a Canadian marriage certificate be valid in filing a petition when he's called into the Lagos Embassy for an interview?

Thanks for any info that anyone may have

If your Nigerian fiance can get to Canada (big if generally) AND you can arrange to accomplish a marriage between two foreigners (another question entirely) they YES, married is married. However, "married" does not always overcome the issues that caused the K1 denial in the first place. Those must be understood clearly and effectively dealt with regardless.

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

Canada is just as difficult for Nigerians to get visa to. You may want to consider a visa free country.

[Amarachi's Wife 0]

You will file an I-130 form for a CR-1 visa (married less than 2 years). IR-1 visas are for people married longer than 2 years.

[DebbyNSeyi 15]

Canada is just as difficult for Nigerians to get visa to. You may want to consider a visa free country.

The reason we chose Canada was because I could drive there with my kids and they would be able to be present at my wedding. If it's going to be so difficult for him to get a tourist visa to Canada (does he still need a letter of invitation to go there even if he's just a tourist?), I might as well make another - the 5th - trip to Nigeria and do it there already.

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

I used to chat with a woman there with a Nigerian fiance and she couldn't get him a visitors visa.

here is the link to the requirements, Canadian visas

I think you are not going to get it but if you have the money to spare then try. Remember without a person he is visiting he will have to show more for his ability to pay for his vacation and even stronger ties to Nigeria.