file K1 now or after the ceremony

[vyx 1]

Hello all,

Long story short: I met my fiancé 1st trip, and recently came back for 2nd trip. I’m going back in 6 months with my parents to do the ceremony. Should I go ahead and file the K1 paperwork now? Or wait after the ceremony? Any thoughts would be appreciated.

vyx

[SF2007 48]

If by ceremony you mean wedding, then before. K-1 is exclusively a FIANCE visa. If you marry before or during your application, it voids the visa and you need to re apply for the appropriate visa. And it will most likely be not be even transferred to a foreign consulate within 6 months let along issued.

Either delay the wedding until your fiance receives an approved K-1 or file for a spouse visa after you both are married.

Good luck!

[Kevin and 10]

Hello all,

Long story short: I met my fiancé 1st trip, and recently came back for 2nd trip. I’m going back in 6 months with my parents to do the ceremony. Should I go ahead and file the K1 paperwork now? Or wait after the ceremony? Any thoughts would be appreciated.

vyx

I think most here would be in agreement to wait until after your engagement ceremony to file your petition.

[kzielu 1,149]

Save yourself bother - do not file at all - any wedding ceremony will invalidate your K-1 petition. K-1 visa is for a foreign fiance(e) to enter US and get married there.

[Anh map 2,098]

Save yourself bother - do not file at all - any wedding ceremony will invalidate your K-1 petition. K-1 visa is for a foreign fiance(e) to enter US and get married there.

The OP is referring to the engagement ceremony which is a HUGE deal at the HCMC consulate. A Vietnam specific event.

Your timeline sounds similar to ours. 2 visits, begin K1, back for Dam Hoi, then interview. The most important thing is showing a bona fide relationship. You can front load your petition and then bring evidence of the engagement ceremony to the interview.

[vyx 1]

The OP is referring to the engagement ceremony which is a HUGE deal at the HCMC consulate. A Vietnam specific event.

Your timeline sounds similar to ours. 2 visits, begin K1, back for Dam Hoi, then interview. The most important thing is showing a bona fide relationship. You can front load your petition and then bring evidence of the engagement ceremony to the interview.

Yes, thanks for the response. I was referring to Dam Hoi.

[fred n Dao Honey 0]

You can file K-1 then have the Dam Hoi. If I had waited my oldest stepson would be in VN instead of here attending a university. You only need to proove a relationship. In VN culture the Dam Hoi is a must. For the Consulate it is a must, they really don't care when it happens as long as you have one prior to the interview. Having Relatives come to attend your Dam Hoi is a very big plus. Hire a Photographer and take a lot of pictures. Make sure your Fiance knows every person in the photos. Make sure she learns everything about you. Info such as Job title, type of car, home address, Age, birth date, your mother, sister, brother, children, nieces, friends. VN consulate will ask her to proove she knows you, hence proove a relationship. Start now before you have to cram the info at the last days before interview. Good luck.

[ScottThuy 140]

Hello all,

Long story short: I met my fiancé 1st trip, and recently came back for 2nd trip. I'm going back in 6 months with my parents to do the ceremony. Should I go ahead and file the K1 paperwork now? Or wait after the ceremony? Any thoughts would be appreciated.

vyx

Neither Fred nor I waited and we both got stck in AP.. IMO best to wait a bit now and get everything neat and clean and ready b4 filing

[Hot Vit Lon 7]

Hello all,

Long story short: I met my fiancé 1st trip, and recently came back for 2nd trip. I’m going back in 6 months with my parents to do the ceremony. Should I go ahead and file the K1 paperwork now? Or wait after the ceremony? Any thoughts would be appreciated.

vyx

The way you rushed telling your "love story", I can tell the ingenuity of it.

How long in between the 2 trips so far? It'd be no good if the first was back in July, then came back the following month (August) and then next month for the Engagement.

Then the C/O would think you're a bunny on Super Viagra.

Slow down buddy and don't let her rush you on your "Bachelor" game. Wait at least 1.5 years from start (initial meeting) to finish (filing the petition).

If you speak Vnese, "tu tu de cho tinh yeu len men mot chut da"!!!!!

Edited September 7, 2011 by Hot Vit Lon

[jac_chappin 24]

OP - We had the Dam Hoi after I submitted k-1 application and we didn't have any problems. My fiancee got here 9/2/11. If you can, you should wait after Dam Hoi so you can send pictures, engagement ring, and Dam Hoi receipts.

This will ensure a much cleaner process.

Best wishes!

[JimVaPhuong 4,863]

I waited until after the third trip and the Dam Hoi before sending the petition. I included pics from the ceremony and party with the petition. The K1 interview lasted less than two minutes and consisted of four questions, including "Do you speak English?".

Patience is a virtue. In this process, it pays off in spades!

[luckytxn 2,264]

I would suggest to wait till after the ceremony and return. Do not rush too much. While there take many pics of you both on different days and in different outfits. Take many pics the Dam Hoi. The object here is to to receive a Visa and rushing may get the visa but the odds go up that a blue slip is likely. Take time and do this right.

[Mozzer1972 7]

You might want to wait to file until after the Dam Hoi so that you can front load the petition with lots of photos from the Dam Hoi. It's a pretty big deal at HCMC. My fiance and I didn't have a big formal Dam Hoi and I was stressing about that big time as her interview approached. However, it never came up at her interview... but we received a blue slip for some other nonsense (relationship timeline, 10 year residency).

Anyway, best of luck!