Have a spiritual marry before K-1, will it cause any trouble?

[VanessaTony 3,567]

Looks like the original question has been answered but let me put a different twist on it and see what is recommended.

Let’s say couple #1 has a spiritual service or maybe even a "real" service but never files the papers with the government. The papers are later destroyed. There is no paper record of the event only the couple and the witnesses who were present know of it.

Question 1: Should Couple #1 file spouse visa even though they cannot prove they are married. All the government and personal records say they are both single and never married.

Question 2: What if couple #1 separate and the women meets someone new and becomes couple #2. Couple #1 did not get a divorce because as far as the government is concerned they were never married. So now couple #2 file K1, Do they mention the first non registered marriage of couple #1 or just ignore it?

If you don't submit the papers to the government or marital governing body to have the wedding registered you're not married.

1. Not actually married

2. Wedding #1 was just a party, it wasn't official. Doesn't count. No need for divorce. You don't mention ex-partner's and that's all #1 was.

That said.. when immigration is involved those situations can get messy. They need just one sniff that you might be really married and they can call it all off while you jump through hoops to prove the wedding isn't legal. Some countries the court wedding IS legal but that's because it IS registered somewhere.

So, depends on the country but usually the answers above are correct.

[Nate & Gladys 0]

BTW, another thread on the same topic, with some interesting info posted recently... http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/331197-non-legal-religious-wedding-before-k1-visa/