legally married?

[Kez/JWolf 6]

Well I guess if you can live with yourself knowing that you are holding back information that could have an impact on your immigration to the US then fine.... All I know is that if you are found out it can have consequences far beyond just the AOS interview.

Penalties.

If you knowingly and willfully falsify or conceal a materialfact or submit a false document with this request, we willdeny the benefit you are seeking and may deny any other immigration benefit. In addition, you will face severe penalties provided by law and may be subject to criminal prosecution.

Form I-485 Instructions (Rev. 07/24/06)Y Page 6

Just to remind you what you agreed to when you signed the I-485....

Kezzie

[Yodrak 7]

andrewwynn,

Priests and ministers really like that, being told in no uncertain terms that the sacrament they are presiding over is only for show!

Yodrak

... you would want to make it clear with the priest/minister that that 'wedding' is only for show.. ....

-awr

[Peter Miami 0]

I can not believe someone going through this process would jeopardize being in the U.S. with their wife. This is a big gamble and I would not take that risk.

I had a civil wedding in the U.S. and in summer of 2007 I am going back to my wife’s country of Colombia and have a Catholic Church wedding with all her family and friends.

Can you not do something like this?

Peter Miami

[Yodrak 7]

rob&ana,

I think that's exactly the point - what to tell to who. There's more than 1 way to 'tell' someone that you're married - the wearing of wedding rings, for example, is intended tell the world that you're married is it not?

And there's more than CBP at the POE to contend with - there's USCIS at both the petition stage and the adjustment stage.

- I know of a poster several years ago who volunteered photos of his non-legal religious wedding ceremony with his I-129f petition on the belief that it was strong evidence of the sincerety of the relationship. He was right, the adjudicator was sufficiently convinced that the fellow was RFE'd for proof that he wasn't married already.

- There was a VJ poster earlier today asking if it wouldn't be better (more convincing) to show the adjustment of status interviewer photos of her big fancy non-legal wedding prior to getting her K1 visa than photos of her small plain legal wedding after arrival.

Some people just don't recognize a double-edge sword even as they are falling on it. Such people should not buy and carry swords.

Yodrak

....

I still dont see how at the POE they are going to know that you had a religious ceremony, unless you tell them, and I believe that the question is not commonly asked. It's not like you're going to carry pictures in your hands while you're going through customs.

.....

Edited October 17, 2006 by Yodrak

[Peter Miami 0]

rob&ana,

I think that's exactly the point - what to tell to who. There's more than 1 way to 'tell' someone that you're married - the wearing of wedding rings, for example, is intended tell the world that you're married is it not?

And there's more than CBP at the POE to contend with - there's USCIS at both the petition stage and the adjustment stage.

- I know of a poster several years ago who volunteered photos of his non-legal religious wedding ceremony with his I-129f petition on the belief that it was strong evidence of the sincerety of the relationship. He was right, the adjudicator was sufficiently convinced that the fellow was RFE'd for proof that he wasn't married already.

- There was a VJ poster earlier today asking if it wouldn't be better (more convincing) to show the adjustment of status interviewer photos of her big fancy non-legal wedding prior to getting her K1 visa than photos of her small plain legal wedding after arrival.

Some people just don't recognize a double-edge sword even as they are falling on it. Such people should not buy and carry swords.

Yodrak

....

I still dont see how at the POE they are going to know that you had a religious ceremony, unless you tell them, and I believe that the question is not commonly asked. It's not like you're going to carry pictures in your hands while you're going through customs.

.....

Very true Yodrak, I agree.

Peter Miami

[raffyusa 0]

Here's a tricky one!! When I started my petition for the I-129F we picked a wedding day in her country (Brazil). That day is coming quickly. The petition was approved & is in the consular's office now. We want to get married in Brazil (just a church ceremony) before she actually gets the K-1 visa, then get legally married here in the USA. The marriage would not be a legal marriage in Brazil since there will be no marriage license or marriage certificate issued. It would not be a LEGAL marriage here in the USA either until we get married here...I'm assuming!! The U.S.A. State Department defines a spouse as: a person LEGALLY married to another. We certainly would not be common law husband & Wife. Could OR WILL the US government give us any problems since we had a marriage ceremony before she comes into the USA even though there was no marriage license issued. Keep in mind I spoke with an attorney friend of mine in Brazil & he assures me it would not be a legal marriage in Brazil. I would think if they did give us a problem for having a church ceremony in Brazil this would violate the USA's Separation Of Church & State policy. The whole reason for doing this is so we can save money on plane tickets.

CAM13 you are fine as long the religious ceremony has NO civil/legal effects. However I will not volunteer this information to the embassy. They might be confused and they might not understand what you did.

[john_and_marlene 162]

I understand your points, but also understand the immigrant's position. Where in most cases, the family has no visa nor economic means to assist to a wedding in the US.

Then get married there and apply for CR1/K3.

[I'm Gone 60]

Well quite a few long time VJ members (me included) and a former immigration officer says don't do it.

"Fools go where wise men fear to tread."

[andrewwynn 0]

i was very happy to have stumbled into a 'better way'.. as luck seems to be on my side.. that i won't be tempted to 'go that route'.. it would just be exceptionally weird being in this state of limbo between married in the churches' view but not the governments' view.

As far as a local wedding. you could certainly have an identical reception to a wedding and even have a wedding-like ceremony without vows that is clearly not regarded even by the church as a wedding.. like a very fancy engagement of sorts.. it will get you the 'feeling' of the wedding for family and not get you into trouble visa-wise.

-awr

[TucsonBill 0]

I plan on doing the exact same thing, having a non binding ceremony in Thailand, then doing the legal wedding in the USA. I don't see any problem, and we're advertising - hehe! I even spelled it out quite clearly in my paperwork I have submitted for my I129F that we will have a ceremony ONLY in Bangkok, not a legal marriage, and then have a legal marrage when we come to the USA. I check the laws of Thailand carefully and a religious ceremony is not a legal wedding, so I figure we're fine. On the other hand, I dont have my NOA2 yet, so we'll see. I agree it's wise to be careful, but I have been up front about it, told USCIS our plans, and if they try to deny me, (which I cannot imagine them doing), I'll fight it. We'll see.

Bill

Edited October 18, 2006 by TucsonBill

[sophyie 0]

I wouldn't want to arrive at my POE and KNOW that there is something I'm not "supposed" to tell the officers.

Never.

But then- I'm easy to scare

[rob&ana 0]

I can not believe someone going through this process would jeopardize being in the U.S. with their wife. This is a big gamble and I would not take that risk.

I had a civil wedding in the U.S. and in summer of 2007 I am going back to my wife’s country of Colombia and have a Catholic Church wedding with all her family and friends.

Can you not do something like this?

Peter Miami

Not everyone has the opportunity to do this. Once you are getting on with your life (jobs, new house, children, etc), it can become very hard to even plan a visit to the 'home country.

Then get married there and apply for CR1/K3.

And wait longer? Again, maybe because I am the immigrant, and in the midst of things all you really want is to be with your loved one, so you want the 'process' to be quick, you dont really think about ceremonies. As an immigrant I left everything behind, all you bring here is your memories, why not add that experience?? sharing with your family a celebration of your love, sharing with your family one of your 'big' moments? Maybe I am just a romantic. And if it were the other way around, I would've done something so all of Rob's family and friends could've celebrated our union with us.

rob&ana,

I think that's exactly the point - what to tell to who. There's more than 1 way to 'tell' someone that you're married - the wearing of wedding rings, for example, is intended tell the world that you're married is it not?

And there's more than CBP at the POE to contend with - there's USCIS at both the petition stage and the adjustment stage.

- I know of a poster several years ago who volunteered photos of his non-legal religious wedding ceremony with his I-129f petition on the belief that it was strong evidence of the sincerety of the relationship. He was right, the adjudicator was sufficiently convinced that the fellow was RFE'd for proof that he wasn't married already.

- There was a VJ poster earlier today asking if it wouldn't be better (more convincing) to show the adjustment of status interviewer photos of her big fancy non-legal wedding prior to getting her K1 visa than photos of her small plain legal wedding after arrival.

Some people just don't recognize a double-edge sword even as they are falling on it. Such people should not buy and carry swords.

Yodrak

I understand your point also, but see... these are people that dont understand what the heck they are doing!

The OP is clear that this 'could' be a problem with the USCIS, he is trying to find a way to make this work out. I would think (now, I know I might be just be an optimistic), that if he doesnt, he's got two options, either not do it or do it and pretend it never happen (as in, not wearing rings, not calling each other husband and wife, not using these pictures as part of their evidence for AOS). And yes Kezzie, I would pretty much sleep well all night long knowing that I am hiding information from the USCIS, since it's not criminal to have a wedding ceremony that would not be considered legal.

Again, I am NOT saying that people should go ahead and get married in their home countries. I am just flabbergasted at other posters acting like this is such a huge sin. I tend to put my self in other's people's shoes. I am blessed that my family has visited me several times during this year that I could not travel home due to lack of AP and now because I am working and I dont have vacation days to go back. I know that people from 3rd world countries have tons of problems getting tourist visas, and I know that AOS processes are not quick, so that leaves the immigrant practically 'stranded' for at least 6 months, having the memory of a ceremony would certainly be pretty neat, since you're missing out on lots of things happening to your family and your family is missing out on lots of things happening in yours.

Maybe I am just a "Momma's girl" and I cherish the moments I share with my family, and I'll stand by what I initially posted, if I could do it again. I would definitely have a ceremony back home before coming here, because then all my family would know 'first hand' what a wonderful man I've married.

Ana

[john_and_marlene 162]

Then get married there and apply for CR1/K3.

And wait longer?

There are advantages and disadvantages to any choice. It's possible that you can't have everything and will have to set some priorities. My reasoning is that any safe choice outweighs the possibility of being turned away at the POE.

[rob&ana 0]

Then get married there and apply for CR1/K3.

And wait longer?

There are advantages and disadvantages to any choice. It's possible that you can't have everything and will have to set some priorities. My reasoning is that any safe choice outweighs the possibility of being turned away at the POE.

And my reasoning, is that you dont have to tell them at POE.

[zyggy 9]

And my reasoning is that you can still slip up somehow at some point in time...