Law prohibits - Using K1 Visa

[coffeelove 0]

A young Laotian woman cried, telling me that she was engaged in Laos to a US citizen who promised to love her forever, petitioned for her to come to the US as his fiancée, and promised to marry her as soon as she arrived in the US. They had a Laotian engagement ceremony in front of everyone in her village but could not get married because Laos law prohibits foreign men to marry Laotian women. A man was the first she ever loved, when she arrived in the US many months later, A man would not even take her call and told his friend to tell her that he had found someone else. So she has returned home immediately !!! and can not marry another man to obtain her stay by K1 Visa

If this is the true purpose, why does the Laos law allow engagement? What did the drafters of the Laos law expect that the couple would do after becoming engaged?

I know many countries allow to have wedding and apply for K3 Visa ! So this can not guarantee for K1 visa if THE LOVE IS NO LONGER FOREVER

[lost_at_sea 995]

Engagement is generally not a legally binding action. It's just a cultural phenomenon in most cases. Laos likely neither allows nor denies it, because it's a not a legal status.

[newlyweds2010 208]

Uhm, I don't think it has much to do with Laotian law, but rather with a relationship that didn't work. K-1 or K-3, he would have rejected her. By the way you phrase it, it sounds like her main purpose was to move to the US. But I certainly misinterpreted your words...

[Cathi 5,760]

you said "So she has returned home immediately !!! and can not marry another man to obtain her stay by K1 Visa"....

my questions....why would she want to marry another man if she loves this man so much? and why would she want to stay? and was she just looking for a way to the US? sure sounds iy by the way you phrased it

I don't understand this part of your post. Of course she cannot marry someone else,the visa was for her to marry him, not some other random person.

Edited June 19, 2013 by mimolicious

[lost_at_sea 995]

By the way you phrase it, it sounds like her main purpose was to move to the US. But I certainly misinterpreted your words...

From the OP: "and can not marry another man to obtain her stay by K1 Visa"

That line made me interpret it the same way you did, too. Saying that about someone makes it sound like they just wanted only to immigrate, rather than live with their beloved.

[aaron2020 11,651]

Engagement is not a legal status. Being engaged legally is no different from being boyfriend and girlfriend. There is no legal relationship between the two people. Their intent is to marry. They are free to change their mind. No one is legally forced to marry if he changes his mind.

You seem more intent on the ability for her to immigrate rather than having avoided a bad marriage with a man who does not love her.

Why does it matter that she can't marry another man with the K-1 visa? Why would she want to if the man who abandoned her is the only man she has ever loved? Why is she so quick to marry another man after losing her first and only love?

By the way, Laotian law has nothing to do with her situation. It seems you think things would have turns out better for her if they had gotten married in Laos and he petitioned her as a spouse. The result could have been a lot worse. It takes the same time to petition a fiancée or a spouse. He would still be free to pursue his new woman. She would get a conditional 2 years green card that she cannot remove the condition on for lack o a bona fide marriage, a cheating husband, and no support in the US.

Is immigrating to the US more important than an loyal husband?

Edited June 19, 2013 by aaron2020

[coffeelove 0]

I didn't meant to say she wants to stay in the U.S I just would like to say she needs to marry US citizen who filed the petition only and can not marry another man. Now she is not even to face her family and friends

[coffeelove 0]

I am sorry for my phrase ! But I meant that she can not do anything with this case

[lost_at_sea 995]

I didn't meant to say she wants to stay in the U.S I just would like to say she needs to marry US citizen who filed the petition only and can not marry another man. Now she is not even to face her family and friends

That's correct.

She can, of course, marry another man. She's not forever bound to the original petitioner, because engagement is not a legal contract.

She just can't marry another man in the USA now and expect to stay in the country, however.

[coffeelove 0]

I also put captial note in the end of my text that When THE LOVE IS NO LONGER FOREVER that's why this happen !

[aaron2020 11,651]

I also put captial note in the end of my text that When THE LOVE IS NO LONGER FOREVER that's why this happen !

Marriage has no guarantee that a love last forever.

This woman is lucky that she avoided marrying a cheating man.

I don't see why you dislike the Laotion law against a foreigner marrying in Laos. What does the law have to do with making love forever? Didn't this law save this woman from a cheating husband?

[coffeelove 0]

I didn't dislike the Laos Law ! I have to thank you the Laos Law instead because this can help me and my fiancée to get marry soon in US.. We are now counting to our 8 years of love !

This post just wat to show 2 things , one my poor to her and second is about my wondering about law ! If the law can protect people in this kind of suituation, I am happy with them !

I Just really pity her ! As she is young and not brave enough to face her friends and family and I also did not support her to marry another guy too ! My phrase is a bit interrupted and misspell - sorry for that to all commentator

[DavidLovesPheap 6]

That's sad. My fiancee is from Cambodia, and the culture is similar, particularly with love, etc. In my travels to-and-from Cambodia, I had broken a lot of Cambodian girls' hearts until I met my fiancee. Americans and Cambodians, (and I'm assuming Americans and Laotians) have different attitudes about love. In those cultures like Cambodian and Laotian, most girls only have a single person they ever love and marry. Americans tend to date around, and don't generally commit easily. I had the courage to tell the other girls that I would not marry them and they should move on, but I know some guys that don't, they lead a girl on for different reasons, and then hope to just leave and forget about them.

In the case of my fiancee, I had to be 100% sure she was the right one for me before I confessed any feelings and before we caled eachother so much as boyfriend or girlfriend. And now we are so close to getting married, I am so happy!

I am so sorry and sad for your friend. I hope her heart can heal and she can move on and find someone who will love her forever.

~David

[ConGau1981 56]

That's sad. My fiancee is from Cambodia, and the culture is similar, particularly with love, etc. In my travels to-and-from Cambodia, I had broken a lot of Cambodian girls' hearts until I met my fiancee. Americans and Cambodians, (and I'm assuming Americans and Laotians) have different attitudes about love. In those cultures like Cambodian and Laotian, most girls only have a single person they ever love and marry. Americans tend to date around, and don't generally commit easily. I had the courage to tell the other girls that I would not marry them and they should move on, but I know some guys that don't, they lead a girl on for different reasons, and then hope to just leave and forget about them.

In the case of my fiancee, I had to be 100% sure she was the right one for me before I confessed any feelings and before we caled eachother so much as boyfriend or girlfriend. And now we are so close to getting married, I am so happy!

I am so sorry and sad for your friend. I hope her heart can heal and she can move on and find someone who will love her forever.

~David

What he said !!

[TBoneTX 45,365]

*** Thread moved from K-1 Process forum to General Immigration Discussion -- topic is about cultural and other issues beyond the K-1 process itself. ***