Long Wait Times and Foreign Weddings

[Zeeshanish 9]

After reading this topic; http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/470752-traditional-marriage-as-ongoing-relationship-evidence/

What i was wondering, is it not allowed to have a farewell party/traditional event back at your Foreign Fiances country just before coming to USA for wedding?

Some people are clearly misunderstanding the fact between a traditional wedding type events and a real legal registered wedding. I am pretty sure USICIS Co's aren't unreasonable or stupid and if you are able to explain to them that the reason behind this event was to give last bid to his family and friends in his Country.

What i'd like to know what is the distinction between having a farewell party to traditional wedding to a point where it can get you denied?

Me and My Fiance would like to have a farewell event in his Home Country, nothing official but i will be wearing a traditional dress just for the hell of it and i was wondering if it puts our status in any kind of Danger?

Please any response and expertise in this area would be deeply appreciated.

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

_{Anything that gives cause for them to believe that you did not qualify for the visa you were given can result in the revocation of all benefits gained. Is it worth it ?}

[Babe18 4]

as long as you will not have any record that you are married i think you won't have any problems.. but it would be better to be careful not to mislead the CO that you already got married by showing them your pics of the ceremony (if any)..

[Zeeshanish 9]

_{Anything that gives cause for them to believe that you did not qualify for the visa you were given can result in the revocation of all benefits gained. Is it worth it ?}

It's not about if its worth it or not but a event that we as a couple want to hold for his family and friends and its not economically viable to do after getting married in the USA. Also the fact that we'd have to wait until he gets his green card etc.

One more thing is it even better to hold this event after we have recieved our K1 visa?

[Sarah Elle-Même 660]

First off, after the petition is approved, you are no longer dealing with USCIS - you will be dealing with the Department of State.

Secondly, is your fiance from the UAE or elsewhere? Your "farewell" party sounds a lot like a nikkah (traditional dress?, being concerned by the thread you referenced?). If it really is just a farewell party then go for it. If it's a ceremony of any kind I personally wouldn't risk it, even after receiving the visa. You are spending months (or in my case will be years) trying to bring your loved one to the US - why chance mucking it up for a party? Your fiance doesn't have to wait for his green card to go home, only Advanced Parole, which usually comes within 90 days of AOS filing.

[Tayri n Tudert 11]

If it is a farewell party, I'd make it very obviously so! So to me that means not wearing a dress that resembles a traditional wedding dress (maybe picking something still traditional but not wedding traditional if that makes sense? like my fiance is Moroccan so I'd wear a pretty kaftan that I'd maybe wear TO a wedding or formal event/holiday not FOR my wedding... so not a specific wedding kaftan/takchita) , not signing a contract, not cutting a wedding type cake, or receiving anything that resembles a dowry so it's not confused with a wedding, nikkah, etc, not having a traditional wedding-type gathering. & instead having something casual with maybe banners that say "Good luck!" or "Farewell!" or "Congrats on your engagement".

I understand the want to have something for the family and friends abroad that won't be able to attend the wedding, I really do. Because my future in-laws won't be able to attend my wedding either and it really tears at your heart a bit and you want to do something to kind of ease the bittersweet feeling a bit. I don't think there's nothing wrong with having a farewell party but I wouldn't do go for anything misconstrued as a wedding.

Ultimately, it's up to you. So if you want to do it, I'd say go for it but be smart as possible about it don't put the photos in your petition or on facebook/social networking site unless you very firmly state that it's a late engagement party or farewell party and really stomach the possible consequences!

[baron555 934]

Parties and dinners are fine.

[aaron2020 11,651]

After reading this topic; http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/470752-traditional-marriage-as-ongoing-relationship-evidence/

I am pretty sure USICIS Co's aren't unreasonable or stupid and if you are able to explain to them that the reason behind this event was to give last bid to his family and friends in his Country.

This is a big assumption -- expecting the US government not to be unreasonable or stupid. But sometimes people bring it upon themselves by ignoring the advice not to have a traditional marriage ceremony in the home country before arriving in the US on the K-1 visa.

Many people think that it is okay to get marry in the home country after getting the K-1 and before going to the US.

Anything that looks like a duck and quack like a duck will be treated as a duck. So, anything that looks like a wedding will be treated as a wedding. That's how the US government treats these situations.

A farewell party is okay. Just don't put her in anything that looks like a traditional wedding dress (outfit).

[clairegie 265]

Me and My Fiance would like to have a farewell event in his Home Country, nothing official but i will be wearing a traditional dress just for the hell of it and i was wondering if it puts our status in any kind of Danger?

I am sure you will look equally radiant in another less traditional dress. Do you plan on showing pictures of this event during your interview?

Edited December 16, 2013 by iammrsregi

[Zeeshanish 9]

I am sure you will look equally radiant in another less traditional dress. Do you plan on showing pictures of this event during your interview?

No i don't plan to show them at interview or anything else but still i wouldn't want to confuse them!

edit: and yes my fiance is from UAE and we're planning to do a huge dinner party for the close family and nothing else, do yall think it will be a problem?

Edited December 16, 2013 by Zeeshanish

[Cathi 5,771]

This is a big assumption -- expecting the US government not to be unreasonable or stupid. But sometimes people bring it upon themselves by ignoring the advice not to have a traditional marriage ceremony in the home country before arriving in the US on the K-1 visa.

Many people think that it is okay to get marry in the home country after getting the K-1 and before going to the US.

Anything that looks like a duck and quack like a duck will be treated as a duck. So, anything that looks like a wedding will be treated as a wedding. That's how the US government treats these situations.

A farewell party is okay. Just don't put her in anything that looks like a traditional wedding dress (outfit).

A friend of mine from another MENA country was just denied a visa for this very reason. They had what they called an engagement party and she was in a traditional dress,her fiance's visa was denied because they had no proof they weren't married.Her justification was that they would be a "shame" for the family if they didn't go through with it. Well now they have to start all over again. In my opinion she should have said no to the family or waited and filed for a spouse visa. They wasted an entire year.There is a fine line between an engagement ceremony and a wedding in MENA countries. If the CO even suspects there was any type of religious ceremony it is reason for a denial. Tread caefully

[Zeeshanish 9]

A friend of mine from another MENA country was just denied a visa for this very reason. They had what they called an engagement party and she was in a traditional dress,her fiance's visa was denied because they had no proof they weren't married.Her justification was that they would be a "shame" for the family if they didn't go through with it. Well now they have to start all over again. In my opinion she should have said no to the family or waited and filed for a spouse visa. They wasted an entire year.There is a fine line between an engagement ceremony and a wedding in MENA countries. If the CO even suspects there was any type of religious ceremony it is reason for a denial. Tread caefully

What if we dont show them any Pictures of the event? Do you think it'll be a safer option?

[baron555 934]

After reading this topic; http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/470752-traditional-marriage-as-ongoing-relationship-evidence/

What i was wondering, is it not allowed to have a farewell party/traditional event back at your Foreign Fiances country just before coming to USA for wedding?

Some people are clearly misunderstanding the fact between a traditional wedding type events and a real legal registered wedding. I am pretty sure USICIS Co's aren't unreasonable or stupid and if you are able to explain to them that the reason behind this event was to give last bid to his family and friends in his Country.

What i'd like to know what is the distinction between having a farewell party to traditional wedding to a point where it can get you denied?

Me and My Fiance would like to have a farewell event in his Home Country, nothing official but i will be wearing a traditional dress just for the hell of it and i was wondering if it puts our status in any kind of Danger?

Please any response and expertise in this area would be deeply appreciated.

And many folks seem to not understand that any type of "official-looking" wedding celebration, regardless if it is legal or not, runs them the risk of a denial of the K-1 visa. I'm amazed at the number that try this very risky behavior. Having a celebration dinner or party is just fine, but they want to push it further than that. I have no sympathy to those who do so and are denied.

[baron555 934]

It's not about if its worth it or not but a event that we as a couple want to hold for his family and friends and its not economically viable to do after getting married in the USA. Also the fact that we'd have to wait until he gets his green card etc.

One more thing is it even better to hold this event after we have recieved our K1 visa?

No, waiting until after the K-1 is issued runs you the same risk at AOS, or ROC or at Naturalization....you can end of being denied any of those, and at worst run the risk of deportation and/or a ban for visa fraud if discovered later. Don't do it.

[SparklePony 238]

And many folks seem to not understand that any type of "official-looking" wedding celebration, regardless if it is legal or not, runs them the risk of a denial of the K-1 visa. I'm amazed at the number that try this very risky behavior. Having a celebration dinner or party is just fine, but they want to push it further than that. I have no sympathy to those who do so and are denied.

Many of the cases I've seen where this happened were due to ignorance on the effect that such behavior would have on the visa process. People did what they thought was best, was customary to that country, not knowing how it would look like later on. Even though CO's supposedly are to take local customs into account, the fact is many simply don't.