Can I get married abroad (ceremony only) and then still come on K1 visa?

[Deema & Wayne 28]

Is it possible to get 'married' (just perform the marriage ceremony & have the reception) abroad, and not have any documentation signed abroad or anywhere, then enter the U.S. on the k1 visa and get married legally in the U.S. w/in the 90 day period? Is there any risk to doing this?

I think you answered your own question, keep it simple. It's a marriage ceremony. Papers aren't going to mean much whether you signed them or not. In a lot of cultures, the marriage isn't official until you have this marriage ceremony. What are you going to do if this question is asked at the interview? Say you had a marriage ceremony but didn't sign anything? Lying isn't even an option. USCIS deal with all kinds of cultures and they aren't clueless. You asked if it's possible, everyone has answered there's a risk. Believe them.

Edited February 7, 2014 by Deema & Wayne

[enlijoe 20]

OMG I was thinking about doing the same thing. Have a ceremony in China and register here is the US. Guess that is not such a good idea after all. Good thing to because Texas law says if you represent to people that you are married you are married even if you do not register it.

But you can always to the reverse. Have the official one in the US. Then go back to China and have another. That was our plan two when we figured out the timing doing in China first did not seam to be working out.

Good luck to you.

[Gosia & Tito 199]

How would immigration know if it is not recorded anywhere?

I know of people who catch running chainsaws thrown up in the air. They are taking a lower risk....

[cdneh 3,112]

There was a recent post here by someone, wish I could remember who. Too married for the K1, and not married enough for the CR1. Quite a pickle to find yourself in. Not a risk worth taking.

[visaqueries 111]

When my fiancé went in for his interview in December, the only thing that held the interviewer from approving us is he thought we were married. There are no records (because we aren't), there are no pictures (because there aren't any), yet he still believed we were married. He told my fiancé they would do some investigation, and if he did not find anything that supported us being married then he would "go forward with our visa." It took a little over a month for them to approve our visa, and I'm sure they could approve it because there was no evidence anywhere to support that we were married. Thank goodness for that!

Edited February 7, 2014 by visaqueries

[raven52 233]

As tempting as it is to satisfy, you and your family, (wheather it is husband or wife) after the grueling K-1, WHY, take a chance?

My wife came from the Philippines, and our engagement party in front of 300 people, made me very conscious, of our actions, a nice gathering of the family (families) and picnic.,.,. but please, do NOT take a chance on it, is a ceremony to apease someone's family, worth maybe as much as a year with a K-1, HOW would you like to start ALL over again?

Come back after you enter, and have your ceremony, even if it is a year later, sometimes, you need to put your fiance' and your future at risk?

[anna316 0]

Hey!

That's what my husband and I did. Ceremony in Germany while waiting on the K1, then legal wedding in the US after entering the States. Feel free to contact me.

Anna Katharina Symonds on Facebook.

[anna316 0]

And I did not have any problem entering the US. The border customs asked me if we already got married and I just told them we had a church ceremony but are not married legally / on the paper.

[D N Medellin COL 75]

Yes, quite a risk. Depends on the country. Denials happen for this often.

I agree. I have first hand experience of watching a train wreck like this with my old roomate 4 years ago, I tried to tell him whats up with concealing the fact that they had an elaborate wedding ceremony, BS, guess what? he thought too that he could out smart the dumb embassy southern folk with some smoth words, well here we sit 4 years later and guess what, blah blah blah no visa, no wify, no immigration for the "love of his life that he could not live another moment without".

Don't be so nieve to think that the embassy interviwer is dumb, OK so you think you can coach your fiancee on what to say and what not to say, what to reveal and what to be cleaver and hide, they will rip your fiancee a new a*s and deny your visa.

Carefull how you proceed!

[rocketman 6]

And I did not have any problem entering the US. The border customs asked me if we already got married and I just told them we had a church ceremony but are not married legally / on the paper.

If you have a church ceremony (marriage), why are you not considered married?

[quitepainful 56]

why risk it, just dont get married where ever you are and get married in the US... i mean why do it a@@ backwards?

[doug/sherry 26]

I don't know what it is about being older and paitence but all I can offer

you is some wisdom and experience here... I would follow the proper procedures

and then maybe at sometime you can return to the country of your fiance and

restate your vows. Thats our plan, because, if you get married in another

country regardless of what the ceremony was legal or not, it could be found

that you committed fraud. (possibly) This will get you a denial if found,

and it might prohibit you and your fiance from ever being together permanently

in the USA. If you want to get married over seas you can but you have to file

a I-130 and just because you get married doesn't mean it will be approved.

GOOD LUCK........

[Unknown Guest 15]

Actually, my fiancee already passed her K1 interview and has the K1 visa in HAND. We would just be having a wedding banquent/ceremony (no documents signed). The laws of her country, China, state that to be considered married, a couple must actually be issued a marriage certificate.

"Article 8 Both the man and the woman desiring to contract a marriage shall register in person with the marriage registration office. If the proposed marriage is found to conform with the provisions of this Law, the couple shall be allowed to register and issued marriage certificates. The husband and wife relationship shall be established as soon as they acquire the marriage certificates. In the absence of the marriage registration, the man and the woman shall go through the procedures subsequently. "

Also the "ceremony/banquet" would not be administered by a priest or any other form of religious clergy but just by an hired MC from the wedding company that I would pay to plan the party. We would also not have any photos placed online and will not be taking any photos with us on the plane. I know everyone thinks it is better just to wait, but her family refuses to let her come without having the ceremony there for "face". Any thoughts under this circumstance?

[christeen 966]

My thoughts do not change because of this circumstance. Seems you are saying that regardless of the advice given as to the possible issues, you are going tomdomthis anyways... So what does it matter what everyone says. You specifically asked if there was a risk... Yes, there is a risk. If you choose to ignore that risk, then that is the decision you have made. Changing circumstances and symantics does not mitigate the risk that clearly exists. Hopefully you will not have an issue but be prepared that you might. Then it will just be a matter of dealing with the consequences. But I wish you luck that you get away with your plan. For others considering this... Please rethink your plans and evaluate the visa you are getting as perhaps a spousal visa would be a better choice... Best of luck

[novedsac 355]

The laws of her country, China, state that to be considered married, a couple must actually be issued a marriage certificate

The laws of China are irrelevant. UCSIC interpretation is relevant.