K-1 "legal marriage" question!!!!

[LionessDeon 2,060]

Wish I has $1 for every one of these posts I've seen. If the alien Fiance(e) wants to marry in their home country then a CR1 route should've been done. The requirements of the K1 are clear. It seems sometimes people want the best of both worlds. ?

Rant over.

[Cyberfx1024 7,980]

Wish I has $1 for every one of these posts I've seen. If the alien Fiance(e) wants to marry in their home country then a CR1 route should've been done. The requirements of the K1 are clear. It seems sometimes people want the best of both worlds. ?

Rant over.

Totally agree. What gets me are the people that come here as a tourist and "all of a sudden want to get married" and then adjust status. What they don't realize is that makes it that much harder for someone else to get a tourist visa. Go through it the right and legal way either through a K1 or CR1 visa.

[raven52 233]

This is a very "grey area" for some counties..,.,but for USCIS.,it is not ""grey"" but white or black.,.,either you had a marriage ceremony or you did not.

I would not risk it after a difficult K-1 visa journey.

[Transborderwife 4,666]

Totally agree. What gets me are the people that come here as a tourist and "all of a sudden want to get married" and then adjust status. What they don't realize is that makes it that much harder for someone else to get a tourist visa. Go through it the right and legal way either through a K1 or CR1 visa.

As said many times, aos is perfectly right and legal. If it was t, it wouldn't be allowed. Aos itself doesn't make it harder overstay does Edited October 8, 2015 by Transborderwife

[Mike-eeh and Odie 193]

So long as you don't take pictures and put it up on any social media, app, or text, by all means. However, be warned, unofficial or not, you will have the burden of proving it was not official. Furthermore, the USCIS has been known to deny K-1 visas for being unmarried, but "too married," in their eyes due to "unofficial" wedding ceremonies. I would not risk it.

[naire37 53]

People on this forum have been refused K1 visa before for "unofficial marriage ceremony" pics from Facebook showing bride in white dress & groom in a suit - and yes, USCIS can google you and look you up on Facebook. We all want to share the wedding with the family of our loved ones, and with K1 it's almost impossible to get their family visas in time for the marriage - I know how you feel. However, unofficial ceremony is definitely risky.

I suggest doing a small civil ceremony here and then maybe a larger reception at your wife's home country to make everyone happy.

[Mike-eeh and Odie 193]

As said many times, aos is perfectly right and legal. If it was t, it wouldn't be allowed. Aos itself doesn't make it harder overstay does

AoS on a tourist visa is a legal loophole; one I hope will one day be addressed.

Edited October 8, 2015 by Mike-eeh and Odie

[Transborderwife 4,666]

AoS on a tourist visa is a legal loophole; one I hope will one day be addressed.

Point is it's still legal and appears to be here to stay unless major immigration reform happens.

OP as others have stated be careful of the pictures. Any wedding attire whatsoever could spell out trouble

[templeton 120]

AoS on a tourist visa is a legal loophole; one I hope will one day be addressed.

Awesome. Most would agree. It also has nothing to do with this thread, so why do you insist on derailing it?

[Jrozzler 17]

Good info guys! I would rather not risk it as well . Now somone wh has gotten a k1 tell me why you went that route instead of getting married and doing a Cr1? Now that I've done more research, Cr1 seems more logical

[templeton 120]

Both have their advantages and disadvantages. You'll have to weigh them for your own situation.

The biggest advantage to the K-1 for us was that you start your life together upon your arrival with the K-1. Biggest disadvantage is obviously you have to then start the AOS process once you're married. It takes a few months before you can work and travel.

With the CR-1 you get married, but since it gives your spouse no immediate legal status in the US, they must return to their home country until the process is complete. Being apart for a year (give or take) didn't seem like a great way to start a marriage to us. The big advantage though, is that your spouse is a conditional permanent resident on arrival, so no waiting to work and travel.

At least being from Canada makes it much easier to visit during whichever process you choose.