(not legal) wedding ceremony prior to K1 visa interview

[dwarfer 10]

Thanks for your advice baron555. Much appreciated.

As noted above, we are planning, but haven't undertaken nor booked a 'wedding party'.

Hence why I'm asking advice on here before taking any further steps.

And at the risk of stating the obvious, I would not lie to immigration - nothing is worth jeopardizing my relationship over.

At the end of the day, we want the same as everyone else...to be together in the most reasonable amount of time possible.

Ah...the joys of immigration.

[russandraquel 86]

"Guys, it was just a theater production. I was playing the role of the groom, and she was playing the role of the bride. Father Rory was playing a priest. Those flowers were all fake, too."

[LionessDeon 2,060]

DISCLAIMER: Sorry long time member here I read ALOT of threads!

I wish I had $1 for everytime I saw one of these posts. I could cut and paste 100 links to threads just like this one. I don't know about anyone else, but this visa journey has been the most stressful, difficult thing I've ever done. The last thing on my mind is to risk a denial/refusal for any reason. Go to the Ghana forum and read how many people have been denied for "knocking ceremonies". Others denied for engagement parties that look like weddings or were confused for weddings. African Sub-Sahara forum where VJers were denied because their fiance brought gifts and drinks to in laws.

OP is it worth risking a denial? Is this "fake" wedding ceremony worth not having your loved one here with you? Why, Why risk it?

Edited April 21, 2016 by LionessDeon

[baron555 934]

Thanks for your advice baron555. Much appreciated.

As noted above, we are planning, but haven't undertaken nor booked a 'wedding party'.

Hence why I'm asking advice on here before taking any further steps.

And at the risk of stating the obvious, I would not lie to immigration - nothing is worth jeopardizing my relationship over.

At the end of the day, we want the same as everyone else...to be together in the most reasonable amount of time possible.

Ah...the joys of immigration.

Glad you've not taking offence to mine or other's comments on your thoughts.

Problem is you've already called it a wedding ceremony or wedding party.

It is OK to have a farewell party, but to dress like it is a wedding, to have decorations like a wedding, to stand up in front of folks and pretend to exchange vows...regardless of legality, if the Embassy decides it is wedding enough, then they can declare you as married.

Assuming you don't get a permanent ban because you try to pull a fast one, your worst case is you wait the 5-10 months for the K-1, get denied at the interview, then wait another year for the CR-1 visa.

Personally you have to decide whether your family and friends can wait until you are able to return to have a ceremony with them or if they can not, then you get married now and do the CR-1.

[dwarfer 10]

DISCLAIMER: Sorry long time member here

I wish I had $1 for everytime I saw one of these posts. I could cut and paste 100 links to threads just like this one. I don't know about anyone else, but this visa journey has been the most stressful, difficult thing I've ever done. The last thing on my mind is to risk a denial/refusal for any reason. Go to the Ghana forum and read how many people have been denied for "knocking ceremonies". Others denied for engagement parties that look like weddings or were confused for weddings. African Sub-Sahara forum where VJers were denied because their fiance brought gifts and drinks to in laws.

OP is it worth risking a denial? Is this "fake" wedding ceremony worth not having your loved one here with you? Why, Why risk it?

"Guys, it was just a theater production. I was playing the role of the groom, and she was playing the role of the bride. Father Rory was playing a priest. Those flowers were all fake, too."

Thanks for your advice baron555. Much appreciated.

As noted above, we are planning, but haven't undertaken nor booked a 'wedding party'.

Hence why I'm asking advice on here before taking any further steps.

And at the risk of stating the obvious, I would not lie to immigration - nothing is worth jeopardizing my relationship over.

At the end of the day, we want the same as everyone else...to be together in the most reasonable amount of time possible.

Ah...the joys of immigration.

As I've said - thank you to you all for your replies (which I value, hence asking the question on this forum), and I refer to my previous response highlighted above.

I will investigate a family 'get-together' to celebrate our engagement, instead. It will be at least a couple of years until I return home and it is possible that some of my relatives might pass away in that time....so, I would like to celebrate something with them before I leave, and also for my fiance to meet my extended family.

[russandraquel 86]

FWIW (My post was a total joke - hence the fake flowers and quotation marks)

[Boiler 45,493]

We are talking about Australia and I do not remember seeing anybody have such an issue, never seen one from the UK either.

Asia and Africa, yes, but that is where the legalities can be complicated.

Having said that stop calling something a wedding if it is not, avoid the dressing up and do not submit photos as evidence.

No harm having a party.

[Chris and ZhiJia 146]

We chose to do this route for the sake of her family, since they would not be able to come to the US to attend a wedding here. We kept everything very private, and in family, nothing was shared on any form of social media, and even after the ceremony we referred to each other as fiancee. This was 100% a ceremony and not a wedding, no paperwork was signed, no legal minister performed the ceremony.

All of the photos were kept within the family, and stored digitally. No photos were presented to USCIS or the Embassy.

Her interview was on 04-05 and she was approved, visa in hand, plane flight booked.

Yes, We took a huge risk but for us it worked out, as others have stated it can be a big problem, so you need to weigh the risks of doing what you want to do.

Edited April 21, 2016 by Chris and ZhiJia

[dwarfer 10]

FWIW (My post was a total joke - hence the fake flowers and quotation marks)

No worries...You know the internet these days...I always assume people are 'taking the piss'.

Good luck with your visa process, BTW.

We are talking about Australia and I do not remember seeing anybody have such an issue, never seen one from the UK either.

Asia and Africa, yes, but that is where the legalities can be complicated.

Having said that stop calling something a wedding if it is not, avoid the dressing up and do not submit photos as evidence.

No harm having a party.

Yeah. I think I'll organise a nice family dinner to celebrate our engagement, since my extended family has never met him. I just wanted to have some formal celebration of our relationship for my family to attend.

I'll probably also get the "proof of no marriage" letter from my government, since I'm paranoid like that and I have an affinity for legal paperwork

We chose to do this route for the sake of her family, since they would not be able to come to the US to attend a wedding here. We kept everything very private, and in family, nothing was shared on any form of social media, and even after the ceremony we referred to each other as fiancee. This was 100% a ceremony and not a wedding, no paperwork was signed, no legal minister performed the ceremony.

All of the photos were kept within the family, and stored digitally. No photos were presented to USCIS or the Embassy.

Her interview was on 04-05 and she was approved, visa in hand, plane flight booked.

Yes, We took a huge risk but for us it worked out, as others have stated it can be a big problem, so you need to weigh the risks of doing what you want to do.

Thanks for sharing your story. I'm glad things worked out for you both, and wish it were the same for more couple on here.

Best wishes for the move!

Edited April 21, 2016 by dwarfer

[Ortolan 381]

Just have an Engagement/Bon Voyage Party. A big one.

Invite people to your party. Because that's what it is, really, right? Don't wear a wedding dress. Don't exchange "vows" or anything remotely resembling vows. Don't have a minister or justice. Just whoop it up with your family and friends, and have your wedding in the U.S.

K-1 visa is a big deal, and when you're granted the right to come to the U.S. and marry, that's what you need to do. Otherwise get married in AU and file CR1.

[Illiria 980]

I am British, I was almost denied my adjustment of status as the interviewer thought we got married before I came in on my K1. What they mistook for us marrying wasn't even a wedding or party for us.

My husband was best man at his dad's second marriage and she was all for denying us until I said I could get a copy of father in laws marriage certificate with my husband as witness.

This is how strict they can be.

[dwarfer 10]

I am British, I was almost denied my adjustment of status as the interviewer thought we got married before I came in on my K1. What they mistook for us marrying wasn't even a wedding or party for us.

My husband was best man at his dad's second marriage and she was all for denying us until I said I could get a copy of father in laws marriage certificate with my husband as witness.

This is how strict they can be.

Thanks for sharing your story.

That would have freaked me out big-time. Sheesh.

[SunflowerSweet 1,321]

I would not count on western exceptionalism to cover you if you do decide to do anything that resembles an actual wedding. There is always a risk.

My fiance's family hired a very expensive videographer for our wedding so the entire thing will be recorded well to share with any family that cannot travel.

Maybe use the money you will save not paying for a fake officiator, flowers, etc for your pre-marriage "wedding" party to do the same?

[LionessDeon 2,060]

Good Luck!

Edited April 21, 2016 by LionessDeon

[Greenbaum 12,259]

Don't deny yourself something most women dream of having. But having said that don't bring any pictures or bring the subject up at your interview. You may want to go over in your head what you will say if asked. The more confident in your answer the better off you'll be. A gathering of friends and family to celebrate your engagement is different then a wedding. If you get denied your only recourse is to marry in your country and then file for a spousal visa. There has been some great answers to your question to consider. Good luck with your decision.