(not legal) wedding ceremony prior to K1 visa interview

[EM_Vandaveer 2,408]

In short: no harm in having a party with your extended family & future spouse so they can meet.

What you REALLY REALLY should NOT do: dress up in wedding dress/anything white and taking any kind of vows/having any kind of ceremony.

Doing so could definitely jeopardize your K-1.

Good luck!

Edited April 21, 2016 by EM_Vandaveer

[templeton 120]

The immigration process is long and often inconsiderate. When it comes to marriage there are often long-standing expectations from family members and friends who will be disappointed that they can't be part of the pomp and circumstance of the real wedding in these situations. We try to think of ways to keep everyone happy and the fake ceremony back home before leaving is frequently considered.

But in the end you don't answer to them when it comes to the visa. All it takes is one person posting a photo to facebook to potentially ruin everything. Don't risk all you're investing and working towards for the benefit of others who have no skin in the game. They'll get over it.

Party, yes, but have the fake ceremony later.

Edited April 21, 2016 by templeton

[aayitrun 66]

since you arent performing any wedding rituals and arent taking any vows, why dont u officially call it an engagement ceremony, invite all your family, celebrate away and then refer to it as your engagement ceremony henceforth forever because that is what it was.

[Ebunoluwa 6,136]

Hi all,

My fiance and I have a wedding ceremony planned in my home country which will almost certainly occur before I get a K1 Visa, but after the I-129f paperwork has been submitted.

It will not be a legal wedding - just a ceremony. My country would not recognise this wedding in any way, not even as a de-facto type relationship.

We're doing it here for various reasons, mostly because I have many more family members than him, and they would not be able to travel to the US to see us marry there.

Besides, our legal wedding in the US will just be a courthouse one, and nothing much worth celebrating...

Furthermore, his mother can't travel and we wanted her to witness us getting married, as it's important to her.

All-in-all, this process suits our respective family situations the best.

I see that many people get visas refused because of confusion over the 'married-ness' of some cultural pre-wedding type celebrations.

As such, I will not take any photos to or mention the ceremony in my visa interview, whenever that occurs.

I've also locked down Facebook to ensure no-one can add any photos of us, and will generally keep ourselves offline until I have the visa in my hand.

Does anyone from a western country have experience taking this route?

Is it less of a problem for our countries because our customs and the legal aspect of marriage are very similar to the system in the US and so consulate employees are more familiar with it?

Any other advice or recommendations?

Thanks for your advice.

What is keeping other guests from posting to their social media and a google check can come up with your names matching the photos ?

I know of someone who had a church ceremony in a white dress, not registered, nothing signed and no photos posted because

she did not have a social media account and still.......as they approached the CO they saw an enlarged black and white photo of both

of them from the ceremony in their file as the CO went through it. Their heart sunk. CO pointed it out and said what is this ?

The USC said it was just a ceremony, not a legal wedding. CO responded well I can let this slide but due to other issues I am returning your case.

Point I am making is no one turned any photos in with the petition or to the embassy. Where they found that photo remained a mystery.

Some CO's let it slide and some do not. I would not risk it.

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

There is no locking down your face book or other social media from the government.

[Transborderwife 4,666]

Simple solution, wait till you have your K1 approved and visa on hand, then have the wedding ceremony in your home country before leaving to the US. Nothing says you must have your wedding in the US, only that the wedding cannot occur till after the K1 visa is issued.

Umm actually it does...

https://www.uscis.gov/family/family-us-citizens/fiancee-visa/fiancee-visas

You intend to marry within 90 days of your fiancé(e) entering the United States.

[Ebunoluwa 6,136]

Simple solution, wait till you have your K1 approved and visa on hand, then have the wedding ceremony in your home country before leaving to the US. Nothing says you must have your wedding in the US, only that the wedding cannot occur till after the K1 visa is issued.

Very bad advice. The visa is for the very specific purpose of entering the US as a fiance and getting married in the US. You can apply for AOS to get a GC based on the K1 and US marriage certificate.

Same rules apply after receiving the visa, entering with a fiance visa but giving the impression you are married will get you in trouble.

[Transborderwife 4,666]

Very bad advice. The visa is for the very specific purpose of entering the US as a fiance and getting married in the US. You can apply for AOS to get a GC based on the K1 and US marriage certificate.

Same rules apply after receiving the visa, entering with a fiance visa but giving the impression you are married will get you in trouble.

Plus a lot of 'splainin to do once AOS time comes

[ch3john 308]

Simple solution, wait till you have your K1 approved and visa on hand, then have the wedding ceremony in your home country before leaving to the US. Nothing says you must have your wedding in the US, only that the wedding cannot occur till after the K1 visa is issued.

Bahhahaha, then what's the point of a K-1 VISA?

[LionessDeon 2,060]

There is no locking down your face book or other social media from the government.

Exactly. And there is no option to prevent people posting a pic of you on FB. Tho only thing you can "lock down" is them tagging you.

[JR loves JR 196]

I was like you. I wanted to have a big party that all of my fiance's family could attend. We booked a reception hall, got a dj, and had a dance. All the guests were informed not to post pictures on social media. I also made sure that none of our chat logs that were submitted mentioned it. And my fiancé was told not to bring it up. We did have a cake and got a picture standing behind it. It said "congratulations on your engagement". I didn't wearing a wedding dress either. Did it make me a little nervous when the interview happened, yes it did.

If I could do it over again, I'd save that party until we went back to visit. That would have made the party more fun since I wouldn't have worried that it might cause a denial. And then I could have worn my wedding dress and done more of a formal ceremony which would have meant a lot more to his family. Plus it would have been a great excuse to go visit.

[WandY 430]

"...I would call it a wedding-type party, and not a marriage."

It doesn't matter what you think. Don't forget that.

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

If you are unlucky and get a field check , the officer is talking to a neighbor... oh did you ever see them together as a couple... Neighbor responds " yup when they had their wedding a while back " Also I know of a couple that had a "secret" party and the only mention was person A sending person B a photo in private email. That photo was presented by the CO at the interview along with a denial . The US government has the right to see any conversation going outside the US. Just what do you think security checks are really about ?

[Cathi 5,748]

since you arent performing any wedding rituals and arent taking any vows, why dont u officially call it an engagement ceremony, invite all your family, celebrate away and then refer to it as your engagement ceremony henceforth forever because that is what it was.

In many countries a legal engagement ceremony IS a wedding. In my husband's home country without a doubt it is

[Cathi 5,748]

Simple solution, wait till you have your K1 approved and visa on hand, then have the wedding ceremony in your home country before leaving to the US. Nothing says you must have your wedding in the US, only that the wedding cannot occur till after the K1 visa is issued.

seriously? really? Actually the rules of the K-1 visa are to be married in the US!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!