Religious Ceremony

[Adil & Jeanne 296]

seems having a lawyer is not such a big help

all mine did for first CR 1 interview was ask me for documents, copy, and send them in

he was no help for interview and we were denied and he said " i did my work"

i did my own appeal and won and 2nd interview was successful

I know in African countries some have engagement parties and according to those embassies, the photos show marriage

if Mexico does not consider this marriage, how do you prove not married?

no certificate for CR 1 so how could you refile for spouse if embassy says you are married?

asking these for others from mexico to answer for you

[Ontarkie 14,279]

seems having a lawyer is not such a big help

all mine did for first CR 1 interview was ask me for documents, copy, and send them in

he was no help for interview and we were denied and he said " i did my work"

i did my own appeal and won and 2nd interview was successful

I know in African countries some have engagement parties and according to those embassies, the photos show marriage

if Mexico does not consider this marriage, how do you prove not married?

no certificate for CR 1 so how could you refile for spouse if embassy says you are married?

asking these for others from mexico to answer for you

Sadly this happens often. They are too married for the K1 and not married enough for the CR1. They have to get married legally and go for the CR1 a K1 will be refused.

Ok so the very little research I've done about Mexico is you need to dig into what was done.

You need to find out what the church did and what papers you and your fiance signed.

Seems the Catholic Churches will not marry someone unless they are following the laws in Mexico so that means all the civil paper work would be filled out prior to the wedding. Then the Priest can legally marry you in a civil manner also, it's just most ppl go do the two separately as it's easier. You might not know if the family got everything set up before hand.

Again you need to find out what was done, and make sure this does not apply to you.

Again I just looked very briefly for this info so go digging.

[4cats 2]

I think the best way to solve this is you and your wife go to a court get a marriage license, and then get married again in front of the judge. Is fast and is not expansive. And will help you to avoid be denied, because you will be legally married in the US. You can always attach your wedding pictures that prove that you did a religious ceremony before.

[monito11 4]

My wife and I are in the same boat, we got married in Mexico but we only had a religious ceremony but not a civil. I submitted by CR-1 package back in January with everything including the church marriage certificate, and I just got a RFE that we need a civil wedding certificate since Mexico doesn't consider that a religious ceremony a wedding. I had called and visit the local USCIS office in L.A. and both places times they told me that as long there was a wedding it would have been enough for our process. Now what I did I flew back to Mexico and got married to my wife through Civil since that was the the requirements that USCIS wanted. I would recommend you to get married again, because they already have evidence of your wedding and most likely you can get denied for the all above reasons, there was a wedding and your wife is no longer your fiancee. You might even have to change your case to a CR-1 instead of a K-1. But again it all case by case basis. I hope this can help you..

[jessilveir 5]

Thank you all, I will look into it .. I hope everything goes well, this waiting time and process is really crazy sometimes. Let's hope for the best ..

[caliliving 606]

The fact your lawyer advied you to do this and submit photos, and you got an RFE.. i think their are so many lawyers out there that arent great.. i would suggest people yelp and do some backgrounds on these lawyers and make sure they are good! i was given so much bad advice as well.

if i was you, i would marry and do the CR1. you can wait so long for this and get denied because it looks like a marriage and i woudnt want to take the chance

[Limey 551]

It does seem a bit inconsistent that they'll consider a non-legal ceremony a wedding for the purposes of denying a k1, but won't accept it as a marriage for the purposes of a spouse visa (requiring the legal civil marriage to take place) but I guess we don't get to make the rules.

Edited June 8, 2016 by Limey

[GabbyBird 53]

It does seem a bit inconsistent that they'll consider a non-legal ceremony a wedding for the purposes of denying a k1, but won't accept it as a marriage for the purposes of a spouse visa (requiring the legal civil marriage to take place) but I guess we don't get to make the rules.

Think of it from a different perspective. The couple got married legal or not. They showed intent, took vows, had witnesses. Whether or not any government considers it legal at this point is moot. They could have signed the official papers in mexico and had a full legal wedding, but instead it appears to immigration officers as if the couple left out this last bit to curtail the system and get a quick fiance visa rather than wait for the full spousal process.

As far as the "not married enough for CR1" the couple was together once and married in Mexico, they could simply go finish the job legally then apply for the CR1 with the legal foreign marriage certificate.

Edited June 8, 2016 by GabbyBird

[Ebunoluwa 6,136]

Dont get your hopes up this is known as knocking right and they will deny especially you have ceremonlial clothing rings were prob exchanged. You will be married in there eyes especially if they know this custom and you sent them all that evidence.

Don't mix up countries with "knocking rights" and religious ceremonies. It is not the same.

You can't compare what CO's in Ghana do with what CO's in Mexico do.

Aside from the obvious cultural difference, CO's handle these religious ceremonies differently.

My wife and I are in the same boat, we got married in Mexico but we only had a religious ceremony but not a civil. I submitted by CR-1 package back in January with everything including the church marriage certificate, and I just got a RFE that we need a civil wedding certificate since Mexico doesn't consider that a religious ceremony a wedding. I had called and visit the local USCIS office in L.A. and both places times they told me that as long there was a wedding it would have been enough for our process. Now what I did I flew back to Mexico and got married to my wife through Civil since that was the the requirements that USCIS wanted. I would recommend you to get married again, because they already have evidence of your wedding and most likely you can get denied for the all above reasons, there was a wedding and your wife is no longer your fiancee. You might even have to change your case to a CR-1 instead of a K-1. But again it all case by case basis. I hope this can help you..

You can't change horses mid race, OP would have to start over with a CR1 it can't be changed/switched from a K1.

[Ebunoluwa 6,136]

Think of it from a different perspective. The couple got married legal or not. They showed intent, took vows, had witnesses. Whether or not any government considers it legal at this point is moot. They could have signed the official papers in mexico and had a full legal wedding, but instead it appears to immigration officers as if the couple left out this last bit to curtail the system and get a quick fiance visa rather than wait for the full spousal process.

As far as the "not married enough for CR1" the couple was together once and married in Mexico, they could simply go finish the job legally then apply for the CR1 with the legal foreign marriage certificate.

They could have but did not. The "did not" could hold some weight with their CO.

OP, wait it out and see what happens instead of starting over with a CR1, you may get lucky.

[dwheels76 5,468]

I think the best way to solve this is you and your wife go to a court get a marriage license, and then get married again in front of the judge. Is fast and is not expansive. And will help you to avoid be denied, because you will be legally married in the US. You can always attach your wedding pictures that prove that you did a religious ceremony before.

If they do what you say that nullifies the K1 route and they would have to start all over filing a I-130.

[Ebunoluwa 6,136]

seems having a lawyer is not such a big help

all mine did for first CR 1 interview was ask me for documents, copy, and send them in

he was no help for interview and we were denied and he said " i did my work"

i did my own appeal and won and 2nd interview was successful

I know in African countries some have engagement parties and according to those embassies, the photos show marriage

if Mexico does not consider this marriage, how do you prove not married?

no certificate for CR 1 so how could you refile for spouse if embassy says you are married?

asking these for others from mexico to answer for you

Some countries have 'Certificate of Bachelor' or 'Certificate of Singlehood' stating they are single (different names for different countries).

I don't know if Mexico has it.

As to how do you re file without a marriage certificate well you get one and re file.

You said you appealed and won and 2nd interview was successful, but you re filed to get that second interview and were successful.

I don't understand how you say you won an appeal but had to re file, how is that winning ? Please clarify.

[Ebunoluwa 6,136]

I think the best way to solve this is you and your wife go to a court get a marriage license, and then get married again in front of the judge. Is fast and is not expansive. And will help you to avoid be denied, because you will be legally married in the US. You can always attach your wedding pictures that prove that you did a religious ceremony before.

Sure fire way to get denied the K1.

[Anitafeliz 1,133]

Don't mix up countries with "knocking rights" and religious ceremonies. It is not the same.

You can't compare what CO's in Ghana do with what CO's in Mexico do.

Aside from the obvious cultural difference, CO's handle these religious ceremonies differently.

You can't change horses mid race, OP would have to start over with a CR1 it can't be changed/switched from a K1.

I didnt mix it up i know i only sent the link to show people dressing and doing engagement ceromonies were enough to be denied.

Catholic weddings are a marriage and they are to married for a k1 and this custom must be proceeded with a civil

Wedding so im not sure how they went around not doing the civil first.

They arent even breakable may be anulled by a priest under anullable circumstances only a priest can rule.

If CO is up to date with Mexican customs they will deny the K1 and OP would waste time being away from his wife his best bet is go get the civil certificate they signed and submit with a CR1.

Rather then wasting valuble time from his wife

Edited June 8, 2016 by Anitafeliz

[IcezMan_IcezLady 582]

I didnt mix it up i know i only sent the link to show people dressing and doing engagement ceromonies were enough to be denied.

Catholic weddings are a marriage and they are to married for a k1 and this custom must be proceeded with a civil

Wedding so im not sure how they went around not doing the civil first.

They arent even breakable may be anulled by a priest under anullable circumstances only a priest can rule.

If CO is up to date with Mexican customs they will deny the K1 and OP would waste time being away from his wife his best bet is go get the civil certificate they signed and submit with a CR1.

Rather then wasting valuble time from his wife

^^ that explains your previous comment. I get your point.