Religious for family

[joeyb67 0]

Hi -- new to the journey, only a couple weeks in.... I had a question about religious marriages. If someone goes to a foreign country and has a marriage ceremony in a mosque, does that have an effect on the K-1 visa if they choose to keep that private and separate for the actual civil union to take place in 5 months, inshallah?

Edited June 8, 2016 by joeyb67

[Unlockable 7,316]

Could result in K1 visa being denied if discovered.

[Georgia16 2,858]

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/598511-religious-ceremony/

[joeyb67 0]

I can't for the life of me understand why this would have anything to do with the K-1... I thought the whole process was to just make sure that the two people loved each other --- and that they would good people that could afford to be together.

Edited June 8, 2016 by joeyb67

[LionessDeon 2,060]

And to get married in the USA.....a significant requirement of the K1. If you wanted to have "a marriage ceremony in a mosque in a foreign country" then you choose the CR1 route.

[Eternal Spring 10]

I can't for the life of me understand why this would have anything to do with the K-1... I thought the whole process was to just make sure that the two people loved each other --- and that they would good people that could afford to be together.

This is because K-1 is only for people who are not married. A religious wedding ceremony can be considered as a marriage by US immigration officials. If you have done this ceremony already, then you should not file a K-1, you should file the I-130 instead as a married person for your spouse. Be sure to do the civil wedding, as well.

[joeyb67 0]

Thanks for your replies -- since the K1 is filed we will wait for the process.

[Unidentified 2,930]

Hi -- new to the journey, only a couple weeks in.... I had a question about religious marriages. If someone goes to a foreign country and has a marriage ceremony in a mosque, does that have an effect on the K-1 visa if they choose to keep that private and separate for the actual civil union to take place in 5 months, inshallah?

If you get married while waiting on your K1 you will not be granted a visa as it is for fiance's not married couples. You'd have to file for a spousal visa.

You can get married in the US, file for AOS and travel authorization and then go back to whatever the foreign country is and have another ceremony there.

[Pitaya 2,577]

Hi -- new to the journey, only a couple weeks in.... I had a question about religious marriages. If someone goes to a foreign country and has a marriage ceremony in a mosque, does that have an effect on the K-1 visa if they choose to keep that private and separate for the actual civil union to take place in 5 months, inshallah?

Welcome to the forum.

You said it all in your first posting, if you have a marriage ceremony, then you no longer qualified for a K1 Foreign Fiance(e) visa. But rather you do qualify for a CR1 Spouse Visa since you are married.

Additionally, consider reviewing the Form I-129F Alien Fiancee Visa Petition Instructions:

You may file this petition if you are a U.S. citizen and:

1. You and your fiancé(e):

   a. Intend to marry within 90 days of your fiancé's admission to United States and you are both free to marry;

REF: https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/files/form/i-129finstr.pdf

Good luck on your immigration journey.

Edited June 9, 2016 by Pitaya

[scarlett262004 280]

If it's just a religious ceremony and they do not file any paperwork with the courts then it is not a legal or valid marriage in the U.S. But if they file paperwork where it results in a marriage certificate being issued then you have to do the spousal visa. That was our plan to do but they filed the paperwork so we were legally married.