What is our best option?

[B and H 18]

Marry, registered or not and apply for a cr-1.

Registration is what gets you the certificate. It's necessary for the CR-1.

[JRF 117]

Registration is what gets you the certificate. It's necessary for the CR-1.

True true...the government there has to approve in order for the marriage to be official. Not a huge surprise, and incredibly silly that process, but it's what they do.

[EandH0904 1,184]

Would it be obvious to her parents that the marriage there wasn't "official"? (I don't know how they are done!).

When we get our K1 we are hoping to do an "unofficial" religious wedding in his country and the legal wedding here in the US - but I don't know how official weddings work in Vietnam. I would do option 2 - get the K1. It sounds the most practical. And if next summer comes and its not approved then go there for your stay, maybe she will have the interview, maybe you will have time to get married - but it seems that getting married and filing delays her ability to get here so I would work on the quickest option. You seem to be easily able to verify your ongoing relationship.

Good luck!

[B and H 18]

You can't have the medical check done here (you can try, but if you do that you are taking away a money making opportunity for a doctor in Vietnam, so good luck with that). It's an "interesting" interview - I was asked point blank if I was crazy. I said no. I was also asked if I liked my job, and said yes. Bent the truth on one of those.

The medical check for the marriage certificate? I did mine in the US and had no problems. The form is even provided from the embassy with English on it, like the expectation is that you will have it done outside of Viet Nam.

[JRF 117]

The medical check for the marriage certificate? I did mine in the US and had no problems. The form is even provided from the embassy with English on it, like the expectation is that you will have it done outside of Viet Nam.

I read into that at the time, and came away thinking it was a bit of a risk so I decided to take care of it in Vietnam. Guess it worked out for you.

I found the process in Vietnam entertaining (i.e., the crazy question). I also "witnessed" a money transfer at the table next to us (my seeing it caused quite a stir - and no, I didn't gasp out loud).

[B and H 18]

I read into that at the time, and came away thinking it was a bit of a risk so I decided to take care of it in Vietnam. Guess it worked out for you.

I found the process in Vietnam entertaining (i.e., the crazy question). I also "witnessed" a money transfer at the table next to us (my seeing it caused quite a stir - and no, I didn't gasp out loud).

I checked again, and it's listed among the documents that need notarization, apostille, and legalization. All US side stuff.

The process here was entertaining as well. I'm pretty sure that was this doctor's first mental health check for foreign marriage purposes. And it seemed like the first mobile notary to come in the office too.

[Bryan and An 23]

Wow, thanks to everyone for the incredibly helpful information. After talking with my fiancé, I think we're going to go the K1 route. Again, though, my concern is that if we apply now, the interview will happen before July (I've been seeing recent timelines with some very short waiting periods from sending the I-129F to the interview). Not that this is in itself a bad thing, I just worry about having the interview with only one prior visit under my belt (although it was a month long visit, and I'll almost certainly be there for the interview). Also, no pictures of an engagement party or anything like it since all I did was propose.

If we wait long enough to start the process that the interview is sure to be after July, then I'll have another monthlong visit, engagement party (although reading some things here, I guess we'll keep it small so that it doesn't look too much like a wedding - maybe just dinner with her parents), more pictures etc. It just seems like a stronger case, although maybe our case is strong enough already. I don't know. Any opinions on this aspect?

Also, when scheduling the K1 interview, what kind of scheduling options do you have? Is it like certain days within a week or two period, or are there months you can choose from?

I still don't think my answer was very clear for your question about the wedding and interview. To further clarify, yes, there will be an interview to get your marriage certificate. But it's the registration of your certificate in the local books that makes you a married couple, not a wedding. That leaves the wedding up to you, as far as timing and location.

Also, you'll interview when you submit the paperwork. The 20 or so day delay is not before the interview, it's waiting for them to make the certificate and put it in the books after you interview.

Thank you, this is very clear. So the wedding could be anytime during the marriage certificate process? Would you even have to actually have one, or is the paperwork/interview all that's needed to make it official? (We would have one, of course.) Just wondering how it all works. Thanks for the valuable info.

[Kastrs 723]

Would it be obvious to her parents that the marriage there wasn't "official"? (I don't know how they are done!).

When we get our K1 we are hoping to do an "unofficial" religious wedding in his country and the legal wedding here in the US - but I don't know how official weddings work in Vietnam. I would do option 2 - get the K1. It sounds the most practical. And if next summer comes and its not approved then go there for your stay, maybe she will have the interview, maybe you will have time to get married - but it seems that getting married and filing delays her ability to get here so I would work on the quickest option. You seem to be easily able to verify your ongoing relationship.

Good luck!

I would advise against this, I have seen countless times where people do exactly what you are planning and then they are no long issued/able to use an issued K1

To the OP if it is important to you to get married in Vietnam next summer, do things the right way-plan your wedding get married and file for a CR1. You will have chat logs and your trips to provide as support of the marital union.

[Kastrs 723]

Wow, thanks to everyone for the incredibly helpful information. After talking with my fiancé, I think we're going to go the K1 route. Again, though, my concern is that if we apply now, the interview will happen before July (I've been seeing recent timelines with some very short waiting periods from sending the I-129F to the interview). Not that this is in itself a bad thing, I just worry about having the interview with only one prior visit under my belt (although it was a month long visit, and I'll almost certainly be there for the interview). Also, no pictures of an engagement party or anything like it since all I did was propose.

If we wait long enough to start the process that the interview is sure to be after July, then I'll have another monthlong visit, engagement party (although reading some things here, I guess we'll keep it small so that it doesn't look too much like a wedding - maybe just dinner with her parents), more pictures etc. It just seems like a stronger case, although maybe our case is strong enough already. I don't know. Any opinions on this aspect?

Also, when scheduling the K1 interview, what kind of scheduling options do you have? Is it like certain days within a week or two period, or are there months you can choose from?

Thank you, this is very clear. So the wedding could be anytime during the marriage certificate process? Would you even have to actually have one, or is the paperwork/interview all that's needed to make it official? (We would have one, of course.) Just wondering how it all works. Thanks for the valuable info.

If you go the K1 route, just be advised that your fiance may not get her ead/ap (which would allow her to leave and return to the US) in time to travel back to Vietnam in time for your Vietnamese wedding next summer (unless you are planning to scrap that plan). It typically has been taking about 90 days after filing for adjustment of status to get the ead/ap-although it could take longer. So when thinking of your timeline you should also definitely build in another 4 months after issuance of the K1 for her to travel here get married quick and file the AoS. Having been around a long time, and going through the K1 process myself once I can say that although things are being processed fast right now in regards to K1 there is no guarantee that this will continue nor is there a guarantee that your petition would not get lost in the cracks somewhere or get an RFE adding more time before K1 approval. Lastly as previously advised do NOT do anything resembling a marriage in Vietnam before coming to the US on a K1 and getting married.

[jstset 0]

Start the K1 now! Both of you will need to get a bunch of documents together. Don't worry about a single meeting the K1 only requires 1 meeting. Save chat logs etc you will need to show a relationship. Make a list of what's needed for both of you and get started. Good luck on your journey. Provide what they want they can't say no.... Also realize if you can't provide what's needed that can't say yes!