fake ceremony...

[dimples23 0]

Hi,

I'm a Canadian Citizen engaged to an American Citizen and I'm trying to figure out the fastest way for me and my fiance to be together. I'd like to live in the USA so I've heard that the K-1 visa is the fastest way to do this. I'm planning on getting a K-1 visa, waiting for it to be approved and then going to the US and getting legally married within 90 days.

Now my question is, since I live in Canada, I'd like to have my "ceremony" in my hometown... can i do this without signing any legal papers? Ie. have a "fake ceremony" with no signing of legal documents and then file for our real marriage liscence/certificate when I enter the states with my K-1 visa? Does this cause any problems even if we arent signing legal documents? I know if I did sign marriage documents that I'd be in trouble while my fiance visa is processing.

Any advice as to how I should go about this?

[Nanusia & Lukaszek 0]

The point of the K-1 is to get married in the US. If you want to have a ceremony, you might as well get married in Canada, and file the K3 instead.

The term "fake ceremony" might not go well with the GC at your consulate.

[msu17 0]

could you wait a few months and then once you have advanced parole, go back to Canada and have the ceremony? That's what we are doing.

[Niels Bohr 72]

You can have a ceremony, but, don't register with the ministry.

[dimples23 0]

The point of the K-1 is to get married in the US. If you want to have a ceremony, you might as well get married in Canada, and file the K3 instead.

The term "fake ceremony" might not go well with the GC at your consulate.

Ok... so could we then get married "legally" in Canada now... apply for the K-3 and while we are waiting for it to process have the "fake ceremony" with no signing of papers in September?

[KarenCee 3]

The point of the K-1 is to get married in the US. If you want to have a ceremony, you might as well get married in Canada, and file the K3 instead.

The term "fake ceremony" might not go well with the GC at your consulate.

Ok... so could we then get married "legally" in Canada now... apply for the K-3 and while we are waiting for it to process have the "fake ceremony" with no signing of papers in September?

Hmmm.... if you have the "legal" ceremony you're already married and you'd file the K3. No need for a "fake" ceremony. Not sure what you mean from your post.

[Dan J 277]

Fake isn't a really good term for it, non-legally binding ceremony would probably be better. Yes you can do that, but you have to look at the laws of the country/province you are going to have your ceremony in. In some places/countries, just having a ceremony, is legally binding. In other places a ceremony is legally binding only if you file for a marriage license and meet other requirements. And its certainly not illegal to have a non-legally binding ceremony.

On here, you will get different opinions on it. Technically according to the law, having a non-legally binding ceremony in your customs and traditions is perfectly fine. Though some people don't always understand, that just because you say a vow, doesn't necessarily make you legally married. All the K-1 visa is concerned with is a legally binding marriage, not a ceremony that you do for your church, friends or family.

A possible caveat you may need to be aware of is that even with a non-legally binding ceremony, your not technically married yet. So don't confuse any immigration officials. They may deny entry on a K-1 if they suspect that you are married. Don't wear rings until you are legally married and still call your partner your fiancee.

[KarenCee 3]

Fake isn't a really good term for it, non-legally binding ceremony would probably be better. Yes you can do that, but you have to look at the laws of the country/province you are going to have your ceremony in. In some places/countries, just having a ceremony, is legally binding. In other places a ceremony is legally binding only if you file for a marriage license and meet other requirements. And its certainly not illegal to have a non-legally binding ceremony.

On here, you will get different opinions on it. Technically according to the law, having a non-legally binding ceremony in your customs and traditions is perfectly fine. Though some people don't always understand, that just because you say a vow, doesn't necessarily make you legally married. All the K-1 visa is concerned with is a legally binding marriage, not a ceremony that you do for your church, friends or family.

A possible caveat you may need to be aware of is that even with a non-legally binding ceremony, your not technically married yet. So don't confuse any immigration officials. They may deny entry on a K-1 if they suspect that you are married. Don't wear rings until you are legally married and still call your partner your fiancee.

Yes but the OP is now talking about doing a K3 by getting "legally" married in Canada now and doing a "fake" ceremony in the States later. That's what confused me. Once you're legally married, there IS no fake ceremony later...its more of a renewal or reaffirmation of vows.

[Dan J 277]

Fake isn't a really good term for it, non-legally binding ceremony would probably be better. Yes you can do that, but you have to look at the laws of the country/province you are going to have your ceremony in. In some places/countries, just having a ceremony, is legally binding. In other places a ceremony is legally binding only if you file for a marriage license and meet other requirements. And its certainly not illegal to have a non-legally binding ceremony.

On here, you will get different opinions on it. Technically according to the law, having a non-legally binding ceremony in your customs and traditions is perfectly fine. Though some people don't always understand, that just because you say a vow, doesn't necessarily make you legally married. All the K-1 visa is concerned with is a legally binding marriage, not a ceremony that you do for your church, friends or family.

A possible caveat you may need to be aware of is that even with a non-legally binding ceremony, your not technically married yet. So don't confuse any immigration officials. They may deny entry on a K-1 if they suspect that you are married. Don't wear rings until you are legally married and still call your partner your fiancee.

Yes but the OP is now talking about doing a K3 by getting "legally" married in Canada now and doing a "fake" ceremony in the States later. That's what confused me. Once you're legally married, there IS no fake ceremony later...its more of a renewal or reaffirmation of vows.

I think he or she means to have a courthouse wedding right away in canada to be able to file K-3 and have a ceremony for family and friends later. You can do that as well if its easier for you.

[KarenCee 3]

Fake isn't a really good term for it, non-legally binding ceremony would probably be better. Yes you can do that, but you have to look at the laws of the country/province you are going to have your ceremony in. In some places/countries, just having a ceremony, is legally binding. In other places a ceremony is legally binding only if you file for a marriage license and meet other requirements. And its certainly not illegal to have a non-legally binding ceremony.

On here, you will get different opinions on it. Technically according to the law, having a non-legally binding ceremony in your customs and traditions is perfectly fine. Though some people don't always understand, that just because you say a vow, doesn't necessarily make you legally married. All the K-1 visa is concerned with is a legally binding marriage, not a ceremony that you do for your church, friends or family.

A possible caveat you may need to be aware of is that even with a non-legally binding ceremony, your not technically married yet. So don't confuse any immigration officials. They may deny entry on a K-1 if they suspect that you are married. Don't wear rings until you are legally married and still call your partner your fiancee.

Yes but the OP is now talking about doing a K3 by getting "legally" married in Canada now and doing a "fake" ceremony in the States later. That's what confused me. Once you're legally married, there IS no fake ceremony later...its more of a renewal or reaffirmation of vows.

I think he or she means to have a courthouse wedding right away in canada to be able to file K-3 and have a ceremony for family and friends later. You can do that as well if its easier for you.

Maybe that's what she meant.

[abigailD 0]

Fake isn't a really good term for it, non-legally binding ceremony would probably be better. Yes you can do that, but you have to look at the laws of the country/province you are going to have your ceremony in. In some places/countries, just having a ceremony, is legally binding. In other places a ceremony is legally binding only if you file for a marriage license and meet other requirements. And its certainly not illegal to have a non-legally binding ceremony.

On here, you will get different opinions on it. Technically according to the law, having a non-legally binding ceremony in your customs and traditions is perfectly fine. Though some people don't always understand, that just because you say a vow, doesn't necessarily make you legally married. All the K-1 visa is concerned with is a legally binding marriage, not a ceremony that you do for your church, friends or family.

A possible caveat you may need to be aware of is that even with a non-legally binding ceremony, your not technically married yet. So don't confuse any immigration officials. They may deny entry on a K-1 if they suspect that you are married. Don't wear rings until you are legally married and still call your partner your fiancee.

Yes but the OP is now talking about doing a K3 by getting "legally" married in Canada now and doing a "fake" ceremony in the States later. That's what confused me. Once you're legally married, there IS no fake ceremony later...its more of a renewal or reaffirmation of vows.

I think he or she means to have a courthouse wedding right away in canada to be able to file K-3 and have a ceremony for family and friends later. You can do that as well if its easier for you.

Maybe that's what she meant.

Yep, thats what I meant... sorry I'm not good with the terminology, I'm new to this =) So yes, I'm thinking that we should get "legally binded" at a courthouse now so that we can start the K-3 process and then have my big "ceremony" (with family and friends and not signing anything...) in a few months while this is all processing.

I know that I couldnt honeymoon in the USA but can I leave Canada and go to a different country (say somewhere in Europe) while my K-3 is processing?

[KarenCee 3]

Fake isn't a really good term for it, non-legally binding ceremony would probably be better. Yes you can do that, but you have to look at the laws of the country/province you are going to have your ceremony in. In some places/countries, just having a ceremony, is legally binding. In other places a ceremony is legally binding only if you file for a marriage license and meet other requirements. And its certainly not illegal to have a non-legally binding ceremony.

On here, you will get different opinions on it. Technically according to the law, having a non-legally binding ceremony in your customs and traditions is perfectly fine. Though some people don't always understand, that just because you say a vow, doesn't necessarily make you legally married. All the K-1 visa is concerned with is a legally binding marriage, not a ceremony that you do for your church, friends or family.

A possible caveat you may need to be aware of is that even with a non-legally binding ceremony, your not technically married yet. So don't confuse any immigration officials. They may deny entry on a K-1 if they suspect that you are married. Don't wear rings until you are legally married and still call your partner your fiancee.

Yes but the OP is now talking about doing a K3 by getting "legally" married in Canada now and doing a "fake" ceremony in the States later. That's what confused me. Once you're legally married, there IS no fake ceremony later...its more of a renewal or reaffirmation of vows.

I think he or she means to have a courthouse wedding right away in canada to be able to file K-3 and have a ceremony for family and friends later. You can do that as well if its easier for you.

Maybe that's what she meant.

Yep, thats what I meant... sorry I'm not good with the terminology, I'm new to this =) So yes, I'm thinking that we should get "legally binded" at a courthouse now so that we can start the K-3 process and then have my big "ceremony" (with family and friends and not signing anything...) in a few months while this is all processing.

I know that I couldnt honeymoon in the USA but can I leave Canada and go to a different country (say somewhere in Europe) while my K-3 is processing?

Abigal, the thing is...you won't have to worry about signing anything at the big ceremony. All the signing will be done when you are legally married at a courthouse. The ceremony will be just a huge celebration for family and friends. As for honeymooning, your husband could come up there and travel anywhere in Canada (I would think). And yes, the idea of you traveling to another country and say maybe your husband meeting up with you there would work. Just MHO of course.

[Ngoc-Anh 1]

there is nothing wrong to have the wedding reception in canada and the civilian wedding after entering the US on the K1.

the wedding reception won't make you be legally married.

But I would avoid to use the pictures as evidence because it might confuse the agents and they might give you a hard time.

good luck!

[rosyanne 0]

You can have anything you want as long as you don't tell visa office what you have done or show him/her pictures of you in big white dress... so they don't get confused.

[Emancipation 2]

Heard it also called "betrothal" Ceremony (which I think is nice).. or a "Church Blessing".. It's all in the terminology Well it's also in the fact that you don't sign papers and it's not legal.. but stay away from "real & fake".. IMO

Edited April 28, 2007 by Emancipation