Are wedding pictures required for CR1 visa interview?

[NikLR 13,231]

OP you are not required to have wedding photos.  You are required to provide evidence of a relationship.  How you choose to do that is up to you.  

[EandH0904 1,184]

While it may not be required, I have seen a few NOIDs from Morocco where lack of proof of a traditional wedding was one of the reasons listed. 

 

We were not planning on having a traditional wedding but did so after we saw those. 

[Cathi 5,777]

9 hours ago, MrChamploo said:

Pictures are not mandatory but it is highly advised.

Pictures with each others families are a good thing to have them see.

Wrong. There are millions of couples who didn't provide wedding photos and had no problems. My husband and I included. 

 

OP:You'll be fine.

[Oliva 15]

It depends on the country for us like nepal they do ask it for wedding pictures like so it varies from country to country,wedding pictures is one of the strong proof in embassy, so like India nepal Pakistan I guess other Asian countries too ask for wedding pictures in embassy ,we are culturally bond so Embassy people knows that so they wants to see proof either we do have marriage photoes or not 😊

[Crazy Cat 42,028]

2 minutes ago, Oliva said:

It depends on the country for us like nepal they do ask it for wedding pictures like so it varies from country to country,wedding pictures is one of the strong proof in embassy, so like India nepal Pakistan I guess other Asian countries too ask for wedding pictures in embassy ,we are culturally bond so Embassy people knows that so they wants to see proof either we do have marriage photoes or not 😊

Please show documentation that wedding pictures are REQUIRED.  They provide one single piece of evidence, but they are not required...

[arken 4,197]

3 minutes ago, missileman said:

Please show documentation that wedding pictures are REQUIRED.  They provide one single piece of evidence, but they are not required...

You say that to the COs in countries like Nepal, India and you are guarenteed for visa denial.As said by the previous poster, it depends on the COs in a given country.

 

While marriage photos are not specifically listed as a requirement, in a country like Nepal or India, the COs know it’s highly uncommon for people to get married in a court or city office without any photos.

 

My wife was specifically asked for the photos even though we had tons of other evidences and she handed over the entire album. 

 

There was a top trending post from an Indian guy in this forum just a few weeks ago whose wife was denied a visa becoz they couldn’t produce the photo from the wedding day.

[Crazy Cat 42,028]

4 minutes ago, arken said:

You say that to the COs in countries like Nepal, India and you are guarenteed for visa denial.As said by the previous poster, it depends on the COs in a given country.

 

While marriage photos are not specifically listed as a requirement, in a country like Nepal or India, the COs know it’s highly uncommon for people to get married in a court or city office without any photos.

 

My wife was specifically asked for the photos even though we had tons of other evidences and she handed over the entire album. 

 

There was a top trending post from an Indian guy in this forum just a few weeks ago whose wife was denied a visa becoz they couldn’t produce the photo from the wedding day.

Wedding photos are a good idea as part of a package of evidence, but they are not required.......please show me an official document from a US consulate which states that wedding pictures are a requirement.

[AdilB 15]

15 hours ago, YKL said:

I have filed i130 for my wife in January. We are legally married but we didn't have a wedding yet. Just wanted to know if it is required to have pictures of wedding before the interview that should be scheduled once i130 is approved and went through NVC process. 

 

I want to have the wedding after granting the visa to wife not before then, is that possible?

Photos of a wedding are not required, but are good proof/evidence. 

But, you should not worry if you two have the following:

1- Closer in age, and mostly if the male is older. 2- Same religion. 3- Same language and culture. Are you both Algerian? 4- Multiple meetings, as in you have visited each other many times. 5- Photos of you two and with families. 6- Petitioner s stable income, and NO sponsors, as  this shows responsibility. I feel that Photos are not as important as the actors above. Nowadays, in North Africa, many do delay weddings until after "Visa Approval". Then, they come back with their spouses to honey moon in the states. It is almost a trend now for North African French or Dutch; They wait until "Visa Approval" to have a wedding. Add to that, Some families prefer to push the weddings until after the "Visa Approval" to ensure their daughter is not left behind after marriage, as there are no guarantees of the "Visa Approval". Culturally, many girls remain Virgin until marriage. A girl s Virginity is almost her livelihood. But, that calls for a whole new topic.  Bon courage!

Edited March 8, 2018 by AdilB

[arken 4,197]

1 hour ago, missileman said:

Wedding photos are a good idea as part of a package of evidence, but they are not required.......please show me an official document from a US consulate which states that wedding pictures are a requirement.

When the CO specifically asked for wedding photos, my wife wasn’t in a position to say, “Show me where it says photos are required”. I in fact haven’t even included the wedding photos with i130 petition and was approved, but the CO asked for it during the interview.

 

Not saying that it is definitely required and the OP has to have it, just saying that COs in different countries prefer different forms of evidences.

 

 

[pushbrk 13,031]

9 hours ago, Mill&bill said:

This is from US embassy Islamabad and cleary mention a person should bring family photographs so it is required

Family photographs and wedding photographs are not the same thing.  "Should" is NOT "required".  For some countries, like Pakistan, petitioners should include plenty of relationship evidence with the petition.  More evidence can be brought to the interview, but it may or may not be considered.  You cannot bring evidence that doesn't exist.  Lots of folks don't have "wedding photos" because they don't have formal weddings.  A formal wedding is neither required, or (other than in certain cultures) actual evidence of a bona fide relationship.

1 hour ago, arken said:

When the CO specifically asked for wedding photos, my wife wasn’t in a position to say, “Show me where it says photos are required”. I in fact haven’t even included the wedding photos with i130 petition and was approved, but the CO asked for it during the interview.

 

Not saying that it is definitely required and the OP has to have it, just saying that COs in different countries prefer different forms of evidences.

 

 

Moot, as the OP doesn't have any.

[pushbrk 13,031]

8 hours ago, Mill&bill said:

I am not spreading misinformation. In US embassy pakistan CO asked me do you have wedding pictures not family pictures. They wanted to see wedding pics so i guess its vary from embassy to embassy. Here people on visa journey share information according to their experience. My experience was different from yours so i share my information that does not mean i am spreading misinformation 

Asked for, does not equal "required".  If you didn't have any (like the OP) you would not have been able to provide any.  In your culture, a formal wedding is very much advised though.

[Texas guy 2]

18 hours ago, YKL said:

I have filed i130 for my wife in January. We are legally married but we didn't have a wedding yet. Just wanted to know if it is required to have pictures of wedding before the interview that should be scheduled once i130 is approved and went through NVC process. 

 

I want to have the wedding after granting the visa to wife not before then, is that possible?

I remember the officer asked me for the pictures. i showed him and he approved the visa. 

As someone said earlier, its not mandatory but its a big big plus

[pushbrk 13,031]

29 minutes ago, Texas guy said:

I remember the officer asked me for the pictures. i showed him and he approved the visa. 

As someone said earlier, its not mandatory but its a big big plus

That one thing follows another does not mean the second is a result of or caused by the first.  What nobody knows for certain is what would have happened next if you did not have "the pictures" you had.  What if you had other photos together NOT from a wedding?  What if you had evidence of living together for several months instead of wedding photos?  

 

Wedding photos are not required.  In cultures where it would be unusual not to have a formal wedding, plenty of other relationship evidence is needed.  Not having a wedding (in those cultures) can be an indicator of the relationship being secret or kept from family members.  Those situations tend to indicate marriages for immigration purposes and can be highly scrutinized.  

What if there WAS a formal wedding but the photos got lost or destroyed?  Do you really think the visa would be automatically denied because there were no wedding photos?   Something is only "REQUIRED" if there is no substitute.  A "marriage certificate" or equivalent is "REQUIRED".  Wedding photos are not.

[Tcarrol 54]

11 hours ago, pushbrk said:

Horse feathers.  Wedding pictures are never "required" and they CERTAINLY are not "proof" of a bona fide marriage.  "EVIDENCE" of a bona fide marriage is about the relationship, not a ceremony.  Where not having them could become a problem is if the couple is trying to avoid telling their family or families until after the visa is in hand.  That is evidence AGAINST a bona fide marital relationship.

We did not have a big wedding; we also went to a magistrate and took one picture of the two of us with the magistrate.  We made sure to include other pictures of us together and with each others' families over the past few years.  We were granted our ROC i-751 without an interview and without wedding photo's (except for the one).  I believe joint income tax statements, joint bank accounts, and anything owned together is far better proof that the marriage is legit.  We also turned in a monthly log of things we did together with pictures, kind of like a photo album.

[Crazy Cat 42,028]

3 minutes ago, pushbrk said:

Something is only "REQUIRED" if there is no substitute.

Example:  The police clearance letter.........or other things listed on the interview checklist.

I agree 100%.