Unofficial Wedding party when applying for K-1 Visa

[Suzanr 8]

1 minute ago, Kiolas said:

@Suzanr Since you (or your fiance) had already paid the fee, the worst scenario - you will get a denial of the I-129F petition (and, possibly, USCIS may acuse you of misrepresentation, as someone stated this earlier). You provided the explanation that the party was not an official party. In my opinion, you have a slim chance to get approved.

 

I agree with previous responses of VJ members that your case got complicated due to these pictures and unofficial wedding ceremony.

However, I believe you still have a chance, although very-very slim.

 

Someone asked you already here, in which country your ceremony took place? This is an important question because in some countries even unofficial marriage ceremony may be considered as marriage for USCIS.

Its in Indonesia

[CJKylie 161]

Cancel the check and get married

[Suzanr 8]

10 minutes ago, Loren Y said:

If you just sent it out, stop payment on the check before it gets too the lockbox. That's where they pull the check and cash it. If the check is no good they will send the whole petition back to you for non payment. Then fix the mistake, and send it again with a good check. I would be on the phone to the bank right now to stop payment, and hopefully get the whole package returned to you.

Okay! Thx! 😁😁😁

[Loren Y 2,755]

3 minutes ago, Suzanr said:

Okay! Thx! 😁😁😁

No guarantee this will work, but I know they send the whole petition back if payment is wrong amount, or doesn't clear. This way it may not be scanned in or anything, so you get a chance to redo it. It's the only thing I can think of to stop it. Or transfer money out of the account so the check bounces, or insufficient funds, your bank may hit you with a fee, but it's cheaper than another 535 dollars.

[kris&me 572]

and only the USC can withdraw not the beneficary

[Kiolas 103]

14 minutes ago, Suzanr said:

Its in Indonesia

@Suzanr Unfortunately, I'm not familiar with traditions of Indonesia. How common is it in this country to organize unofficial marriage ceremony? Do many people do these unofficial ceremonies before an official wedding? Maybe, during the interview you will be able to explain to the officer that the ceremony was similar to an engagement ceremony? 

[usmsbow 801]

52 minutes ago, Suzanr said:

Its in Indonesia

 

Are you Muslim or another religion? If Muslim, I'd say you made a big error since it is much easier to get legally married there. A ceremony is sufficient, and there is a lot less required paperwork (at least that's what my wife told me). If you're not Muslim, then you might be OK since the steps to become legally married are more difficult. 

 

The CO who interviewed my wife seemed pretty familiar with the customs and culture of Indonesia. My wife provided pictures of our engagement party and had no problems. I should note that she did not wear a white dress, and there was a sign in the background that said engagement. It sounds like you and your fiance went way beyond that. 

 

I don't think you'll have any problems getting to the interview stage (ie USCIS approving your petition, then sending it to NVC), and Jakarta is a pretty easy embassy, but it sounds like you gave yourself one hell of a challenge honestly. 

Edited August 7, 2018 by usmsbow

[debbiedoo 2,339]

i think you made a really bad mistake.

 

have the USC withdraw the petition, get married, and file a CR1.

 

[Illiria 980]

Oh honey 😔

 

This is something that comes up a lot here and we always say don’t do it, too married for K1 and not married enough for a CR1 is not worth it.

 

I got grilled at my adjustment of status interview after I had come on a K1 because of a photo of us at someone else’s wedding and only by being able to offer the wedding certificate of the other couple showing one of us as a witness did they back down. 

 

You refering to him as your husband could be used to show that you considered it your wedding plus if other people consider him to be your husband as a consequence of this as well.

 

I agree with others withdraw (or cancel the check if you can) then have him come back and marry properly then do the cr1, the fact that this evidence is in the public domain (yes Facebook is public domain as you cannot control what family post about this wedding) means that the k1 is no longer the safe route. 

 

Wishing you the best, please stay on this message board as it really is a great resource for doing this journey. 

Edited August 7, 2018 by Illiria

[valentinasc 330]

Never ever trick the government, no matter which country's government. 

If you were to file for a fiancee visa why would you do such thing? I'm not trying to make you feel bad but USCIS will get mixed up signals thinking you guys actually got married because of the proof you've provided yet...

1) you're asking to enter the US as a fiancee, 

2) Proof on the first look give the impression that you're married

3) If you get asked for more proof of your marriage you aren't actually married

4) Looks like you are trying to trick officials in order to get to the US asap.

 

Sadly there are rules to follow, and it is not an easy journey. Try to sort our this mess and if you guys are ready to get married, file for a SPOUSAL VISA IR1/CR1.

 

Good luck and hope you can sort this out soon x

 

[C&AH 104]

I would cancel the check, retrieve the package from the USPS, get married, and file a CR1.

 

It is called USPS Package Intercept. 

https://pi.usps.com/cpi/howItWorks.jsp

[usmsbow 801]

If you're able to cancel the check, and the petition is returned to you, I would stick with the K-1. Just take out all the "wedding" documentation and re-submit it. Why? Because I'm suspect him visiting you again and getting legally married won't be easy to do in the immediate future. 

[jdaveh 58]

Yesterday my husband in the US file the petition. And when i sent the petition i put some photos of me and my husband together and also 1 photo of our wedding party.   Who sent the petition? You or your Fiancee?  

Edited August 7, 2018 by jdaveh

[CEE53147 559]

You need an attorney to walk you through the process.  An attorney has the best chance of knowing how to make the best of the mess.

[Alabamak1 688]

not to make a bigger mess here, but here it goes:

 

A) try not to loose it  and STOP calling him your husband if that is not the case.

B) you buried yourself, when you called them and told them information they might not have had before you divulged it. Being almost too married for K-1 and not married enough for CR-1

C) IMO you need to ride it out and get either a rejection or RFE, if that would be the case

D) The consular officer will grill you if he thinks you are lying. They might not take your explanation as good enough now for that picture you already send

E) Some people here have given you options on how and maybe you could stop them from processing the application. Either way you are going to be loosing time and/or money, because of your own doing. 

F) Still after all of this mess, I wish you good luck and hope it doesn't end up in a 9-12 moths K-1 process to denial at the embassy to later have to refile for a CR-1 with another wait time of 16 months maybe...you get the picture. This doing of yours, could end up in a 3 year wait.

 

Good luck