Are wedding pictures important to show as evidence?

[ALKHAN 0]

I have my interview schedule on 17th April, I don't have wedding pictures available, coz it was court marriage , no formal reception was given. but i have other evidence like , phone bills, e-mails, letters, cards, and other pictures together, can anyone tell me , will it be a problem at the time of interview ?

[tienliu 0]

Yes, do bring the wedding pictures to the interview. In my wife's case, the interviewer even carefully went over our email correspondence and asked questions while reading it.

[Donna A 4]

we didnt have wedding or reception pictures either. we just sent pics of us together. we just got married infront of the judge with strangers as witnesses so no pics were taken.

good luck

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

I have my interview schedule on 17th April, I don't have wedding pictures available, coz it was court marriage , no formal reception was given. but i have other evidence like , phone bills, e-mails, letters, cards, and other pictures together, can anyone tell me , will it be a problem at the time of interview ?

This was in Pakistan?

It is not the norm for a desi couple to have a court marriage and no reception. You will be asked to explain it. Do you have any other forms of evidence to demonstrate that society recognizes you two as a married couple? That matters in India & Pakistan.

Good luck.

Edited February 1, 2006 by Agent Smith

[Yodrak 7]

Agent Smith,

I don't doubt that ALKHAN may be asked to explain the atypical situation of a court marriage without reception, but as to the validity of the marriage in a legal sense they must have some evidence that was satisfactory to the USCIS? A certificate of marriage, perhaps, that would be equally suitable for the visa interview?

The other aspect of a valid marriage - not for the purpose of evading US immigration law - is a different issue, and that's what the other types of evidence that ALKAHN lists should show. This is the aspect of the marriage that might be questionable given the atypical circumstances of the 'wedding'?

Yodrak

I have my interview schedule on 17th April, I don't have wedding pictures available, coz it was court marriage , no formal reception was given. but i have other evidence like , phone bills, e-mails, letters, cards, and other pictures together, can anyone tell me , will it be a problem at the time of interview ?

This was in Pakistan?

It is not the norm for a desi couple to have a court marriage and no reception. You will be asked to explain it. Do you have any other forms of evidence to demonstrate that society recognizes you two as a married couple? That matters in India & Pakistan.

Good luck.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Yes, of course he will need his marriage certificate. I didn't mention that in my post as I assumed he had that already since that is normally produced as result of a court marriage.

Beyond the certificate, however, he will need to show that his and her family/friends and neighbors recognize their marriage (or at least know that they are married). This is particularly important in south asian weddings since in these cultures marriage is between two families and not between two people.

Agent Smith,

I don't doubt that ALKHAN may be asked to explain the atypical situation of a court marriage without reception, but as to the validity of the marriage in a legal sense they must have some evidence that was satisfactory to the USCIS? A certificate of marriage, perhaps, that would be equally suitable for the visa interview?

The other aspect of a valid marriage - not for the purpose of evading US immigration law - is a different issue, and that's what the other types of evidence that ALKAHN lists should show. This is the aspect of the marriage that might be questionable given the atypical circumstances of the 'wedding'?

Yodrak

I have my interview schedule on 17th April, I don't have wedding pictures available, coz it was court marriage , no formal reception was given. but i have other evidence like , phone bills, e-mails, letters, cards, and other pictures together, can anyone tell me , will it be a problem at the time of interview ?

This was in Pakistan?

It is not the norm for a desi couple to have a court marriage and no reception. You will be asked to explain it. Do you have any other forms of evidence to demonstrate that society recognizes you two as a married couple? That matters in India & Pakistan.

Good luck.

[Yodrak 7]

Agent Smith,

Why is it necessary, for US immigration purposes, to show that private individuals recognize the marriage? The US government recognizes the legality of a marriage if the foreign government recognizes it.

I can see how the family acceptance might possibly play a part in evaluating the bona fides of a marriage, but even then a family that is upset over who their son or daughter marries, and therefore refuses to accept the marriage at an emotional level, does not mean that the marriage is not bona fide.

Yodrak

Yes, of course he will need his marriage certificate. I didn't mention that in my post as I assumed he had that already since that is normally produced as result of a court marriage.

Beyond the certificate, however, he will need to show that his and her family/friends and neighbors recognize their marriage (or at least know that they are married). This is particularly important in south asian weddings since in these cultures marriage is between two families and not between two people.

Agent Smith,

I don't doubt that ALKHAN may be asked to explain the atypical situation of a court marriage without reception, but as to the validity of the marriage in a legal sense they must have some evidence that was satisfactory to the USCIS? A certificate of marriage, perhaps, that would be equally suitable for the visa interview?

The other aspect of a valid marriage - not for the purpose of evading US immigration law - is a different issue, and that's what the other types of evidence that ALKAHN lists should show. This is the aspect of the marriage that might be questionable given the atypical circumstances of the 'wedding'?

Yodrak

I have my interview schedule on 17th April, I don't have wedding pictures available, coz it was court marriage , no formal reception was given. but i have other evidence like , phone bills, e-mails, letters, cards, and other pictures together, can anyone tell me , will it be a problem at the time of interview ?

This was in Pakistan?

It is not the norm for a desi couple to have a court marriage and no reception. You will be asked to explain it. Do you have any other forms of evidence to demonstrate that society recognizes you two as a married couple? That matters in India & Pakistan.

Good luck.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Agent Smith,

Why is it necessary, for US immigration purposes, to show that private individuals recognize the marriage? The US government recognizes the legality of a marriage if the foreign government recognizes it.

I can see how the family acceptance might possibly play a part in evaluating the bona fides of a marriage, but even then a family that is upset over who their son or daughter marries, and therefore refuses to accept the marriage at an emotional level, does not mean that the marriage is not bona fide.

Yodrak

Ok, I take back the "he will need to" part of my statement. Let's just say US consulars in India/Pakistan look for that, and if they don't see it they ask questions, which they expect good answers to.

[Yodrak 7]

Agent Smith,

Good advice, thanks for the discussion.

Yodrak

Agent Smith,

Why is it necessary, for US immigration purposes, to show that private individuals recognize the marriage? The US government recognizes the legality of a marriage if the foreign government recognizes it.

I can see how the family acceptance might possibly play a part in evaluating the bona fides of a marriage, but even then a family that is upset over who their son or daughter marries, and therefore refuses to accept the marriage at an emotional level, does not mean that the marriage is not bona fide.

Yodrak

Ok, I take back the "he will need to" part of my statement. Let's just say US consulars in India/Pakistan look for that, and if they don't see it they ask questions, which they expect good answers to.

[jennieh 0]

We dont have actual pictures of our wedding cause it was with a lawyer. But we do have pictures of the wedding party alot of them. I dont think it can be a big problem just having proof of your relationship should be enough.

[Kelvin 0]

We don't have wedding pix either because marriage in Japan is bureaucratic. I thought about taking a pic with the clerk that processed our forms, but he might have thought that would be weird

The ceremonies in Japan are cool, but not binding. We're more casual and didn't do one. Fortunately our families are behind us and we have pix of each other with both families.

KZ

[ALKHAN 0]

Yes, of course he will need his marriage certificate. I didn't mention that in my post as I assumed he had that already since that is normally produced as result of a court marriage.

Beyond the certificate, however, he will need to show that his and her family/friends and neighbors recognize their marriage (or at least know that they are married). This is particularly important in south asian weddings since in these cultures marriage is between two families and not between two people.

YEAH I AGREE WITH YOU THAT HERE MARRIAGE IS BETWEEN TWO FAMILIES THIS IS WHAT THE SOCIETY ASSUMES. BUT WHAT WHEN THE FAMILIES ARE NOT WILLING TO ... ...IN OUR CASE THE FAMILIES OF BOTH OF US WERE NOT AGREED. THEREFORE WE HAD TO TAKE THIS DECISION,, WE KEPT THE THINGS SECRETE UNLESS WE WERE MARRIED. AND OFCOURSE I HAVE SUCH E-MAILS IN WHICH WE DECIDED OUR PLAN TO KEEP OUR MARRIAGE SECRETE AND DISCLOSE IT LATER...AND OFCOURSE OUR LAW ACCEPT IT , THAT IS WHY WE HAVE BEEN ISSUED MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE, AND IT WAS SOLEMINIZED INFRONT OF A JUDGE...WHAT DO YOU THINK NOW?, WILL THEY ACCEPT THIS EXPLANATION.

[ALKHAN 0]

Yes, of course he will need his marriage certificate. I didn't mention that in my post as I assumed he had that already since that is normally produced as result of a court marriage.

Beyond the certificate, however, he will need to show that his and her family/friends and neighbors recognize their marriage (or at least know that they are married). This is particularly important in south asian weddings since in these cultures marriage is between two families and not between two people.

YEAH I AGREE WITH YOU THAT HERE MARRIAGE IS BETWEEN TWO FAMILIES THIS IS WHAT THE SOCIETY ASSUMES. BUT WHAT WHEN THE FAMILIES ARE NOT WILLING TO ... ...IN OUR CASE THE FAMILIES OF BOTH OF US WERE NOT AGREED. THEREFORE WE HAD TO TAKE THIS DECISION,, WE KEPT THE THINGS SECRETE UNLESS WE WERE MARRIED. AND OFCOURSE I HAVE SUCH E-MAILS IN WHICH WE DECIDED OUR PLAN TO KEEP OUR MARRIAGE SECRETE AND DISCLOSE IT LATER...AND OFCOURSE OUR LAW ACCEPT IT , THAT IS WHY WE HAVE BEEN ISSUED MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE, AND IT WAS SOLEMINIZED INFRONT OF A JUDGE...WHAT DO YOU THINK NOW?, WILL THEY ACCEPT THIS EXPLANATION.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

YEAH I AGREE WITH YOU THAT HERE MARRIAGE IS BETWEEN TWO FAMILIES THIS IS WHAT THE SOCIETY ASSUMES. BUT WHAT WHEN THE FAMILIES ARE NOT WILLING TO ... ...IN OUR CASE THE FAMILIES OF BOTH OF US WERE NOT AGREED. THEREFORE WE HAD TO TAKE THIS DECISION,, WE KEPT THE THINGS SECRETE UNLESS WE WERE MARRIED. AND OFCOURSE I HAVE SUCH E-MAILS IN WHICH WE DECIDED OUR PLAN TO KEEP OUR MARRIAGE SECRETE AND DISCLOSE IT LATER...AND OFCOURSE OUR LAW ACCEPT IT , THAT IS WHY WE HAVE BEEN ISSUED MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE, AND IT WAS SOLEMINIZED INFRONT OF A JUDGE...WHAT DO YOU THINK NOW?, WILL THEY ACCEPT THIS EXPLANATION.

They will ask you why your families did not agree. Your response will generate appropriate followups. If you can answer them consistently, you should be ok. JMHO, of course.

Edited February 2, 2006 by Agent Smith

[tienliu 0]

Just pictures of you two would be fine. Email correspondence is also a potent proof of your relationship. In our case, email correspondence, rather than pictures, was inspected.