Wedding ceremony (no paperwork) and the interview

[sealedkiss 1]

This topic has been discussed at length, but the answers are mixed. Some say it's too risky to get married before coming to the US with a K1 visa. Others say as long as it's not a legal wedding (no marriage certificate), one should not worry too much.

I want to seek personal experiences from VN VJers. Some of you must have done the exact same thing.

My fiancee's interview is June 27. We plan to have a wedding ceremony (no paperwork) in August. Assuming all is well she will follow me to the states after the wedding. We had our engagement ceremony last year. The question is, should she disclose the wedding planning as evidence at the interview? That is, the venue booking receipt, money transfer receipt, the invitation, etc.?

How can we best handle this situation, at the upcoming interview, at the port of entry, and at the AOS interview?

Any input is appreciated.

[AustinJohn 2]

"My fiancee's interview is June 27. We plan to have a wedding ceremony (no paperwork) in August. Assuming all is well she will follow me to the states after the wedding. We had our engagement ceremony last year. The question is, should she disclose the wedding planning as evidence at the interview? That is, the venue booking receipt, money transfer receipt, the invitation, etc.?

How can we best handle this situation, at the upcoming interview, at the port of entry, and at the AOS interview?"

Hi, my fiancee and I haven't gone completely through the process. You are further along than us. However, I can share with you what I know and what we are planning. I am travelling to VN this month (June) and my fiancee and I will be having a wedding ceremony. She has not had the interview yet. I plan on telling her to share the pictures and video of the wedding ceremony with the CO when she has her interview. She understands that we must get marriage certificate in U.S.

I have talked with the consulate office in HCMC and they told me that there is no problem as long as we don't get a marriage certificate. People on these boards argue this matter back and forth because the laws of the country that you have the ceremony are very important. According to the Department of State, a legal marriage in a country other than U.S. is considered a legal marriage for the U.S. Now, speaking of Vietnam, it is a simple matter from what I understand, because the laws are very specific in the requirements for getting a legal marriage in Vietnam. Just having a marriage ceremony in VN does not make you married in Vietnam. Now, in other countries, it may be different.

As far as the point of entry is concerned, my fiancee will tell anyone that inquires about her status as single, because technically, she still is still single.

Please don't just take my word for it. Research it yourself and get comfortable with your decision. Good luck!

[sealedkiss 1]

Thanks AustinJohn for sharing your story. Any other ideas out there?

[CK&Tydi 0]

Thanks AustinJohn for sharing your story. Any other ideas out there?

Sealedkiss,

It will not matter at all, aslong you dont register to the Vietnamese Government. Who will know? I had my Wedding last Year. It was in the Church too. I signed the paperwork in the Church but we did not register to the Vietnamese Government. My wife had her interviewed in March 2007 and she passed it without any problem. Plus the Vietnamese Police will not go to all the HOtel Restaurant and ask you for information about your wedding, so dont' worry. I think you will be ok for your case. Plus, get married in Vietnam is much cheaper than in the state Good Luck.

[sealedkiss 1]

CK&Tydi, thank you! Did your wife show the wedding evidence at the interview? Did she volunteer it?

[CK&Tydi 0]

CK&Tydi, thank you! Did your wife show the wedding evidence at the interview? Did she volunteer it?

She got a few pictures organize by each trips i went back. They did not ask her for the pictures at all. So it depends on the CO at the interview. Make sure tell ur Fiancee one thing, they will ask how is the wedding party, or how many people at the wedding party? Some trick questions to mess you up. So tell her becareful and listen to the questions they will ask her. Make sure tell her listen careful, and reply it was our engagment party only not the wedding party. In the interview, she had to go through 2 process. Make sure she organizes all the requirement in the chronlogical order. This will save her a lot of time and speed up the process. Good luck.

[ridejewel 0]

My wife and I did the same thing. Though, we decided to not disclose our wedding information to the CO. Pretty much we just pretended that it didn't happen. I can't really tell you why we decided to go about it that way, but at the time it seemed like the thing to do. I'm sure that anyway you go, you'll be fine. Just make sure that the CO understands that it WAS NOT a legal ceremony, otherwise they may make you wait on an investigation into whether her status has changed or not.

[sunandmoon 450]

another thing to consider when having a non binding wedding ceromony before entering the USA on a K-1. make sure there is no indication of having been married when you go thru your POE. might cause you some big headaches.

[chuckandkim 0]

Ready, read what Vietnam Government Law says about marriage:

Marry A Vietnam National

If you plan to go through and complete all of the requirement here throu this link, they you are MARRIED in Vietnam and by Vietnamese government. Legally and technically you are married and no longer qualified for K-1 Visa. Your journey doesn't end here, just think of it as: upgrade to a different class of flight Should be applying all over for a K-3 instead.

So, I don't argue with anyone here, just go by the fact: you can have your wedding all you want, can even tell the C.O. you have a huge wedding ceremony and reception. All C.O. will care is: did you or did you not get a Marriage Certificate from the Vietnamese Interior Dept? If the answer is YES, you will not get to apply for a K-1, but need to apply for a K-3 or other class of Visa.

There is nothing to it to argue

Have fun throwing a huge wedding ceremony!

[randh 0]

Congratulation and Good Luck to you both!

I have a question for my own story.

My fiancee now is on a 221g that requests for more relationship evidences. We did not have an engagemnet ceremony before. And I think it is 1 of several reasons that my fiancee did not pass the interviews.

Now, can I go to Vietnam, having the engagement ceremony, taking pictures and gather all evidences and we both go to HCMC to submit them to CO and tell them here is our engagement proof?

Any idea, please?

This topic has been discussed at length, but the answers are mixed. Some say it's too risky to get married before coming to the US with a K1 visa. Others say as long as it's not a legal wedding (no marriage certificate), one should not worry too much.

I want to seek personal experiences from VN VJers. Some of you must have done the exact same thing.

My fiancee's interview is June 27. We plan to have a wedding ceremony (no paperwork) in August. Assuming all is well she will follow me to the states after the wedding. We had our engagement ceremony last year. The question is, should she disclose the wedding planning as evidence at the interview? That is, the venue booking receipt, money transfer receipt, the invitation, etc.?

How can we best handle this situation, at the upcoming interview, at the port of entry, and at the AOS interview?

Any input is appreciated.