Can we do our traditional engagement before fiance travels

[Illiria 980]

41 minutes ago, Unlockable said:

Like we are advising, it is simply too much of a risk. 

This - we weren’t denied but were given a hard time at our adjustment of status interview when they saw a photo of us at someone else’s wedding (his fathers) I had to offer to get the wedding certificate to show he had been a witness to his fathers wedding. I wasn’t even wearing a dress in the photo just a nice top I wear for work. 

 

They also somehow found a photo of him with his half brother (we didn’t give it to them) and began to think he had a kid with someone else. Asked about three or four times about him having a kid. So they do research other than what you give them and you can’t control what people you know put in the internet. 
 

So you can see how even without any real basis they can pursue you and you are intending on giving them an actual reason to deny (yes they can do this at a later immigration stage if they find out about anything that wasn’t supposed to happen occurring). Some people have had their citizenship denied and sent to an immigration judge because something was amiss with the initial visa given. 

[JeanneAdil 6,498]

According to internet engagement party (in Ghana)  women and you would be in one room and men in another

any time the 2 of you are together (in matching dress)  and have been introduced to family with all the traditional gift giving,  you are married

[Frosh 3]

2 hours ago, Abbyxo95 said:

Hello guys,

I'm in the process of submitting the I129 for my fiance in Ghana. By the looks of it from tracking other people's timelines, if all things go well without delays, we should be able to get an interview by November or December. Since majority of his family live in Ghana, as well as my mother and her side of the family, we were planning to do our traditional engagement in December. Assuming he gets his visa before end of December, are we allowed to do this before he travels to the states? We will have a white wedding and court wedding once he comes. 

You can have ur tradItional ceremony whenever you want it doesn’t matter if u file or not just don’t show the traditional wedding picture in your packet, soon as the embassy sees it they consider you guys married already, and I think you’re trying to file for K1 visa rt if yes go ahead and do your traditional wedding. it has no paper work so do it and keep the pictures away from Uscis. I hope this help you out I did this before too. 

[geowrian 22,337]

Never rely on "they won't find out". Assume they will and act accordingly.

[Frosh 3]

Just now, geowrian said:

Never rely on "they won't find out". Assume they will and act accordingly.

It’s a traditional wedding it’s not official there’s no paper work sign or anything it’s just the gathering of families from both side and I say it again as long as the couples didn’t post such pictures on social media and they never submit pictures from that event they will never find out this is for sure. 

[geowrian 22,337]

1 minute ago, Frosh said:

It’s a traditional wedding it’s not official there’s no paper work sign or anything it’s just the gathering of families from both side and I say it again as long as the couples didn’t post such pictures on social media and they never submit pictures from that event they will never find out this is for sure. 

"they will never find out this is for sure."

Except when they have. It certainly has happened.

I repeat: Never rely on "they won't find out". If everything is above bar, then there should be no issue with them knowing about it. If there is an issue with them knowing about it, then the advice to not do it comes with good reason.

[Frosh 3]

1 minute ago, geowrian said:

"they will never find out this is for sure."

Except when they have. It certainly has happened.

I repeat: Never rely on "they won't find out". If everything is above bar, then there should be no issue with them knowing about it. If there is an issue with them knowing about it, then the advice to not do it comes with good reason.

There’s no big deal even if they see the picture it’s just the gathering of both families showing acceptance of the couples to be married it even show how legit this union will be but whatever you do with Uscis one just need to be smart about it like I said before I did this before and nothing happen. And I understand your point am just letting u know there’s no big deal to this. 

[Unlockable 7,314]

5 minutes ago, Frosh said:

There’s no big deal even if they see the picture it’s just the gathering of both families showing acceptance of the couples to be married it even show how legit this union will be but whatever you do with Uscis one just need to be smart about it like I said before I did this before and nothing happen. And I understand your point am just letting u know there’s no big deal to this. 

Frost, we know you are trying to help, but the advise is too risky. Some members have even posted examples of other members getting denied for the very reason. Even from the OPs country. 

 

Saying there is no big deal can be dangerous because there are people who get denied because of what the OP wants to do. 

 

You can read some of the example threads provided.

[Frosh 3]

5 minutes ago, Unlockable said:

Frost, we know you are trying to help, but the advise is too risky. Some members have even posted examples of other members getting denied for the very reason. Even from the OPs country. 

 

Saying there is no big deal can be dangerous because there are people who get denied because of what the OP wants to do. 

 

You can read some of the example threads provided.

Well I speak only from my own personal experience I did my traditional wedding 2016 and we file for k1 in 2016 and the rest is stories we had our marriage in Maryland so I don’t know the risk maybe you’re right but I did that before sir. And cases are different too all the same I wish them best of luck.

Edited January 27, 2020 by Frosh

[Crazy Cat 41,845]

10 minutes ago, Frosh said:

Well I speak only from my own personal experience I did my traditional wedding 2016 and we file for k1 in 2016 and the rest is stories we had our marriage in Maryland so I don’t know the risk maybe you’re right but I did that before sir. And cases are different too all the same I wish them best of luck.

You can speak only from your one experience.  I can point to numerous others who were denied.....I wouldn't risk it.  The danger is very real.

[NikLR 13,227]

43 minutes ago, Frosh said:

It’s a traditional wedding it’s not official there’s no paper work sign or anything it’s just the gathering of families from both side and I say it again as long as the couples didn’t post such pictures on social media and they never submit pictures from that event they will never find out this is for sure. 

People have gotten denied for the K1 with a traditional wedding because they were too married.  

Also it's important to remember that lying to immigration can lead to a ban.  That includes removal of citizenship and a ban. So yes you will always have that lie chasing you.  It's against TOS to suggest anyone do anything illegal.  Suggesting someone lie about their traditional marriage to either the CO at interview or the CBP at POE is against TOS.  (Yes this includes suggesting this to people via PM as well)

[Frosh 3]

14 minutes ago, NikLR said:

People have gotten denied for the K1 with a traditional wedding because they were too married.  

Also it's important to remember that lying to immigration can lead to a ban.  That includes removal of citizenship and a ban. So yes you will always have that lie chasing you.  It's against TOS to suggest anyone do anything illegal.  Suggesting someone lie about their traditional marriage to either the CO at interview or the CBP at POE is against TOS.  (Yes this includes suggesting this to people via PM as well)

I only share my own personal opinion and my personal experience that’s all, I don’t mean to mislead anyone as i know this is a crucial part of their lives; I did traditional wedding In Africa and still go thru my K1 visa and I didn’t encounter any problem at all it went smoothly. 

[Frosh 3]

29 minutes ago, missileman said:

You can speak only from your one experience.  I can point to numerous others who were denied.....I wouldn't risk it.  The danger is very real.

Of cos you’re right and am not arguing with you or disputing the fact that ppl get denied for so many reasons. So we cool I only share my personal experience that’s all I did. 

[Crazy Cat 41,845]

1 minute ago, Frosh said:

Of cos you’re right and am not arguing with you or disputing the fact that ppl get denied for so many reasons. So we cool I only share my personal experience that’s all I did. 

I understand that you are sharing your experience.  

[ThomasNC1988 762]

You say a traditional engagement ceremony? If it is traditional to have an engagement ceremony then you would probably be safe. If this ceremony looks like a traditional wedding in Ghana that is where you might run into trouble. You can rest assured that the immigration officer will be familiar with local traditions when judging your case. To clarify what I am saying a little bit.

 

If it is traditional for the families to come together and bless the union BEFORE a wedding that would be fine. 

 

If it is traditional for the families to come together AT the wedding that is where you would run into trouble.

 

I have no idea how traditions work in Ghana.