K1--- engagement risks visa??

[elkski 28]

I read the Thread where someone wanted to get enganged in Ghana  but everyone said it was a big red no no!.  I assume this  engagement had no official paperwork towards an official marriage.  Help me to understand this , so you cant get engaged before entering the USA on a K1 visa. or is the celebration size important to the US government?

[Boiler 45,504]

Well for a K1 you have to be engaged.

 

Getting married is the issue I imagine you are referring to, that in whatever form is a no no for a K1.

[JFH 12,190]

No traditional ceremonies. The lines between engaged and married in many cultures are too blurred. In some cultures, holding a party,  wearing certain clothing, exchanging gifts, eating certain foods, paying a certain amount of money means you are considered married in that culture, even if no legal ceremony has taken place. One should avoid all such ceremonies if applying for a K-1. 

[NoMansLand2020 298]

22 minutes ago, elkski said:

I read the Thread where someone wanted to get enganged in Ghana  but everyone said it was a big red no no!.  I assume this  engagement had no official paperwork towards an official marriage.  Help me to understand this , so you cant get engaged before entering the USA on a K1 visa. or is the celebration size important to the US government?

No big parties or ceremonies. I'm sure you could take engagement photos too. But don't be wearing wedding apparel. 

[elkski 28]

 do you really have to be engaged for K1? What constitutes engagement?   I just thought committed to marry each other.   In Thailand it is quite common to do the marriage thing but not file anything official.  I think there is even an engagement celebration...    

[Boiler 45,504]

Committed to getting married = engaged.

[carmel34 3,629]

We have seen many here on VJ whose K-1 was denied because they submitted photos with their package of an engagement party or celebration that looked like a wedding--with traditional marriage clothing, many people in attendance, exchanging rings, paying dowries, religious commitment to each other, etc.   Even if it is not considered a valid marriage in the country, in the eyes of US immigration it can be perceived as a wedding, so to avoid the risk of denial, most experienced VJ members recommend not doing it, or at least not submitting those photos to US immigration as sometimes they see this as being too married for a K-1.  All you need to submit are photos of the couple in normal clothing and evidence that you met in person at least once in the 12 months prior to filing the petition (passport stamps, boarding passes, hotel receipts), and letters of commitment to get married in the US.  For high-fraud countries, and if there are various red flags like a big age gap, it is recommended to submit evidence of multiple visits, showing lots of time spent together in person.  Good luck!

Edited February 29, 2020 by carmel34

[JFH 12,190]

20 hours ago, elkski said:

 do you really have to be engaged for K1? What constitutes engagement?   I just thought committed to marry each other.   In Thailand it is quite common to do the marriage thing but not file anything official.  I think there is even an engagement celebration...    

exactly! I’ve been married twice (husband number 2 is a keeper so far) But never been “engaged” in the Facebook/instagram sense. Never had a ring, never had a party, never referred to my status as “engaged”. We mutually came to the conclusion in both relationships that marriage was what we wanted. That’s enough for a K-1 - a decision to marry. The rest is all just for the ‘Gram.

[Unlockable 7,314]

22 hours ago, elkski said:

 do you really have to be engaged for K1? What constitutes engagement?   I just thought committed to marry each other.   In Thailand it is quite common to do the marriage thing but not file anything official.  I think there is even an engagement celebration...    

An engagement is simply an agreement to marry someone. You can ask someone to marry you over WhatsApp. Engagement has no official legal status.

 

The problem is sometimes people take the celebration of the engagement too far. They formally dress up, invite tons of people, and exchange vows. That looks too much like a wedding than an engagement party. 

 

Another problem is that different cultures take such celebrations as officially being married. Even if they don’t sign anything, because of religious and cultural beliefs, they are considered officially married.

[Hank_ 9,174]

23 hours ago, elkski said:

 do you really have to be engaged for K1? What constitutes engagement?**   I just thought committed to marry each other.   In Thailand it is quite common to do the marriage thing but not file anything official.  I think there is even an engagement celebration...    

 

**  .. Will you marry me?

      ....    YES

 

 

Engaged