Destination Wedding

[SteveInBostonI130 3,489]

Please be aware that someone entering on a K1 will go to secondary at the US port of entry.  It is not just speaking to a booth agent who says "business or pleasure" and stamps the passport.

 

During secondary they may request to review your social media account, or see your photos, whatever.  Also, they will note the 3rd country stamps in the passport after the K1 visa was issued, and they may ask questions. 

 

If they notice the wedding ceremony, they will ask about it, and may deem that entering on a K1 is invalid because the person is married.

 

The above is hypothetical, but is possible.

[JFH 12,191]

OP, as with many things in life you have choices. 
 

You can either have the big beach wedding that you want and then file for a spousal visa. Whilst we are on the subject of spousal visas you might want to look at the many advantages it has over the K-1 too, and the much lower overall cost.

 

Or you can continue with the K-1, have the legal ceremony in the US (can be as small or as fancy as you like - the only requirement is that it’s legal) and then when your husband has his green card or advance parole you can travel overseas and have big party/vow renewal or whatever you want to call it on a beach somewhere or any other place of your choosing. 
 

In other words, the K-1 isn’t the only option. There’s more than one way to skin a cat. 

Edited September 29, 2020 by JFH

[SusnOwen 162]

You can have a destination wedding on the US Side of the Virgin Islands after he arrives on the K1

[Crazy Cat 42,547]

Just now, SusnOwen said:

You can have a destination wedding on the US Side of the Virgin Islands after he arrives on the K1

Just hope the plane doesn't get diverted to the other side of the island.

[Loren Y 2,756]

1 hour ago, SteveInBostonI130 said:

Please be aware that someone entering on a K1 will go to secondary at the US port of entry.  It is not just speaking to a booth agent who says "business or pleasure" and stamps the passport.

 

During secondary they may request to review your social media account, or see your photos, whatever.  Also, they will note the 3rd country stamps in the passport after the K1 visa was issued, and they may ask questions. 

 

If they notice the wedding ceremony, they will ask about it, and may deem that entering on a K1 is invalid because the person is married.

 

The above is hypothetical, but is possible.

There is a possibility of secondary inspection, it is not guaranteed you are going to secondary. My wife came on a K1 and we went thru POE at LAX in under 15 Minutes, No secondary inspection, it depends on the CBP officer.

[Chancy 6,243]

1 hour ago, SteveInBostonI130 said:

The above is hypothetical, but is possible.

 

Another hypothetical scenario -- at the AOS interview, the interviewer may ask to see photos as part of bona fide marriage evidence.  What if they notice the wedding ceremony photos and ask where and when they were taken?

 

OP, you and your future spouse will have to shoulder many risks and secrets if you push through with a ceremony before your fiance's arrival in the US.  Will it be worth the paranoia of getting found out that your fiance did not strictly adhere to the terms of the K1 visa?

 

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/immigrate/family-immigration/nonimmigrant-visa-for-a-fiance-k-1.html#14

 

After You Receive a K-1 Fiancé(e) Visa

[...] With your visa, you can apply for a single admission at a U.S. port-of-entry within the validity of the visa, [...].  You must marry your U.S. citizen fiancé(e) within 90 days of your entry into the United States.

 

[Crazy Cat 42,547]

38 minutes ago, Loren Y said:

There is a possibility of secondary inspection, it is not guaranteed you are going to secondary. My wife came on a K1 and we went thru POE at LAX in under 15 Minutes, No secondary inspection, it depends on the CBP officer.

@Loren Y, Is your generous destination wedding offer to VJ members still available?   

[Limey 551]

11 hours ago, YueQian said:

After entering US on a K1 he can't travel outside until he gets the green card or advanced parole. 

 

Going to another country BEFORE entering US is ok, you can meet up there, have the ceremony and go to the US and get the marriage certificate.

Bad idea to have a ceremony of marriage before entering the US claiming to be unmarried (as it required for the k1).

[geowrian 22,338]

Legally binding or not, do not have any sort of ceremony that could be construed as a marriage prior to entering the US on the K-1 visa. This is cause for refusal of the visa, or denial at POE, if discovered. They don't need to "prove" you did marry. They only need a reason to suspect that you may no longer be free to marry to refuse the visa or deny entry.

[HRQX 4,145]

2 hours ago, JFH said:

You can either have the big beach wedding that you want and then file for a spousal visa. Whilst we are on the subject of spousal visas you might want to look at the many advantages it has over the K-1 too, and the much lower overall cost.

OP should really consider marrying now* and then filing I-130. From OP's other threads, it looks like either I-129F hasn't been filed yet or was filed in the past week:

 

*Can have small legal ceremony now and destination vow renewal ceremony later.

[Loren Y 2,756]

50 minutes ago, Lucky Cat said:

@Loren Y, Is your generous destination wedding offer to VJ members still available?   

Your right! That's a good idea. Of course my offer is still available, and I am at the Wedding capital of the World. The OP is welcome to make their way to Las Vegas,NV for the destination wedding they are looking for. I can do the easy and simple exchange of Vows, and they can have the certificate in hand in less than an hour. I am actually doing a ceremony this Saturday for a nice couple from VJ. If OP wants to consider this they are welcome to PM me and we will work something out. No charge for my services for VJ members.

Edited September 29, 2020 by Loren Y

[SalishSea 18,218]

19 hours ago, AshleyM said:

Hi! So my fiance ans i are toying with the idea of a destination wedding. Can he travel outside of the US during the 90 days? What if when he gets the k1 visa approval we travel to our destination spot BEFORE he enters the US? We have our ceremony there then fly into the states and get our marriage certificate all before the 90 days, obviously.

You clearly do not have a good understanding of the terms of the K-1 visa.

[SalishSea 18,218]

13 hours ago, YueQian said:

After entering US on a K1 he can't travel outside until he gets the green card or advanced parole. 

 

Going to another country BEFORE entering US is ok, you can meet up there, have the ceremony and go to the US and get the marriage certificate.

Incorrect!  I know you are new here, but why do you dispense so much incorrect advice on this site?  It really does a disservice to others.  

 

 

Edited September 29, 2020 by Jorgedig

[Crazy Cat 42,547]

1 hour ago, Loren Y said:

Your right! That's a good idea. Of course my offer is still available, and I am at the Wedding capital of the World. The OP is welcome to make their way to Las Vegas,NV for the destination wedding they are looking for. I can do the easy and simple exchange of Vows, and they can have the certificate in hand in less than an hour. I am actually doing a ceremony this Saturday for a nice couple from VJ. If OP wants to consider this they are welcome to PM me and we will work something out. No charge for my services for VJ members.

Thanks.....  I think the Admin should pin your post at the top of the VJ home page.  It is such a very generous offer.....

[Strawberrymermaid 346]

2 hours ago, Loren Y said:

Your right! That's a good idea. Of course my offer is still available, and I am at the Wedding capital of the World. The OP is welcome to make their way to Las Vegas,NV for the destination wedding they are looking for. I can do the easy and simple exchange of Vows, and they can have the certificate in hand in less than an hour. I am actually doing a ceremony this Saturday for a nice couple from VJ. If OP wants to consider this they are welcome to PM me and we will work something out. No charge for my services for VJ members.

This is truly amazing.. thanks to @Loren Y for offering this to VJ members 😊