K1 Visa Marriage Question

[J&J2021 25]

I understand that the K1 visa is meant for those couple who will get married within 90 days of entering the USA.

 

Does the marriage have to take place in the USA?

 

The reason for the question is that this as a debate in a WhatsApp group that i am part of.

 

Some folks seems to think that once your visa is approved that you can get married in the Foreign country if you wanted and then enter  the US before the 90 days and legalize that marital union.

 

The way i always understood this is that the beneficiary has to enter the USA and the marriage will need to take place before the 90 days upon entry.

 

Thanks In advance

[Crazy Cat 41,845]

"Some folks seems to think that once your visa is approved that you can get married in the Foreign country if you wanted and then enter  the US before the 90 days and legalize that marital union."

 

A K-1 marriage MUST take place inside the US.  "Those" folks are 100% wrong.  A married person cannot enter the US via a K-1 visa....period.  A fiance must enter the US via the K-1, then marry inside the US within 90 days after entry.

Edited December 12, 2021 by Crazy Cat

[igoyougoduke 1,656]

21 minutes ago, J&J2021 said:

I understand that the K1 visa is meant for those couple who will get married within 90 days of entering the USA.

 

Does the marriage have to take place in the USA?

 

The reason for the question is that this as a debate in a WhatsApp group that i am part of.

 

Some folks seems to think that once your visa is approved that you can get married in the Foreign country if you wanted and then enter  the US before the 90 days and legalize that marital union.

 

The way i always understood this is that the beneficiary has to enter the USA and the marriage will need to take place before the 90 days upon entry.

 

Thanks In advance

do you know that k1 is valid for 1 entry. if they leave to get married abroad, how will they reenter ? 

[canadian_wife 1,822]

55 minutes ago, igoyougoduke said:

do you know that k1 is valid for 1 entry. if they leave to get married abroad, how will they reenter ? 

 

I wonder if they mean getting married prior to entering them US then 'legalize the marital union' whatever that means.

 

Either way - no.  It is clearly spelled out here. so send your WhatsApp friends here

 

https://www.uscis.gov/family/family-of-us-citizens/visas-for-fiancees-of-us-citizens

 

good luck 

[Mexis2020 18]

One (1) entry into the US for marriage in the US within the 90 days. The K-1 itself is only good for the one entry and the entire purpose, attestation and substantiation is to get married within 90 days after entering the US.

[millefleur 5,046]

3 hours ago, J&J2021 said:

Some folks seems to think that once your visa is approved that you can get married in the Foreign country if you wanted and then enter  the US before the 90 days and legalize that marital union.

And this is how rumors and bad advice get spread around. It's also why we don't like when people post links to WhatsApp and Facebook groups here. I understand those groups can be helpful, but there seems to be a rumor mill in those groups that can lead people down the wrong paths.

 

Like everyone else said: K-1 is a single entry, "marry within 90 days, adjust to stay or leave" visa. That's why it's called a "fiance" visa, you enter as a fiance and marry in the US. If someone wanted to get married abroad, why would they even bother with a K-1? There's a visa for people who are already married and it's the CR-1/IR-1 spousal visa.

Edited December 13, 2021 by millefleur

[SteveInBostonI130 3,434]

3 hours ago, J&J2021 said:

I understand that the K1 visa is meant for those couple who will get married within 90 days of entering the USA.

 

Does the marriage have to take place in the USA?

 

The reason for the question is that this as a debate in a WhatsApp group that i am part of.

 

Some folks seems to think that once your visa is approved that you can get married in the Foreign country if you wanted and then enter  the US before the 90 days and legalize that marital union.

 

The way i always understood this is that the beneficiary has to enter the USA and the marriage will need to take place before the 90 days upon entry.

 

Thanks In advance

 

Incorrect.  100% Incorrect.  More than 100% incorrect if that's even possible.

 

If, for some reason, anyone marries before entering the US with their K1, and somehow is allowed to enter and even adjust status, the problem they created can come up at anytime.  During the AOS and get denied, during ROC and get denied, during N400 and get denied.  Even citizenship can be revoked if the underlying basis of the citizenship was misrepresented - i.e., getting married outside the US on a K1.

 

 

[Mary1014 9]

I think what they mean is that you can have a wedding reception ( not sign any legal documents that making you and fiance a married couple under the laws) then get in the USA and sign the marriage papers and make it legal.

[TBoneTX 45,273]

11 minutes ago, Mary1014 said:

have a wedding reception ( not sign any legal documents that making you and fiance a married couple under the laws) then get in the USA and sign the marriage papers and make it legal.

This foolhardy act has led to more problems than perhaps any other single action ever written about on VisaJourney.

[J&J2021 25]

Hello All,

 

thanks for your prompt replies. I was sure that the person arguing this with me was incorrect but i just wanted to verify.

[SalishSea 17,826]

11 hours ago, Mary1014 said:

I think what they mean is that you can have a wedding reception ( not sign any legal documents that making you and fiance a married couple under the laws) then get in the USA and sign the marriage papers and make it legal.

Do not do this.  This is an excellent way to have the K-1 denied.

[JeanneAdil 6,498]

15 hours ago, Mary1014 said:

I think what they mean is that you can have a wedding reception ( not sign any legal documents that making you and fiance a married couple under the laws) then get in the USA and sign the marriage papers and make it legal.

at this type of marriage celebration (usually after signing documents for marriage) there is a full henia phase/   when i traveled to Morocc and came back thru JFK the customs clerk asked me "you got married on your visit ?"   as i had henia / just becuase i liked it not married on that first trip 

but just letting all who do this type of celebration complete with henia and/ or photos of sharing dates and milk for the marriage meal,   the customs and border people are not stupid -not at all-  they know how to pick out things out 

a person coming on a K1 visa and showing any signs of marriage /any kind of signs can and would be turned away and sent home

immigration will not abide breaking the rules 

[Crazy Cat 41,845]

16 hours ago, Mary1014 said:

I think what they mean is that you can have a wedding reception ( not sign any legal documents that making you and fiance a married couple under the laws) then get in the USA and sign the marriage papers and make it legal.

That is not even possible......Don't even try it. 

[Mary1014 9]

Im not supporting this either but whatever they talked in the whatsapp group chat, ı think thats what they were trying to say. İn some culture reception is the marriage not the papers you sign. 

[SalishSea 17,826]

1 hour ago, Mary1014 said:

Im not supporting this either but whatever they talked in the whatsapp group chat, ı think thats what they were trying to say. İn some culture reception is the marriage not the papers you sign. 

If WhatsApp is where you are getting your US immigration info from, you may want to rethink that.  Regardless of what they said can be done, actual people have been denied the visa for holding a "non-legal" or "religious only" ceremony prior to the K-1.