If I got K1 VISA, can I marry US Citizen in my country first?

[Rocio0010 5,579]

7 minutes ago, Gabriela Gaghana said:

I see I see, but my question is if I got the K1 visa on my hand, can I held a religious wedding in my country then after that I can visit to USA and married legally?

No, absolutely not advisable to do so, even with a K1 visa on your hand. Why not do it the right way and do it after you get married in the US?

[Unlockable 7,315]

Just now, Gabriela Gaghana said:

I see I see, but my question is if I got the K1 visa on my hand, can I held a religious wedding in my country then after that I can visit to USA and married legally?

 

That is fraud. Please get the idea out of your head. The requirements  for a K1 is that you must be unmarried in any capacity when you enter the US with that visa. They can come after your fiancé later and/or deny other immigrations processes, like Removal of conditions or even citizenship,  if they find out they knowing entered the US on a K1 while being married. And immigration can check at any time. If I had time I would also search and share cases on this site where it was discovered later that the beneficiary entered with a K1 while being married.. Do not go down this rabbit hole of deceitfulness.

 

And to be frank here, if this is such a big deal for you and your fiancé, it may have been better for you to have gotten married in your fiancé's country and did a spousal visa. This seems to be an important issue and it should have been taken into consideration when deciding on which visa to do.

 

Fortunately, you still have options:

1. Cancel your K1, go get married in your fiancé's country, then start over with a spousal visa.

2. Continue with the current K1, complete the marriage in the US and have your new spouse obtain a green card. Return to their country and have another wedding there.

[JeanneAdil 6,562]

Read what USCIS says

 

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

 

If you have already married, plan to marry outside the United States, or your fiancé(e) is already residing legally in the United States, your spouse or fiancé(e) is not eligible for a fiancé(e) visa. Go to the Bringing Spouses to Live in the United States as Permanent Residents page for more information about how to help your foreign spouse apply for a Green Card.

 

[Mike E 11,741]

44 minutes ago, Gabriela Gaghana said:

I see I see, but my question is if I got the K1 visa on my hand, can I held a religious wedding in my country then after that I can visit to USA

If you mean can you legally enter the USA on a K-1 after getting married, no.  
 

If you mean is it possible a CBP officer will fail to find out you are married and admit you as a K-1, yes that’s possible.  
 

In which case you can’t legally get a green card.  snd if you are illegally granted a green card you can’t legally become a U.S. citizen. 

 

Quote

 

and married legally?

And forever wonder if that knock on the door is ICE coming for you.  
 

For what? 

Edited October 13, 2022 by Mike E

[SteveInBostonI130 3,468]

1 hour ago, Gabriela Gaghana said:

I see I see, but my question is if I got the K1 visa on my hand, can I held a religious wedding in my country then after that I can visit to USA and married legally?

No.

[Loren Y 2,755]

1 hour ago, Gabriela Gaghana said:

I see I see, but my question is if I got the K1 visa on my hand, can I held a religious wedding in my country then after that I can visit to USA and married legally?

I'll keep it really simple... NO!, and once again for the cheap seats NOOOOOOO!!!!!!

[beloved_dingo 1,979]

Getting a visa in your passport does not guarantee your entry into the U.S. - that is what others here are trying to point out. It is not worth it to do anything that might risk your entry into the country.

 

CBP officers have the authority to question you, look through your phone, laptop, etc. An example that comes to mind is one couple that found out the hard way when CBP officers saw messages where the couple used nicknames like "hubby" for each other in texts, and the intending immigrant was denied entry on the K1 based on suspicion of already being married. 

 

 

[powerpuff 6,736]

~~ Topic moved from K1 Progress Reports to Process ~~

[Calicolom 266]

7 hours ago, biscoito1r said:

Ok. Your response makes sense as you want to be on the side of caution

Here an attorney explains what I just said

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6v1ElDvyeWw

 

Attorneys, tell you what you want to hear. That is why they always take your money, beforehand.

[SalishSea 17,928]

9 hours ago, biscoito1r said:

Yes you can have a wedding ceremony in your country as long as it is not a civil marriage in any way. Later you can enter with your K1 visa and then you must have a civil marriage within the 90 days. Religious or ceremonial marriages are not legally biding in the US.

There are some exceptions depending on the country of course. Some countries consider religious marriage legally biding. So it is a good idea to verify first to make sure.

https://www.sl-immigration.com/fiance-visas-religious-ceremony-abroad/

Bad advice.   OP, do not follow this.

[SalishSea 17,928]

7 hours ago, biscoito1r said:

No it isn't, as wedding ceremonies aren't legally biding.

True and irrelevant as they don't actually need a reason to deny entry to anyone.

 

Except for the fact that it wasn't a legally biding ceremony. One could simply acquire a certificate of single in a country that provides it. Think of it also this one. Right after such a ceremony they can still go to city hall or whatever and get legally married to someone else.

 

Our discussion has became redundant at this point as I feel like I'm just repeating myself at this time. Therefore, would you be able to provide any evidence that a non legally biding ceremony would disqualify someone from a K1 visa ? If you do I'd appreciate it. Thanks.

There are many, many examples of K-1 denials for couples who did exactly what you’re suggesting OP do, right here on VJ.

 

You’re new here.  Maybe some reading and educating yourself on the precedent involved before recommending something which is very likely to get someone’s visa denied?

[SalishSea 17,928]

6 hours ago, Gabriela Gaghana said:

I see I see, but my question is if I got the K1 visa on my hand, can I held a religious wedding in my country then after that I can visit to USA and married legally?

Are you carefully reading the advice you’re getting?   The bottom line is that what you want to do puts your visa AT RISK.   It’s your choice, but you asked and we replied.

[Verrou 1,962]

i happened from indonesia. so in indonesia, religious marriage doesnt count as legal marriage if you dont go to court to make it official. but it's tied. because in indonesia you have to get religious marriage ( you have to have religion in indonesia ) plus go to the court to make it official or registered. so in the eye of indonesia goverment, religious marriage (only) is not considered "valid".  i hope it make sense....

 

im just sharing what i know about indonesia, and im not sure how uscis perceived on this one ( i never done it ) many2 people did this in indonesia, marriage at church or mosque, applied for K1 and married in USA. is it fraud ? i dont know and at that time i had 0 knowledge about immigration so i didnt ask any questions

 

OP my suggestion is dont do any religious marriage just to be on the safe side. no need to rock the boat. 

 

 

Edited October 13, 2022 by Misscloud

[Cathi 5,771]

The only answer is no.

11 minutes ago, Misscloud said:

i happened from indonesia. so in indonesia, religious marriage doesnt count as legal marriage if you dont go to court to make it official. but it's tied. because in indonesia you have to get religious marriage ( you have to have religion in indonesia ) plus go to the court to make it official or registered. so in the eye of indonesia goverment, religious marriage (only) is not considered "valid".  i hope it make sense....

 

im just sharing what i know about indonesia, and im not sure how uscis perceived on this one ( i never done it ) many2 people did this in indonesia, marriage at church or mosque, applied for K1 and married in USA. is it fraud ? i dont know and at that time i had 0 knowledge about immigration so i didnt ask any questions

 

OP my suggestion is dont do any religious marriage just to be on the safe side. no need to rock the boat. 

 

 

Yes, it's absolutely fraud.

[mam521 2,103]

Many cultures have religious ceremonies that are viewed in the eyes of US Immigration as being "too married" for a K1 visa.  Do not put yourselves at risk.  Enter the US, marry, adjust status then have your religious ceremony in your own country.  People here are not joking when they tell you that USCIS can dig into your whole life and if they find out you did a religious ceremony prior to entering the US to get legally married, it may well jeopardize your whole life and the plans you have in the US.  The type of marriage and the impacts are the considerations that needed to be made PRIOR to applying for the visa type you applied for.  If a religious ceremony was that important, you should have considered a spousal visa, not a fiancé visa.

Edited October 13, 2022 by mam521