Unregistered wedding while pending K1(split)

[Rocio0010 5,604]

1 hour ago, moonymoony said:

a wedding

You yourself are calling it "a wedding". The IO might just as well decide that you're too married for a K1

[Ontarkie 14,378]

~~One post removed for TOS Violation - Condone or instruct, either directly or indirectly, others on how to commit fraudulent or illegal immigration activities in any way, shape, manner or method.~~

[JeanneAdil 6,606]

we have seen too many people that have a celebration (some say engagement party) and the CO at embassy sees the submitted photos as "too married for  fiancee visa

 

when they suspect this could be the case they also look at messages between the couple to see if they say "my husband or my wife"

at this point ,  u need to register the wedding and go for a spouse visa 

[slavaskii 886]

Because OP has themselves already called their SO "husband" and mentioned "marriage" several times (as opposed to just 'religious ceremony'), it most certainly seems like this has blown past any arguable K-1 qualification. And that's ignoring the fact that, whatever "conservative country" this may be, the Church records may actually be uploaded / accessible somewhere. OP: the only logical way to end this headache is registering the marriage as said above and doing spousal.

[TBoneTX 45,866]

Because you're "too married" for the K-1, withdraw it.  This is actually a long-term boon for you -- see the comparative benefits of the CR-1 visa as compiled by our fine member Crazy Cat:

=============================

K-1        
    More expensive than CR-1    
    Requires Adjustment of Status after marriage (expensive and requires a lot of paperwork)    
    Spouse can not leave the US until she/he receives approved Advance Parole (approx 6-8 months)    
    Spouse can not work until she/he receives EAD (approx 6-8 months)    
    Some people have had problems with driver licenses, Social Security cards, leases, bank account during this period    
    Spouse will not receive Green Card for many months after Adjustment of Status is filed.
    A K-1 might be a better choice when 18-21 year old children are immigrating also
    In some situations, marriage can affect certain Home country benefits, making a K-1 a better choice   
    A denied K-1 is sent back to USCIS to expire
    

CR-1
    Less expensive than K-1    
    No Adjustment of Status(I-485, I-131, I-765) required.    
    Spouse can immediately travel outside the US    
    Spouse is authorized to work immediately upon arrival.    
    Spouse receives Social Security Card and Green Card within 2 or 3 weeks after entering the US    
    Opening a bank account, getting a driver's license, etc. are very easily accomplished with GC, SS card, and passport.
    Spouse has legal permanent Resident status IMMEDIATELY upon entry to US.

===============================

In addition, if you're married longer than 2 years before you enter the U.S., your CR-1 visa converts to an IR-1.

[SalishSea 18,073]

14 hours ago, moonymoony said:

Hi, I'm new here. I guess I made an account and jumped straight to the forum so I feel less lonely in the frustration, lol. Submitted in early March, got the confirmation they've received it, but no more updates ever since. Tried to visit the US on tourist visa in September but got denied and told to do the K1 instead. I told the officer we've submitted it already but still haven't heard back (hence I wanted to visit in the meantime), then he checked on his computer and said they didn't have any record of it and simply told me to reapply (#######).

 

Oh well. I guess the documents simply haven't reached this embassy. 

 

I actually got married to my fiance in my home country during this crazy long wait, BUT it's not legal. We had a symbolic ceremony and a reception. We didn't actually register it because we don't want to have to cancel this application and start a new one (read: more cost and even longer wait). I wonder should I mention it when I have my interview one day (whenever will that be)?

 

How long do you all had to wait?

You’re no longer eligible for the K1.   You need to be petitioned for a spouse visa.

[SalishSea 18,073]

12 hours ago, moonymoony said:

Seriously, can I just not mention it during the interview? It isn't on the civil registry here and we don't even have a church certificate. 

Nope.   That’s 100% fraud.   Why risk your chance of ever living in the US by doing that!?

[mille-feuille 2]

7 hours ago, slavaskii said:

Because OP has themselves already called their SO "husband" and mentioned "marriage" several times (as opposed to just 'religious ceremony'), it most certainly seems like this has blown past any arguable K-1 qualification. And that's ignoring the fact that, whatever "conservative country" this may be, the Church records may actually be uploaded / accessible somewhere. OP: the only logical way to end this headache is registering the marriage as said above and doing spousal.

There is NO church record. I didn't refer it as a religious ceremony because I'm not actually religious. 

[mille-feuille 2]

7 hours ago, TBoneTX said:

Because you're "too married" for the K-1, withdraw it.  This is actually a long-term boon for you -- see the comparative benefits of the CR-1 visa as compiled by our fine member Crazy Cat:

=============================

K-1        
    More expensive than CR-1    
    Requires Adjustment of Status after marriage (expensive and requires a lot of paperwork)    
    Spouse can not leave the US until she/he receives approved Advance Parole (approx 6-8 months)    
    Spouse can not work until she/he receives EAD (approx 6-8 months)    
    Some people have had problems with driver licenses, Social Security cards, leases, bank account during this period    
    Spouse will not receive Green Card for many months after Adjustment of Status is filed.
    A K-1 might be a better choice when 18-21 year old children are immigrating also
    In some situations, marriage can affect certain Home country benefits, making a K-1 a better choice   
    A denied K-1 is sent back to USCIS to expire
    

CR-1
    Less expensive than K-1    
    No Adjustment of Status(I-485, I-131, I-765) required.    
    Spouse can immediately travel outside the US    
    Spouse is authorized to work immediately upon arrival.    
    Spouse receives Social Security Card and Green Card within 2 or 3 weeks after entering the US    
    Opening a bank account, getting a driver's license, etc. are very easily accomplished with GC, SS card, and passport.
    Spouse has legal permanent Resident status IMMEDIATELY upon entry to US.

===============================

In addition, if you're married longer than 2 years before you enter the U.S., your CR-1 visa converts to an IR-1.

Thanks for the compilation. I get that CR-1 has its own advantages, but one of the major disadvantages is that we need to start from zero and wait even longer. We filed for K1 before any wedding plans (in fact, we didn't even know when could we meet again at that time as my country's borders were closed). I literally only signed up on this site last night and never heard that non-registered wedding could be such a problem before. 

[mille-feuille 2]

4 hours ago, Jorgedig said:

You’re no longer eligible for the K1.   You need to be petitioned for a spouse visa.

To even register my marriage and apply for a spouse visa I would need to actually marry again. Why? Because our ceremony didn't have any official record. To get married legally we'd need to first go to the US embassy/consulate here and fill out a form there for a CNI and then get a marriage certificate from a religious institution. There's a bunch of paperwork to be done for a marriage here and we never did or submitted any.  We can't just go have it registered now, so really we can't just apply for a spouse visa. 

[Dashinka 24,717]

5 minutes ago, moonymoony said:

To even register my marriage and apply for a spouse visa I would need to actually marry again. Why? Because our ceremony didn't have any official record. To get married legally we'd need to first go to the US embassy/consulate here and fill out a form there for a CNI and then get a marriage certificate from a religious institution. There's a bunch of paperwork to be done for a marriage here and we never did or submitted any.  We can't just go have it registered now, so really we can't just apply for a spouse visa. 

Let us know how it all works out.

 

Good Luck!

[mille-feuille 2]

5 hours ago, Jorgedig said:

Nope.   That’s 100% fraud.   Why risk your chance of ever living in the US by doing that!?

One of the must-submit document for a spousal visa is a copy of civil marriage certificate. We don't have that, because we never meant to register it legally. 

[mille-feuille 2]

5 minutes ago, Dashinka said:

Let us know how it all works out.

 

Good Luck!

Thanks

[carmel34 3,650]

17 hours ago, moonymoony said:

Seriously, can I just not mention it during the interview?

Never lie to a federal officer, that would be a serious misrepresentation.  If asked, you have to answer truthfully, and if you do not and are discovered, whether at the K-1 visa interview, US point of entry, or later at the adjustment of status, removal of conditions, or naturalization, it would likely mean a permanent bar from ever entering the US again.  Is your husband willing to move to your country if that happens?  Why risk it when a spousal visa would  only take a few months longer?

[mille-feuille 2]

10 hours ago, JeanneAdil said:

we have seen too many people that have a celebration (some say engagement party) and the CO at embassy sees the submitted photos as "too married for  fiancee visa

 

when they suspect this could be the case they also look at messages between the couple to see if they say "my husband or my wife"

at this point ,  u need to register the wedding and go for a spouse visa 

I don't understand how an engagement party could be an issue. The photos we submitted were travel photos and engagement shot (basically just us at the beach, not with wedding dress/suit). 

 

What messages?