K1 visa and place of marriage

[featherB 1]

Your co-worker should hope that she never gets on your bad side now that she has divulged that her current presence in the U.S. is a sham.

Yeah, going around broadcasting the fact that she committed visa fraud might not be the most sensible course of action for that woman.

[Mike Mc 0]

The news index had a story from July 18 about a Bradenton Fla couple that had married two months before she came to the US on a fiancee visa 9 years ago. She had to go back to Japan last winter to correct the error. She and her two children got stuck there for over 6 months. Luckily the issue was resolved so she and the children could return to their home in Florida, but it could have gone the other way. I guess it does matter where you get married and when in the immigration process. I don't want this hanging over our heads.

[TimsDaisy 0]

The news index had a story from July 18 about a Bradenton Fla couple that had married two months before she came to the US on a fiancee visa 9 years ago. She had to go back to Japan last winter to correct the error. She and her two children got stuck there for over 6 months. Luckily the issue was resolved so she and the children could return to their home in Florida, but it could have gone the other way. I guess it does matter where you get married and when in the immigration process. I don't want this hanging over our heads.

Of course it matters.

This is an often asked-about subject area that boils down to comon sense and reading. If you have a visa in your hands that is for FIANCES, what do you think happens when you are no longer FIANCES, but spouses? The answer is right there on the document. Fiance visa is for FIANCES. It isn't for spouses, or else why would there be a separate process for that?

You can have the wedding party in your fiance's home country, however. BUT it is ENTIRELY UP TO YOU to research and determine if you can have a wedding party that will not end up with you legally married. Don't rely on a message board for this. Use this place for homework and use outside sources as well. The ball is wholly in your court on this one. What is true, however, is that a wedding party doesn't make you legally married unless it conforms to the local rules and laws that create a marital relationship.

It's much easier to hoodwink your mother-in-law than the Feds. As soon as you know how to avoid legally operative language or processes, if this works, toss a friend in a black robe and fake the whole thing for the mother-in-law's benefit. Of course, with mothers-in-law, perhaps the consequences of fibbing to her could be worse than the fed's.

But again, of COURSE it matters where and when you get married in the immigration process. That's why there's a process to begin with.

[jundp 191]

Maybe your fiancees mother would be fine with a "non official" ceremony in the Philippines?

My husband and I did that in Germany. He came to Germany right before I was about to go to the US on my K-1, we had a nice ceremony with and for my family that at the sametime was myfarewell party (didn't sign any papers, I was legally unmarried when I entered the US!!)and once here, we got married at the JOP...I am very happy we went that route.

What are the reasons, why she wants her daughter to have a wedding in the Philippines? If she agreed forst to a wedding in the USA, maybe you can compromise on something like my husband and I did?

Yes, this is what we are doing as well, and for the same reasons. But we did A LOT of checking first to make sure this wouldn't be considered fraud. Since it's not a legal ceremony, then it isn't.

This is a good suggestion. We already did the big engagement party with ushers and the cake cutting and all that to take the place of the wedding in the philippines. That lasted for a few months, but now her mom is back sliding seriously. What are the ins and outs of having a non-legal religious ceremony of some kind in the Philippines? I am divorced, so the church and I have gone our separate ways. I don't know of any other way to have a religious cerelmony. Faith is catholic also.

I know you can get your first marriage anulled if you were married in the Catholic church and then you'll be able to have a Catholic wedding. Or if you weren't married in the church, then you just need a form from your parish priest (or former parish, as the case may be) that says you are "free to marry in the Church." And this, my friend, is why I won't be having a Catholic wedding Still, if it's important to her, you might try this. But you do need 6 months of pre-wedding counseling usually.

[TimsDaisy 0]

I know you can get your first marriage anulled if you were married in the Catholic church and then you'll be able to have a Catholic wedding. Or if you weren't married in the church, then you just need a form from your parish priest (or former parish, as the case may be) that says you are "free to marry in the Church." And this, my friend, is why I won't be having a Catholic wedding Still, if it's important to her, you might try this. But you do need 6 months of pre-wedding counseling usually.

Anyone wishing to marry in the Catholic Church who was previously married must have that previous marriage annulled - regardless of whether it was in a church or not. Also regardless of which church it was in. The process is generally VERY long and complicated.

That's why our wedding won't be in a church - which breaks my heart a tiny bit - but we will, after the annullment processes, have our marriage solemnified in the church later.

[SonoranSongbird 3]

This is asked a lot. You can also get married, cancel your K1 petition, and start over with a spousal visa if you want, but that would mean starting over.

There are a lot of ways to try to include people in the wedding who are not able to attend the legally binding ceremony.

Our situation is different, but we are also dealing with parents unable to attend the "official" ceremony (my father is not able to travel here, and the idea of planning a wedding long distance with the time constraints on us is just too daunting). What I've decided to do is have my boss (who is a judge) perform a ceremony in my home as soon as possible once my fiance arrives and then have a reception in Washington State a few months later. Neither of us WANTS a religious ceremony, or the whole procession down the aisle, so coming up with a way to make the reception the "main event" is hard. No parental pressure, but it is important to me that my father not be excluded from the festivities. Ideas so far are to leave all the extras (except the "now you may kiss the bride" part-- he REFUSES to skip that!) and do them instead at the reception (ie, writing our own vows to exchange in addition to the traditional ones, candle-lighting ceremony, any songs or readings, toasts from our siblings, first dance, wedding cake, etc.---not that we'll necessarily do ALL those things). I'm thinking of setting out photos of the ceremony at the reception as well. I considered having the ceremony videotaped and showing that at the reception, but it just seemed a little narcissistic somehow. It is an option, if you wanted to have a reception in the Phillipines afterwords, though.

When my cousin's son got married, he and his wife wanted to get married by an Elvis impersonator in Vegas, but his wife's sister was undergoing treatment for leukemia at the time, so most of her family could not attend. The wedding chapel actually had a website that her family could log into to see the ceremony live (I think many chapels there do this). I've also attended nice renewal of vows ceremonies of couples who eloped and decided they wanted to have a "real wedding" later on.

A lot of couples from this site have a small civil ceremony at the court house followed by a "real wedding" the family can attend, even though the couple is technically already married at that point. None of these are ideal for your MIL if she really wants to be there when you actually get married, but they are all options.

Good luck to you.