What kind of celebrations are allowed before the interview?

[towori 0]

My fiancé and I are currently about to submit our DS-160. Prior to when we have our interview, we were planning on having a going away party and a bachelorette party for her. I saw on the forum cautions of wedding celebrations, and was wondering if anybody had experience or insight about the types of celebration that don’t cross a line, just wanting to be overly cautious.  

[Ontarkie 14,218]

A going away party should be fine. The issue with any type of celebration that can look like a wedding reception. Don't wear anything that can look like wedding attire, don't have decorations that look like wedding decor. Have a big Bon Voyage sign, farewell whatever type of stuff and you should be fine. 

[TBoneTX 45,259]

Good of you to be thinking and asking about these issues.  In general:

 

1.  Avoid anything that remotely suggests any formal relationship in her culture or country.

2.  Have no officiant (civil or religious) anywhere near the premises.

3.  Do not dress formally in any manner.

4.  Do not refer to each other as husband/wife in speech or in writing.

5.  Do not post photos on social-media sites.

 

In addition, I wouldn't celebrate anything before her interview at all.  Avoid presuming that the visa will be granted.  There may be lengthy administrative processing or outright refusal of the visa.

 

What country is she from?

Edited September 27, 2023 by TBoneTX

[towori 0]

1 hour ago, TBoneTX said:

Good of you to be thinking and asking about these issues.  In general:

 

1.  Avoid anything that remotely suggests any formal relationship in her culture or country.

2.  Have no officiant (civil or religious) anywhere near the premises.

3.  Do not dress formally in any manner.

4.  Do not refer to each other as husband/wife in speech or in writing.

5.  Do not post photos on social-media sites.

 

In addition, I wouldn't celebrate anything before her interview at all.  Avoid presuming that the visa will be granted.  There may be lengthy administrative processing or outright refusal of the visa.

 

What country is she from?

She’s from the UK. I’m from the US. Given that bachelorette parties are not wedding celebrations, does this sound like something that would be acceptable? These are great tips. Thank you so much. 

[JeanneAdil 6,489]

country dependent 

 

I was given a bachelorette party by his family and friends 

no men were there so it could in no way be called a marriage celebration

 

But look to the norms for your foreign and embassy

[towori 0]

1 hour ago, Ontarkie said:

A going away party should be fine. The issue with any type of celebration that can look like a wedding reception. Don't wear anything that can look like wedding attire, don't have decorations that look like wedding decor. Have a big Bon Voyage sign, farewell whatever type of stuff and you should be fine. 

Good points! Thank you so much!

Just now, JeanneAdil said:

country dependent 

 

I was given a bachelorette party by his family and friends 

no men were there so it could in no way be called a marriage celebration

 

But look to the norms for your foreign and embassy

Sorry! Didn’t mention that she is from the UK. I am from the US. Same sex marriage!

[JeanneAdil 6,489]

2 minutes ago, towori said:

Good points! Thank you so much!

Sorry! Didn’t mention that she is from the UK. I am from the US. Same sex marriage!

aren't engagement and bachelorette parties normal in UK as they are in US?

 

The countries we have seen that cause these parties to appear as marriage are high fraud countries where certain code of dress and ceremonial steps are done  ( henna in Moroc for 1 ;;  dressing in look alike clothes in Nigeria)   ring exchange i would stay away from

[SalishSea 17,803]

49 minutes ago, towori said:

She’s from the UK. I’m from the US. Given that bachelorette parties are not wedding celebrations, does this sound like something that would be acceptable? These are great tips. Thank you so much. 

Yes, a bachelorette party is just fine.

[Boiler 45,449]

Not a problem for the UK

 

Assume you are aware if the issues surrounding a K1

[towori 0]

49 minutes ago, JeanneAdil said:

aren't engagement and bachelorette parties normal in UK as they are in US?

 

The countries we have seen that cause these parties to appear as marriage are high fraud countries where certain code of dress and ceremonial steps are done  ( henna in Moroc for 1 ;;  dressing in look alike clothes in Nigeria)   ring exchange i would stay away from

Oh I see! That makes a lot of sense. I just wasn’t sure with all of the talks of celebrations. Thank you so much for the insight. 

[towori 0]

8 minutes ago, SalishSea said:

Yes, a bachelorette party is just fine.

Thank you for the reply! I read in some of the other replies about staying away from posting on social media, I thought it might further prove our relationship validity, but makes sense not to as well. I am also seeing more now that it is country dependent for a lot of it. 

[towori 0]

9 minutes ago, Boiler said:

Not a problem for the UK

 

Assume you are aware if the issues surrounding a K1

Hello! Thank you for the reply, makes sense that it is a country dependent situation! What issues are you referring to with the K1? 

[SalishSea 17,803]

6 minutes ago, towori said:

Thank you for the reply! I read in some of the other replies about staying away from posting on social media, I thought it might further prove our relationship validity, but makes sense not to as well. I am also seeing more now that it is country dependent for a lot of it. 

Right.  I've been on VJ since 2015, and I've never seen a denial for a UK applicant related to bachelor/bachelorette party, or a going away party.  It really seems to be isolated to people from countries/cultures where there are elaborate engagement ceremonies that can resemble weddings, informal tribal weddings, etc.  An English hen night is totally familiar to the London embassy (as it is just as common in the US), so I  would proceed.  Best wishes!

 

I suppose the social media question could be legit, but I think most UK party photos would be pretty clearly just parties, vs something ceremonial.  YMMV.

Edited September 27, 2023 by SalishSea

[SalishSea 17,803]

1 minute ago, towori said:

Hello! Thank you for the reply, makes sense that it is a country dependent situation! What issues are you referring to with the K1? 

Primary issues we see here are related to the long wait times during the adjustment of status and removal of conditions parts of the process.  The petition part is what most people focus on, but K-1 applicants often arrive to the US without realizing how long it can take to get an SSN, driver's license, work permit, or parole in case they need to leave to overseas for an emergency.

 

None of these issues are present for CR-1, which is why we generally recommend it.

[Boiler 45,449]

4 minutes ago, towori said:

Hello! Thank you for the reply, makes sense that it is a country dependent situation! What issues are you referring to with the K1? 

Every couple has their own priorities, and each couple must decide which visa is better for their situation.

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 5-6 months)    
    Spouse can not work until she/he receives EAD (approx 5-6 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 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, I-944) 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.
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