Vietnam K1 Visa question regarding marriage ceremony

[pejorApple143 0]

Hi there, my gf lives in VN and I live in the USA. I'm interested in doing the K1 Fiance(e) application because it would reduce the time it would take to bring her to the US. We are planning to have 2 marriage ceremonies, one in VN and one in the US. Her family wants to do the church ceremony (Catholic) since she has family members part of the clergy that want to officiate the ceremony in front of her family and friends in VN. We also plan to have a TIEC, or wedding celebration after the VN church ceremony. 

 

Will having the church ceremony in VN impede my K1 visa application? I want to see if we can still be married by the church but not register the marriage with the VN government. That way, our court wedding in the United States would be certified for the K1 application. 

[Crazy Cat 41,845]

19 minutes ago, pejorApple143 said:

I'm interested in doing the K1 Fiance(e) application because it would reduce the time it would take to bring her to the US.

1.  As reported by other VJ members, the average processing times are almost the same for a K-1 (510 days) vs a CR-1 (549 Days).

2.  Do NOT have any ceremony before the official marriage inside the US (for a K-1) which could be seen as a marriage.  Legally marry in the US first, then you can have a ceremony outside the US. 

 

You might want to see this:

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

K-1 (VJ average processing time 510 days)
  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 3-6 months) 
  Spouse can not work until she/he receives EAD (approx 3-6 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 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
  K-1 entrant cannot file for citizenship until after having Green Card for 3 years.
  Once an I-129F has been approved, delaying the case is difficult to impossible if the need arises.

CR-1/IR-1 (VJ average processing time (549 days)
  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.
  The clock for citizenship filing starts immediately upon entry to the US.
  A CR-1/IR-1 case can be delayed indefinitely at NVC if the need arises. 
   

 

 

 

Edited March 7 by Crazy Cat

[Crazy Cat 41,845]

34 minutes ago, pejorApple143 said:

I want to see if we can still be married by the church but not register the marriage with the VN government. That way, our court wedding in the United States would be certified for the K1 application. 

That is playing with fire and rolling the dice  imo.  The Consulate Officer could still find you are "too married" for a K-1. It actually happens. 

I would fly to VN, marry, then start the spousal visa process. 

Edited March 7 by Crazy Cat

[Ryan H 3,812]

Moved from Progress Reports to Process & Procedures.

[SalishSea 17,827]

7 hours ago, pejorApple143 said:

Hi there, my gf lives in VN and I live in the USA. I'm interested in doing the K1 Fiance(e) application because it would reduce the time it would take to bring her to the US. We are planning to have 2 marriage ceremonies, one in VN and one in the US. Her family wants to do the church ceremony (Catholic) since she has family members part of the clergy that want to officiate the ceremony in front of her family and friends in VN. We also plan to have a TIEC, or wedding celebration after the VN church ceremony. 

 

Will having the church ceremony in VN impede my K1 visa application? I want to see if we can still be married by the church but not register the marriage with the VN government. That way, our court wedding in the United States would be certified for the K1 application. 

Not just impede-  it will VOID it because you will be ineligible.  
 

not sure where you’re getting the processing time info, but K-1 is no longer faster than CR-1, especially for high fraud consulates like yours.  You have to look at the overall processing times, not just the petition approval.

[Lemonslice 4,838]

8 hours ago, pejorApple143 said:

Hi there, my gf lives in VN and I live in the USA. I'm interested in doing the K1 Fiance(e) application because it would reduce the time it would take to bring her to the US. We are planning to have 2 marriage ceremonies, one in VN and one in the US. Her family wants to do the church ceremony (Catholic) since she has family members part of the clergy that want to officiate the ceremony in front of her family and friends in VN. We also plan to have a TIEC, or wedding celebration after the VN church ceremony. 

 

Will having the church ceremony in VN impede my K1 visa application? I want to see if we can still be married by the church but not register the marriage with the VN government. That way, our court wedding in the United States would be certified for the K1 application. 

If you're getting married, you might as well get married legally and enjoy the benefits of the spousal visa. 

 

If you absolutely want an American Court wedding, do an online Utah marriage and then the religious ceremony and party there. 

 

Getting married, but not really married, is not going to bring you any positives.  It will be much more expensive, and longer, to refile for a spousal visa after the fiancé visa is denied for already being married... 

Just get married.

 

[Redro 4,611]

18 hours ago, pejorApple143 said:

Hi there, my gf lives in VN and I live in the USA. I'm interested in doing the K1 Fiance(e) application because it would reduce the time it would take to bring her to the US. We are planning to have 2 marriage ceremonies, one in VN and one in the US. Her family wants to do the church ceremony (Catholic) since she has family members part of the clergy that want to officiate the ceremony in front of her family and friends in VN. We also plan to have a TIEC, or wedding celebration after the VN church ceremony. 

 

Will having the church ceremony in VN impede my K1 visa application? I want to see if we can still be married by the church but not register the marriage with the VN government. That way, our court wedding in the United States would be certified for the K1 application. 

Very Bad Idea:

Either go with K1 and get married in the US after you fiancé enters and then have the VN wedding after your partner receives a GC. 
Or get married and go the spousal route. 
Consequence of having a church wedding with no registration  can be seen in the following post:

[Crazy Cat 41,845]

44 minutes ago, Redro said:

Very Bad Idea:

Either go with K1 and get married in the US after you fiancé enters and then have the VN wedding after your partner receives a GC. 
Or get married and go the spousal route. 
Consequence of having a church wedding with no registration  can be seen in the following post:

Great find, @Redro.  That thread says it all. That should be the "go to" example when people ask this question.  

[SalishSea 17,827]

4 hours ago, Crazy Cat said:

Great find, @Redro.  That thread says it all. That should be the "go to" example when people ask this question.  

Maybe a friendly moderator could pin it?