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jlchile

Ceremonial wedding

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Filed: Country: Chile
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Hi,

My fiance and I are going through the K1 process, and we are both going to be in Chile until we leave for the US after the Visa is issued. We would like to have some sort of wedding celebration here for her family before the real wedding in the US. Has anybody done anything like this? The problem we are running into is that she wants it to be in the Catholic church, but they will not perform the ceremony if we do not have the official civil wedding/paperwork. From my understanding we cannot have an official wedding here with the K1. Do they really know in the US if you do? Either way if there is any risk I would not want to take it. Has anyone had such a ceremonial wedding, scecifically in the Catholic or any other Christian denomanational church?

Thanks

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Filed: Citizen (pnd) Country: Canada
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They'll find out during the AOS process, when they ask for your proof of marriage.

I personally wouldn't risk it. However, I do humbly suggest having a civil wedding in the US, and when it is feasible, have the religious ceremony in Chile, when your fiance is allowed to travel/you have the finances to do so.

*Cheryl -- Nova Scotia ....... Jerry -- Oklahoma*

Jan 17, 2014 N-400 submitted

Jan 27, 2014 NOA received and cheque cashed

Feb 13, 2014 Biometrics scheduled

Nov 7, 2014 NOA received and interview scheduled


MAY IS NATIONAL STROKE AWARENESS MONTH
Educate Yourself on the Warning Signs of Stroke -- talk to me, I am a survivor!

"Life is as the little shadow that runs across the grass and loses itself in the sunset" ---Crowfoot

The true measure of a society is how those who have treat those who don't.

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Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Thailand
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I know many thai/American couples have 'unofficial' weddings in Thailand for the benefit of the family there. Because there you don't have to register the Buddhist ceremony. If the Catholic Church is unwilling to do it 'unofficially', I wouldn't risk it. Did you talk with the local bishop and explain your situation?

David and Pu's Timeline

10/20/2006 Submitted I129F to TSC

10/23/2006 Transferred to CSC

10/26/2006 NOA1 sent snail mail

11/13/2006 Received NOA1 - (Late due to my changing residences on 11/1. FYI, move before you file!)

11/13/2006 Called Customer Service to change address

11/29/2006 Touched!

12/02/2006 Received verification of Change of Address - snail mail

01/10/2007 Bought ticket to visit Pu on Valentines Day!

01/17/2007 NOA2!! via email

01/29/2007 NVC Left - Headed for Bangkok!

02/07/2007 Packet 3 mailed from US Embassy!

02/10/2007 Packet 3 received

02/20/2007 Packet 3 mailed (EMS Next Day)

02/21/2007 Packet 3 Received at Embassy (no signature)

03/06/2007 Received response from Embassy - Packet 4 mailed 02/28/07. Interview scheduled 5/16/2007!

05/16/2007 Interview. Embassy requests passport amended. Luckily the turnaround time is two days in Bangkok.

05/21/2007 Pu returns to Embassy with new passport, visa granted. Visa issued the following day.

05/26/2007 Pu arrives in USA!

05/30/2007 Married!

06/26/2007 Overnighted AOS petition to Chicago Lockbox

06/27/2007 AOS petition delivered to Chicago lockbox, signed for by V Bustamante

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Filed: Citizen (pnd) Country: Canada
Timeline

You can't be married before entering the USA, or you will have violated the terms of the fiance visa.

*Cheryl -- Nova Scotia ....... Jerry -- Oklahoma*

Jan 17, 2014 N-400 submitted

Jan 27, 2014 NOA received and cheque cashed

Feb 13, 2014 Biometrics scheduled

Nov 7, 2014 NOA received and interview scheduled


MAY IS NATIONAL STROKE AWARENESS MONTH
Educate Yourself on the Warning Signs of Stroke -- talk to me, I am a survivor!

"Life is as the little shadow that runs across the grass and loses itself in the sunset" ---Crowfoot

The true measure of a society is how those who have treat those who don't.

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Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Thailand
Timeline

Not like I'm an expert, but I would imagine that it would negate your K1 'fiance' visa. Again, the questions are if-when-and who could find out. Surely you would only have to worry about it cropping up later on in the AOS phase. Why risk it? But I would definitely seek an attorney's opinion before going through with it. I'm sure a consultation wouldn't be too expensive, and well worth it. You can consult an attorney here in the US for about $100, Chile can't be too far off.

David and Pu's Timeline

10/20/2006 Submitted I129F to TSC

10/23/2006 Transferred to CSC

10/26/2006 NOA1 sent snail mail

11/13/2006 Received NOA1 - (Late due to my changing residences on 11/1. FYI, move before you file!)

11/13/2006 Called Customer Service to change address

11/29/2006 Touched!

12/02/2006 Received verification of Change of Address - snail mail

01/10/2007 Bought ticket to visit Pu on Valentines Day!

01/17/2007 NOA2!! via email

01/29/2007 NVC Left - Headed for Bangkok!

02/07/2007 Packet 3 mailed from US Embassy!

02/10/2007 Packet 3 received

02/20/2007 Packet 3 mailed (EMS Next Day)

02/21/2007 Packet 3 Received at Embassy (no signature)

03/06/2007 Received response from Embassy - Packet 4 mailed 02/28/07. Interview scheduled 5/16/2007!

05/16/2007 Interview. Embassy requests passport amended. Luckily the turnaround time is two days in Bangkok.

05/21/2007 Pu returns to Embassy with new passport, visa granted. Visa issued the following day.

05/26/2007 Pu arrives in USA!

05/30/2007 Married!

06/26/2007 Overnighted AOS petition to Chicago Lockbox

06/27/2007 AOS petition delivered to Chicago lockbox, signed for by V Bustamante

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Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: India
Timeline

We are planning on having some sort of small unregistered Hindu ceremony at a temple and a party with his friends(one of whom happens to be a Brahmin priest :) ) and some of his family - more of a blessing than a 'wedding', if anybody says anything then it will be an 'engagement party' - we are only walking around the fire and Kumar is putting kumkum in my hair so we'll be ready for the real thing in NYC. As far as Nepali tradition goes though, once we've done that we're married, whether it's written down or not.

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Filed: K-1 Visa Country: England
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You can't be married before entering the USA, or you will have violated the terms of the fiance visa.

Just a thought, but if this is simply a ceremony for the family in Chile, can you not ask the priest to perform a "Blessing" ceremony. One where he blesses your relationship and your future together. Technically, not a marriage requiring paperwork, but a religious ceremony where God's blessing is given? I am sure that the family would understand if you explained to them that the civil requirements are that you are not "married" when you enter the US, and a blessing of your relationship is the next best thing. Maybe a full marriage ceremony in Chile to celebrate your 5th wedding anniversary, something like that.

Good Luck with everything.

G.

Our journey started in 2001 and it's still not over. It's been a rollercoaster ride all the way! Let me off - I wanna be sick!

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Filed: Country: United Kingdom
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You can't be married before entering the USA, or you will have violated the terms of the fiance visa.

Just a thought, but if this is simply a ceremony for the family in Chile, can you not ask the priest to perform a "Blessing" ceremony. One where he blesses your relationship and your future together. Technically, not a marriage requiring paperwork, but a religious ceremony where God's blessing is given? I am sure that the family would understand if you explained to them that the civil requirements are that you are not "married" when you enter the US, and a blessing of your relationship is the next best thing. Maybe a full marriage ceremony in Chile to celebrate your 5th wedding anniversary, something like that.

Good Luck with everything.

G.

Does the ceremonial wedding have to be done first? You could always have your civil mariage in the US then after you can travel again go back to chile for the church blessing.

K-1 Visa Journey

04/20/2006 - file our I-129f.

09/14/2006 - US Embassy interview. Ask Lauren to marry me again, just to make sure. Says Yes. Phew!

10/02/2006 - Fly to New York, EAD at JFK, I'm in!!

10/14/2006 - Married! The perfect wedding day.

AOS Journey

10/23/2006 - AOS and EAD filed

05/29/2007 - RFE (lost medical)

08/02/2007 - RFE received back at CSC

08/10/2007 - Card Production ordered

08/17/2007 - Green Card Arrives

Removing Conditions

05/08/2009 - I-751 Mailed

05/13/2009 - NOA1

06/12/2009 - Biometrics Appointment

09/24/2009 - Approved (twice)

10/10/2009 - Card Production Ordered

10/13/2009 - Card Production Ordered (Again?)

10/19/2009 - Green Card Received (Dated 10/13/19)

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To enter on the K-1, she has to be free to marry. She's not free to marry if she's already married, even if that marriage is to you. So, no legal wedding; even a non-binding ceremony can be problematic when it comes time to adjust status, or to enter (if the officer thinks she's married, he won't let her in.)

I'm also guessing that this dilemma hasn't arisen because her family wants to throw a party, but because her family is uncomfortable with sending off their good Catholic daughter to America to live with a man she's not married to.

A couple of options that might help:

1) File for the K-1, have an engagement party with a priest doing a blessing.

2) File for the K-1, find someone to do a non-binding religious ceremony (probably not going to be Catholic.)

3) Go and have a Catholic wedding with her family, file for the K-3. It will take a bit longer, but if you haven't filed for anything yet and it would make her family happy, it might be something to consider.

AOS

-

Filed: 8/1/07

NOA1:9/7/07

Biometrics: 9/28/07

EAD/AP: 10/17/07

EAD card ordered again (who knows, maybe we got the two-fer deal): 10/23/-7

Transferred to CSC: 10/26/07

Approved: 11/21/07

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Filed: Country: Chile
Timeline

The K1 is actually almost through, we are just waiting for the interveiw, so at this point, the K3 is not an option. The main reason we want to have a ceremony here is because we don't want her family to miss out on the wedding. Could a non-binding ceremony really cause problems? How would anybody know? Anybody have any experience with this?

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The K1 is actually almost through, we are just waiting for the interveiw, so at this point, the K3 is not an option. The main reason we want to have a ceremony here is because we don't want her family to miss out on the wedding. Could a non-binding ceremony really cause problems? How would anybody know? Anybody have any experience with this?

Not wishing to be too hard on you, but with all the wisdom from the above posts, why are you still undecided. How would anybody know? Its the American goverment we are talking about.

Do the right thing, keep the K1 Legal.

Best wishes.

04-17-2007 Married using K1 Vusa
04-27-07 Filed for AOS, EAD, AP.
06-28-07 Green card arrived in mail

April 2009 Filed for removal of conditions.
May 09 2007 Biometrics
Aug 31st Congratulations letter, no interview needed
Sept 21st 2009. New green card with conditions removed arrived.

N400 Status
07/26/10 N400 mailed via UPS. Three year rule
08/03/10. Check cashed.
08/06/10 NOA letter received, but "Request for evidence" showing on the status website.
08/08/10 NOA #2. Biometrics appointment letter. Scheduled for 08/31/10
08/09/10 Biometrics completed. Walk in.
11/01/10 Touched. Transferred to local (Tampa) office
12/06/10 Interview . Passed
01/11/11 Oath ceremony

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Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: India
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The K1 is actually almost through, we are just waiting for the interveiw, so at this point, the K3 is not an option. The main reason we want to have a ceremony here is because we don't want her family to miss out on the wedding. Could a non-binding ceremony really cause problems? How would anybody know? Anybody have any experience with this?

We are in the same boat - since $$ will be very tight while K waits for his AOS and looks for a job, setting up our apt., etc. it may be years before we can afford to go to Nepal again since the tickets alone will cost $3K... Unless someone from the embassy were spying in the bushes I don't see how a low-key, small undocumented ceremony would cause a problem if we do not mention it once we are stateside, especially since the priest is a personal friend of Kumar's. With the Catholic church maybe it might be a problem keeping it low-key unless your fiance has a priest in the family - I don't know. :unsure: Please PM me if you find out anything more.

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