How to answer interview question about marriage?

[sundizz 0]

We are at interview stage yay. How many questions do they usually ask? We googled questions and have wrote down answers for her to practice.

The one we are having difficult with is the description of wedding etc. All we did was go to the district office in Korea and turn in a form. Her parents signed the form as our witnesses. No celebration etc. My family doesn't know (they just think she is gf and coming over on work visa or some other visa or something, hasn't been discussed).

The main reason is that we want to do a proper wedding in a few years once we have more money/knows my family better etc. of course that just sounds shady though and makes it seem like it isn't a real marriage.

How can she explain our marriage and ceremony and such in a simple way?

My guess: Neither of us wanted to spend money on doing a ceremony as I was still completing my masters program at the time so we kept it very simple and just turned in the papers and had her parents as our witnesses. We're both very private people so we didn't really feel the need to do anything more than that.

If they ask about my parents and such she can say: we were okay with not having them come because it would of been very hard for them to travel to Korea and we didn't want to wait any longer because it would make moving back to America after my masters more difficult with more time apart.

Thoughts? Appreciate the support, we r a bit worried. She's going to buy a wedding band this week.

[Ischnura 285]

People elope all the time. Just be honest at the interview, you've not done anything wrong

[Cheezees 1,514]

The main reason is that we want to do a proper wedding in a few years once we have more money/knows my family better etc. of course that just sounds shady though and makes it seem like it isn't a real marriage.

STOP right there. You are just as married as anyone else. Seriously, you had a "proper wedding". Money, a fancy ceremony etc. does not make a marriage. Having a ceremony later on when you "save money" does not make a marriage. What you have is real and not shady at all.

How can she explain our marriage and ceremony and such in a simple way? The same as you did above but this time without any shame or negative feelings.

Thoughts? Yes, congrats!!! Appreciate the support, we r a bit worried. Don't be, you'll be fine. She's going to buy a wedding band this week. I hope you both like them!

[kalelaimy 5]

I suggest she should be honest and say what happened because it is not their problem if u make a ceremony or want to make it simple. Just be straight forward and everything will be fine

[JFH 12,189]

Nothing wrong with a simple ceremony! Ours lasted 8 minutes and had just us two, the officiant, and two witnesses. None of my family was there. I wore a $40 dress that I found on a sale rail and my husband got a new shirt and pants for even less. We wore shoes we already had. No flowers, no photographer, no music, no reception, no honeymoon. We went to Red Robin afterwards because we had a 2-for-1 coupon. Our wedding bands are stainless steel. The cheapest we could find. We would rather spend money on travelling to see each other than wedding dresses and cakes.

There is no shame in what you did. I congratulate you.

[mallafri76 1,012]

Just tell the truth. Lots of people get married at the court house. You'll be fine, assuming big weddings with family isn't the cultural norm in South Korea...

My parents still haven't met my husband, they've just communicated through phone and emails. Wasn't even a question at my interview, despite there being no pictures of my husband and my parents. COs tend to follow the cultural norm of the beneficiary's country.

[sundizz 0]

Thanks everyone, phew =)

Does she need to take pictures of me or something to the interview since I won't be there? Came across reading this somewhere (passport pic of me or a pic of us together or...)? I think we have all the rest of the documents ready.

[Ryan H 3,790]

Thanks everyone, phew =)

Does she need to take pictures of me or something to the interview since I won't be there? Came across reading this somewhere (passport pic of me or a pic of us together or...)? I think we have all the rest of the documents ready.

It's not a bad idea to have a few pictures of you together at various times should a CO ask to see them. CO's will decide for themselves if they want to ask an applicant for pictures during an interview or not.

[Max! 10]

Just passed our Intervew

My spouse was not even asked any marriage question except for my family size and my fav cricket team no question was asked

Don't stress forum has really good questions send it to your spouse have both review over phone and write answer to gather and study

[Hotstepper 6]

Just tell the truth. Lots of people get married at the court house. You'll be fine, assuming big weddings with family isn't the cultural norm in South Korea...

My parents still haven't met my husband, they've just communicated through phone and emails. Wasn't even a question at my interview, despite there being no pictures of my husband and my parents. COs tend to follow the cultural norm of the beneficiary's country.

Not even met parents, wow. I guess it doesn't matter much as they talk over the phone. As you say every culture is different. For mine it would be a priority to meet the in laws as a mark of respect should they not be able to come to the ceremony. In any case there would be no marriage without meeting first as it was be a major disrespectful thing to do to marry their son or daughter and not have met at least once.

As we live in a more globs, age I guess it's not possible in all circumstances. Like out of the country or something.

Edited August 22, 2016 by Hotstepper

[Max! 10]

Not even met parents, wow. I guess it doesn't matter much as they talk over the phone. As you say every culture is different. For mine it would be a priority to meet the in laws as a mark of respect should they not be able to come to the ceremony. In any case there would be no marriage without meeting first as it was be a major disrespectful thing to do to marry their son or daughter and not have met at least once.

As we live in a more globs, age I guess it's not possible in all circumstances. Like out of the country or something.

My parents also did not came to my wedding from US we had end time family emergency

We had no pic of us with my parents or my brothers only my relative from her country and their Afidavit I send with my i130

My wife's CO did not even ask for anything and she was approved

[lost_at_sea 995]

Having a fancy wedding does not a bonafide marriage make. Anyone can put on a show, have fancy photos taken in dresses with flowers and cake. They're more interested to see how you are living your life. How do you talk to one another? Do you know about what the other does, where they were born, what they like to eat? What do you know about each other's families? Where do you plan to live? The stuff you can't fake in a photo but comes from knowing each other. That, and money.

Some embassies are more strict, and may expect local customs to be adhered to where appropriate, but they also know the reality that not everyone goes in for the "big" wedding. Be aware of local customs, and respond accordingly. And when you get to the US and are doing RoC or or AoS or N-400 (depends on path) they're interested in co-mingled responsibilities and assets.

We also got married in the local town hall, just us + 2 witnesses and no family. I've never sent or shown a wedding photo to the US gov.

[NikLR 13,220]

Not even met parents, wow. I guess it doesn't matter much as they talk over the phone. As you say every culture is different. For mine it would be a priority to meet the in laws as a mark of respect should they not be able to come to the ceremony. In any case there would be no marriage without meeting first as it was be a major disrespectful thing to do to marry their son or daughter and not have met at least once.

As we live in a more globs, age I guess it's not possible in all circumstances. Like out of the country or something.

People are different.

I still havent met my brother and mother in law in person and Ive been married for 4 years. I doubt my husband will ever meet my father as Ive talked to him once since we were married because my grandmother died.

Different people, different ways.

Edited August 23, 2016 by NLR

[pushbrk 12,105]

Answer all questions honestly, but don't volunteer that your family doesn't know you're married. That piece of the circumstances could call the bona fides of the marriage into question big time. A short answer like," We had a simple legal marriage, and plan to have a more formal ceremony later." will do nicely.

[sundizz 0]

Thanks everyone. Appreciate the support and answers. We've practiced and rehearsed a few times and are ready to for our interview on Sunday. Do they usually do the interview in English or in the native language of the country?