Traditional Wedding

[Jonny Vorn 2]

Is traditional wedding recommended for K-1 visa to fulfill family tradition? Would it affect and interfere with k-1 visa?

[KayDeeCee 4,891]

Please explain what you mean by a traditional wedding, when it would occur and how you think it could have an affect on the K-1.

[loughrey101 13]

Is traditional wedding recommended for K-1 visa to fulfill family tradition? Would it affect and interfere with k-1 visa?

As long as it is a legal marriage which is registered by the state and which you can prove with an official marriage certificate then any cultural wedding is valid - it also must be a monogamous marriage (must only have one wife).

[Jonny Vorn 2]

What I mean is that to have wedding in the beneficiary for family and traditional purposes but no marriage certificate. Would that have problem K-1 visa since we are required to marry in the US upon the arrival.

[NikLR 13,220]

Yes it can be a problem.

It is generally recommended to save any and all marriages, legal or not, for after the arrival in the USA. Also do not call each other huband and wife until such a time as you legally ARE married.

[loughrey101 13]

You could get 'married' within a traditional marriage so long as this is not a legal wedding that will be registered in your country because the US government will not recognise it as a wedding unless it is registered and legally valid. Just don't call yourself husband and wife on any forms or at the interview. In order to be able to use and be entitled to a K1 visa you need to get legally married in the US. But since it seems your traditional marriage is more an informal occasion that is between you and your family then it would be okay.

[KayDeeCee 4,891]

What I mean is that to have wedding in the beneficiary for family and traditional purposes but no marriage certificate. Would that have problem K-1 visa since we are required to marry in the US upon the arrival.

It would depend on the legality of the wedding. In some countries having the traditional/religious ceremony is all it takes for it to be a legal marriage. If the CO believes you are already married(whether you are legally or not), then they will not issue the K-1. You should ask in your regional forum to see if others think it could be a problem for going through Cambodia.

[Jonny Vorn 2]

Thanks everyone for the answers. I totally agree and should not make any problems or interruption until arrive to the U.S. However, Wedding is really important for Cambodian people. I do believe they do need to register the marriage to legal the marriage. But i'm not entirely sure.

[Jonny Vorn 2]

You could get 'married' within a traditional marriage so long as this is not a legal wedding that will be registered in your country because the US government will not recognise it as a wedding unless it is registered and legally valid. Just don't call yourself husband and wife on any forms or at the interview. In order to be able to use and be entitled to a K1 visa you need to get legally married in the US. But since it seems your traditional marriage is more an informal occasion that is between you and your family then it would be okay.

That would be great. We wouldn't register the marriage until we arrive in the U.S. The marriage would be just for family and friends.

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

Any marriage before arrival in the US invalidates the K1 and any benefits you get from it. IF it ever comes up that you married prior to arrival your wife is subject to having her status in the US stripped and deporation with a lifetime ban. IF marriage before travel is that important withdraw the K1 , get married and start all over with a CR1

[loughrey101 13]

Any marriage before arrival in the US invalidates the K1 and any benefits you get from it. IF it ever comes up that you married prior to arrival your wife is subject to having her status in the US stripped and deporation with a lifetime ban. IF marriage before travel is that important withdraw the K1 , get married and start all over with a CR1

It's any LEGAL and registered marriage before arrival to the US invalidates the petition. The US authorities only recognise marriage as being administered by those which hold legal power to do so and which will be registered by the state. The traditional wedding in this case is equivilant to actors in a movie carrying out a marriage scene in the movie, it's words but lacking a legal basis. All the US authorities need to know is that they are not registered anywhere as married. The only person they would be better not to call each other husband and wife in the presence of the US authorities is that it will only confuse them and they might have trouble understanding that the world 'marriage' has two completely different meanings in this case.

[Penguin_ie 5,986]

It would be saver to do it the other way around- go get legally married in the USA on the K1, then do a combined honeymoon/ traditional marriage back in Cambodia once she has AP>

[Operator 1,925]

It's any LEGAL and registered marriage before arrival to the US invalidates the petition. The US authorities only recognise marriage as being administered by those which hold legal power to do so and which will be registered by the state. The traditional wedding in this case is equivilant to actors in a movie carrying out a marriage scene in the movie, it's words but lacking a legal basis. All the US authorities need to know is that they are not registered anywhere as married. The only person they would be better not to call each other husband and wife in the presence of the US authorities is that it will only confuse them and they might have trouble understanding that the world 'marriage' has two completely different meanings in this case.

I don't fully agree with this. USCIS (as well as other federal agencies/departments) have recognized the traditional wedding ceremonies for matters concerning immigration benefits. You can find lots case history on the USCIS website where marital status was upheld based on traditional weddings with no civil registration.

Also there are plenty of cases here on VJ where petitions and applications have been denied based on the perception that a person was married.

[loughrey101 13]

I don't fully agree with this. USCIS (as well as other federal agencies/departments) have recognized the traditional wedding ceremonies for matters concerning immigration benefits. You can find lots case history on the USCIS website where marital status was upheld based on traditional weddings with no civil registration.

Also there are plenty of cases here on VJ where petitions and applications have been denied based on the perception that a person was married.

Yes they have, as with Christian marriages in America and Europe, but these traditional marriages are legal marriages and are still registered by the government of that country. In this case it would not be considered a real marriage outside of their family context because it is just an informal exchange of words. USCIS are only concerned with whether it is a legal marriage that is registered, and hence validated and recognised by their state. As long as they don't mention this 'marriage' at the interview or on the forms there is no way of the US authorities knowing about it or even caring less. This does not abuse the terms laid out by USCIS for a K1 visa. It is all about about using the words husband and wife with the authorities.

[Cathi 5,610]

Yes they have, as with Christian marriages in America and Europe, but these traditional marriages are legal marriages and are still registered by the government of that country. In this case it would not be considered a real marriage outside of their family context because it is just an informal exchange of words. USCIS are only concerned with whether it is a legal marriage that is registered, and hence validated and recognised by their state. As long as they don't mention this 'marriage' at the interview or on the forms there is no way of the US authorities knowing about it or even caring less. This does not abuse the terms laid out by USCIS for a K1 visa. It is all about about using the words husband and wife with the authorities.

The fact of the matter is, time and again we have seen people on visa journey have "traditional" non registered marriages in their home countries, and have gone on to be denied their visas. In the eyes of the consulates, anything that looks or smells like a wedding, is a wedding. You are advising the OP to take a huge risk, which could eventually result in the denial of their visa. Search and you will find many threads on the subject. People have even been denied for having so called engagement ceremonies and parties, because they were elaborate and looked like weddings.