Wedding in fiancée's country for her family before coming to the U.S. on K-1

[T-Mo 0]

My Fianceé wil be having her K-1 visa interview the first week of June in Bogotá, Colombia. Assuming it goes well for her, I was going to fly out to see her in late July or early August. We wanted to have a wedding ceremony for her family in Colombia before we return together to the United States. Once here in the states, we would do a courthouse type wedding U.S. legal formalities/ AOS purposes (nothing fancy since we did that with her family in Colombia).

If the wedding in Colombia is a legitimate wedding by Colombian standards, is there any issues with that? I am definitely in favor of this as it would give my fiancée's family the opportunity to be a part of the process and we would still be doing the required wedding for K-1 purposes in the states.

Thanks in advance.

Edited May 5, 2015 by T-Mo

[Pitaya 2,576]

Don't do it. Get married first in the US, then have a big family party in Colombia.

[Done--Really 331]

If it is a legal wedding in Colombia, then you can't use the K-1 to enter the US, and you will have to start over with a CR-1

[T-Mo 0]

So what you are both saying is that basically the wedding in Colombia can never be official, before or after K-1 entry?

Edited May 5, 2015 by T-Mo

[Done--Really 331]

Really pretty simple -- if you are married ANYWHERE in the world, it is recognized in the US and you MUST use a Cr-1 / IR-1 visa to enter the US. The K-1 is valid ONLY If you are not married anywhere in the world. So if you get married legally in Colombia, the K-1 is no longer valid and you MUST start over with a CR-1 -- more time, more money down the drain.

K-1 is specifically to get married in the US -- not in addition to somewhere else, but solely in the US.

Edited May 5, 2015 by AlmostDoneWhew

[Pitaya 2,576]

If you get married in Colombia, you are not eligible for a K1 Fiancee visa. You will have to start over and file for a CR1/IR1 Spouse visa. Read the I-129F instructions, in particular page 1: http://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/files/form/i-129finstr.pdf

[Lemonslice 4,549]

My Fianceé wil be having her K-1 visa interview the first week of June in Bogotá, Colombia. Assuming it goes well for her, I was going to fly out to see her in late July or early August. We wanted to have a wedding ceremony for her family in Colombia before we return together to the United States. Once here in the states, we would do a courthouse type wedding U.S. legal formalities/ AOS purposes (nothing fancy since we did that with her family in Colombia).

If the wedding in Colombia is a legitimate wedding by Colombian standards, is there any issues with that? I am definitely in favor of this as it would give my fiancée's family the opportunity to be a part of the process and we would still be doing the required wedding for K-1 purposes in the states.

Thanks in advance.

Yes there is an issue, you both have to be NOT married when she enters the US - it is a FIANCÉE visa. You can also get married and file for a CR1 while your fiancée waits in Colombia for another year... :/

Why don't you have a departure party? But, nothing that could be seen as a wedding...

[T-Mo 0]

thanks to everyone for the quick responses... went with K-1 to avoid the hassle of waiting longer for her to come to the states with K-3 method. I have read a lot of posts and information with people stating that they did a second ceremony for the fiancé(e)'s family in their home country, but never knew the specifics of the "second" ceremonies. So sounds like it is always a non official ceremony without paperwork.

So thus before or after makes no difference (with no papers)?

[Cody and Daisy 373]

thanks to everyone for the quick responses... went with K-1 to avoid the hassle of waiting longer for her to come to the states with K-3 method. I have read a lot of posts and information with people stating that they did a second ceremony for the fiancé(e)'s family in their home country, but never knew the specifics of the "second" ceremonies. So sounds like it is always a non official ceremony without paperwork.

So thus before or after makes no difference (with no papers)?

1. if it is viewed as a legal wedding in that country then uscis will see it as you are married.

2. uscis will assume you are married.

[Boiler 43,394]

No problem with a party.

[Pitaya 2,576]

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PItaya

VJ Moderator

[Karmalious 50]

Really pretty simple -- if you are married ANYWHERE in the world, it is recognized in the US and you MUST use a Cr-1 / IR-1 visa to enter the US. The K-1 is valid ONLY If you are not married anywhere in the world. So if you get married legally in Colombia, the K-1 is no longer valid and you MUST start over with a CR-1 -- more time, more money down the drain.

K-1 is specifically to get married in the US -- not in addition to somewhere else, but solely in the US.

this...

It may even be misconstrued as fraud. Because you try to enter the US under a VISA which does not apply.

[T-Mo 0]

~The responses that you have received have been in compliance with the site's Terms of Service (TOS). It is against the TOS to give information that could be construed as condoning or aiding in immigration fraud.~

From the TOS:

PItaya

VJ Moderator

Sorry if I am asking too many questions... I am doing so, in order to not screw anything up. The longer I am involved with this process the more I learn that at times, clarification is a fine line. Trying to call UCIS is nearly helpless when using their call center, hence me turning to visa journey. Sorry if I rubbed anyone the wrong way with my follow up questions.

Edited May 5, 2015 by T-Mo

[T-Mo 0]

this...

It may even be misconstrued as fraud. Because you try to enter the US under a VISA which does not apply.

Definitely not trying to go down that road... just trying to do something for her family as well. Hopefully a party before we come to the states is sufficient. Thanks.

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

What is acceptable is a farewell party in home country then you marry in the USA ( court wedding will do ) then you can return to home country after AOS or with AP and have as big of a wedding as you wish. You may find that officials won't do an unofficial wedding.