Unusual situation- filing for k-1 visa.. fiance is my cousin

[aaron2020 11,651]

You are ready to take this large step of Marrying your first cousin ?, you might want to read a little about Genetics Diseases before you take this step of marrying your first cousin.

Do not be offended.

Wish you luck in your marriage

You need to do some research before posting nonsense. The increase in genetic diseases in the offsprings of first cousins is marginally higher to the point of insignificance versus the offsprings of strangers.

Stop spreading misinformation based on fear. Embrace science. Take your own advice to the OP; read a little bit about genetic diseases before taking the step to post.

http://www.nytimes.com/2002/04/04/us/few-risks-seen-to-the-children-of-1st-cousins.html

Edited July 7, 2015 by aaron2020

[Unidentified 2,930]

You need to do some research before posting nonsense. The increase in genetic diseases in the offsprings of first cousins is marginally higher to the point of insignificance versus the offsprings of strangers.

Stop spreading misinformation based on fear. Embrace science.

http://www.nytimes.com/2002/04/04/us/few-risks-seen-to-the-children-of-1st-cousins.html

Yes, some risk concerning some organs are still small but some double.

Embrace the science http://www.theguardian.com/science/2013/jul/04/marriage-first-cousins-birth-defects

[aaron2020 11,651]

Yes, some risk concerning some organs are still small but some double.

Embrace the science http://www.theguardian.com/science/2013/jul/04/marriage-first-cousins-birth-defects

Doubling from 3% to 6% in one subpopulation of married relatives on one type of diseases does not mean much. Did you notice that the rate increases from 2% to 4% in white British women over age 34? Should we warn women over 34 from having babies because of the increase risk? It's statistically insignificant. 4% vs. 6%.

Signed,

Ph.D. Human Genetics, Mt. Sinai Medical School, 1997.

Edited July 7, 2015 by aaron2020

[usmsbow 795]

If you get married in Mexico (off the record sort of speak) and declared that

you guys are not married and are eligible to marry in your K1 visa filing

then...

you are lying to USCIS and that is a fraud.

Just note that what you can get away with doesn't make it legal,

and it can backfire on you guys...if such fact is somehow sniffed out by USCIS.

No. If they do not get legally married, but have a church ceremony, they are not committing fraud. It is perfectly legal. Edited to add: assuming in that country a church ceremony isn't also a legal marriage. Depends on the country obviously.

That being said, there are risks that others have mentioned on this thread (CO could deny them because it looked like they are indeed legally married, etc).

Edited July 7, 2015 by usmsbow

[Fan_Dancer 171]

Ceremonial wedding should be ok if it holds no legal power in that specific country. That being said, I would still hide it from USCIS.

[CowBoE 429]

No. If they do not get legally married, but have a church ceremony, they are not committing fraud. It is perfectly legal. Edited to add: assuming in that country a church ceremony isn't also a legal marriage. Depends on the country obviously.

That being said, there are risks that others have mentioned on this thread (CO could deny them because it looked like they are indeed legally married, etc).

Yeah...try to explain that to USCIS that...

"...we exchanged vows and were married at the church in front of our families and friends,

so everyone considers us married"...but we are not legally married because we didn't register

our marriage...and then send some wedding pictures as evidence of (non-married) relationship

and see how far that goes...

If they can't disclose such fact truthfully and openly, then they should think otherwise.

Edited July 7, 2015 by DualityOneness

[usmsbow 795]

Yeah...try to explain that to USCIS that...

"...we exchanged vows and were married at the church in front of our families and friends,

so everyone considers us married"...but we are not legally married because we didn't register

our marriage...and then send some wedding pictures as evidence of (non-married) relationship

and see how far that goes...

If they can't disclose such fact truthfully and openly, then they should think otherwise.

Well in the link kaydeecee posted, someone actually did talk to USCIS about a church wedding (w/out getting legally married), and USCIS told them that they were still eligible for the K-1 visa, but that it was ultimately up to the CO at the embassy/consulate to grant the visa (as we all know).

All I was saying was you stated something that was not factually correct. They wouldn't be breaking the law and comitting fraud. That doesn't mean it would be wise.

Edited July 7, 2015 by usmsbow

[I love San Diego 18]

Doubling from 3% to 6% in one subpopulation of married relatives on one type of diseases does not mean much. Did you notice that the rate increases from 2% to 4% in white British women over age 34? Should we warn women over 34 from having babies because of the increase risk? It's statistically insignificant. 4% vs. 6%.

Signed,

Ph.D. Human Genetics, Mt. Sinai Medical School, 1997.

Nice! It must be a pretty interesting time to work in genetics at an advanced level... I suppose being a Ph. D. in almost anything would be pretty interesting.

[Unidentified 2,930]

Well in the link kaydeecee posted, someone actually did talk to USCIS about a church wedding (w/out getting legally married), and USCIS told them that they were still eligible for the K-1 visa, but that it was ultimately up to the CO at the embassy/consulate to grant the visa (as we all know).

All I was saying was you stated something that was not factually correct. They wouldn't be breaking the law and comitting fraud. That doesn't mean it would be wise.

I just want to point out that it's technically okay if you don't get legally married: just have an unofficial ceremony without marriage license. But if you do get legally married than yes, that would be fraud. Just want to clarify in case someone reads this and gets the wrong idea and get themselves into trouble (it wouldn't surprise me if it would happen)

But as we've concluded, it would not be wise.

[usmsbow 795]

I just want to point out that it's technically okay if you don't get legally married: just have an unofficial ceremony without marriage license. But if you do get legally married than yes, that would be fraud. Just want to clarify in case someone reads this and gets the wrong idea and get themselves into trouble (it wouldn't surprise me if it would happen)

But as we've concluded, it would not be wise.

Yes. I interpreted "off the record" to mean not legally and just unofficially. If he meant keeping a legal marriage hidden from the US government, then yes, obviously that is fraud.

[CowBoE 429]

Well in the link kaydeecee posted, someone actually did talk to USCIS about a church wedding (w/out getting legally married), and USCIS told them that they were still eligible for the K-1 visa, but that it was ultimately up to the CO at the embassy/consulate to grant the visa (as we all know).

All I was saying was you stated something that was not factually correct. They wouldn't be breaking the law and comitting fraud. That doesn't mean it would be wise.

If that is CO's judgement call, then such critical fact must be disclosed in their application and/or to CO.

If such fact is intentionally hidden and not disclosed to intentionally mislead CO's judgement,

then of course it can be considered a fraud.

OP raised the question obviously because he/she is concerned,

so why even show any encouragement to tread down the thin (K1 visa) ice for ~10 months

with uncertain CO's decision waiting at the end...when there is a clean spouse visa route...

or hold the church wedding in Mexico after getting officially married in US first.

I would like to know if anyone who got married in church, and disclosed such fact and evidences to USCIS

got approved/denied of their K1 visa?

Edited July 7, 2015 by DualityOneness

[Zats&Bryan 30]

Better to be safe than sorry. You can always marry at the US and come back to Mexico for a ceremony at the church with all your family.

As for the genetic diseases, I wonder if you guys have even thought about having kids. Most have assumed you have and you are not aware of the possible risks involved, but I am not sure if it is the case.

If you decided to take such a big step it would be expected you guys discussed these issues and agreed to proceed no matter what. If you have not I suggest it is time now. Also check for blood type, you might find immediate problems if the types are not compatible, which is the case in some situations like yours and very delicate for mother and baby.

Good luck!!

[Pianist27 31]

Doing anything which would appear to be a wedding to a reasonable person (who may not know Mexican law regarding church vs. civil marriage) is a bad idea. Get married in the USA, get advanced parole and go back to Mexico and have a church wedding then.

[Jawaree 717]

Florida cousins can be married if they live in that stae...I know there are a few others

but 20 states ??????

No marriage should take place in Mexico there is already the issue of being cousins to be

dealt with (USCIS at times believe family member may be helping another) then there is

the issue of genes....I wont be judgmental but I know a couple, first cousins with 5 kids in

FL hmmmnnnnn

[JayJayH 546]

1. While first cousin weddings are recognized in a lot of US states (CA without stipulations) - Are they common in Mexico? The reason I ask is because if they are "unheard of" in Mexico, this might pose a big red flag to any CO or adjudicator at the USCIS. While ii is common in some countries/cultures and won't raise any eyebrows with any CO, if you're from a country/culture where it is not at all common, be prepared for some extra burden of proof.

2. I would be very cautious about having anything that resembles a wedding ceremony outside of the US while seeking a K-1 visa. You cannot legally enter the US on a K-1 visa if you're married, and there have been plenty of horror stories to go around of couples who have applied for a K-1 visa, gotten married during the process, and then entered the US on K-1, only to have the foreign spouse slammed with a bar for visa fraud. I realize that a church wedding in Mexico may not be a legally recognized wedding, but there have been stories here on VJ of couples getting in trouble trying to prove that they are not in fact married after having a ceremony in their home country first.