Wedding ceremony

[BenThere2 0]

Hello.

Not sure if I should disclose the following at the K-1 interview at the US embassy. Any advice would help.

- We did a ceremony with my fiance's family Dec of 2006 where we got married in her hometown. She had a wedding dress on and I had my groom's tuxedo on too. It was done at a small family gathering. This was all CEREMONY. We didn't sign or register any of it. We have pictures, which we were thiking about using as evidence for ONGOING relationship. Could this be used against us, if we disclose this at the interview?

- I was also going through seperation (divorce) when ceremony took place. That divorce was completed Mar 2007 and soon after that I applied for K1 Visa.

Thanks

Ben

[cellarlily 0]

They strongly, STRONGLY advise you not to do anything that even hints at a wedding prior to your fiance(e) using their Visa to enter the US and you marry there. Even if you didn't sign anything, they may get suspicious based on the formality of it all.

You are not supposed to keep secrets from USCIS (it will bite you in the ### ten-fold when they find out), but in this case...yikes. I don't know. Maybe someone who has done the same can offer a better opinion, but I would not show your ceremony pictures at the interview because it will raise red flags.

[Brian & Kathy 0]

You must answer all questions truthfully. So far, there is no question asking if you have had a non-legal ceremony with your fiancee. I would not present the information simply because it could cause confusion. Use other evidence to prove you've met in person and have a true relationship if you can.

[Dan J 277]

First make sure that a ceremony in the country you had it in was not legally binding.

Secondly, don't include any pictures from or even bring up the ceremony. They wont ask about it, and as long as it wasn't legally binding, its not really any of their business to begin with.

[BenThere2 0]

thanks for the advice...

[Gringita/Morenito 0]

First make sure that a ceremony in the country you had it in was not legally binding.

Secondly, don't include any pictures from or even bring up the ceremony. They wont ask about it, and as long as it wasn't legally binding, its not really any of their business to begin with.

I agree with not including the info as it would likely be confusing/possibly troublesome. Of course if by some strange event they asked...(highly highly unlikely) don't be dishonest

And as you probably know this type of ceremony is not legally recognized in Peru....

Good luck on your process! And keep us posted

[Vivi and Michael 0]

Hi Ben, I did the same. My fiancé (who doesn't live in his country) and me flew to our home country (I am US naturalized) and did a wedding ceremony with our families and our church minister. It was a very simple religious ceremony but nothing was bound, we didn't sign any document so we are married just to God's eyes. We did it because all our family is there and they won't be present at our real wedding in USA. My fiancé already got his visa, thank God it just took 2 months the whole process since I submitted the application until he got the visa (Praise the Lord), but we didn't show any pictures of that ceremony, we didn't need any suspicious questions from the CO at interview. Just show all the pictures you have from your trips, and do not mention anything about that wedding ceremony. Believe me, you don't need to volunteer any evidence that can cause you a problem.

Good luck!!!!!!!!!!

[BenThere2 0]

thanks again for the info...

You think 30+ pictures are enough??

Also we don't have phone bills, but we captured screen shots of SKYPE log.

It might be premature of me to do, but I purchased tickets already...

I'm optomistic!

Edited February 11, 2008 by BenThere2

[pushbrk 13,629]

They strongly, STRONGLY advise you not to do anything that even hints at a wedding prior to your fiance(e) using their Visa to enter the US and you marry there. Even if you didn't sign anything, they may get suspicious based on the formality of it all.

You are not supposed to keep secrets from USCIS (it will bite you in the ### ten-fold when they find out), but in this case...yikes. I don't know. Maybe someone who has done the same can offer a better opinion, but I would not show your ceremony pictures at the interview because it will raise red flags.

They've already done it and the OP wasn't free to marry at the time.

Do not use this as evidence. Don't mention it at any interview or in any correspondence of any kind, with USCIS or the Consulate. Do not show any pictures from the ceremony whether bride, groom or anybody else. You did nothing wrong but they'll need to put things on hold and fully investigate, at best, or at worst simply deny the "fiance" visa, if the know anything about this "wedding" or have any suspicion you might be married.