K1, and might get married overseas first?

[paulreed 0]

Hello all,

First post.

I am now engaged to a wonderful, intelligent, and beautiful Indian citizen. Been trolling the forum here, and seen some different advice given on this topic.

We intend to apply for a K1, however, we want to wed in India, where most of her family resides. We have several reasons for this. Our idea was to be granted a K1, get married in India in a Christian wedding (unofficially, if there is such a thing), then head for the States immediately afterwards and get "officially" married here.

I have heard some warnings about this, but also seen success stories with it as well.

Advice? Stories? First-hand accounts?

Much thanks.

[sara..... 371]

my advise do not get married at all if u want to marry in india go back and do it after u have married in the usa .........

[blaike 0]

You can get married in India but you have to file for a K3 visa not K1. This takes about the same time as a K1 but you have to provide more documentation. You also need to be a US Citizen to do this. But if you are planning to enter on a k1 visa but already married in india you might be in big trouble when you get caught.

[Aubrey 10]

My sister married an Indian and opted to have an engagement ceremony in India (not the wedding), since they have a pretty elaborate custom for it. Have you considered this as an alternative? Like others have posted, you can't get legally married in India and then use a K1, and you still increase your risk of denial if you have an "unofficial" ceremony - it can make it murky for proving you're not actually married.

[TBoneTX 48,097]

The posters above are all correct. If you want an engagement ceremony, do not breathe a word of it to ANYONE official (such as at the consulate), and certainly do not produce pictures to show or to risk them being seen. The chance of the ceremony's being misunderstood is too great.

I would follow Estadia's advice.

[Prawninator 138]

I agree with all the above. If you do hold a customary ceremony, do NOT say a word about it, to anyone. Not to the officials, not in your affidavits, not in your letters of intent. In other words, it's okay to do it, just do NOT get caught. The consequences may be severe, and you may not be given the chance to file for a K-1 ever again (the denial to file is what I heard, correct me if I'm wrong)

[KimandRuss 0]

It's probably worth mentioning that there have been other VJ couples who had serious issues due to the fact that they had an 'engagment' celebration in India and mentioned it to the CO. If you are set to have this ceremony either keep it VERY secret...this means no rings, no mention of it...etc... or wait until the visa is IN HAND. You still have the POE to get through...no rings, do not refer to each other as husband and wife..etc.

It's a gamble for sure.

[paulreed 0]

It's probably worth mentioning that there have been other VJ couples who had serious issues due to the fact that they had an 'engagment' celebration in India and mentioned it to the CO. If you are set to have this ceremony either keep it VERY secret...this means no rings, no mention of it...etc... or wait until the visa is IN HAND. You still have the POE to get through...no rings, do not refer to each other as husband and wife..etc.

It's a gamble for sure.

Much thanks everyone.

There was no "engagement ceremony" or anything. In fact, it is a more simple process as both she and I are Christian, and her immediate family is small. Dinner at soon-to-be mom-in-law, and some time alone, was the extent of the celebrations.

So, if we were to arrange a strictly "religious" ceremony if the church allowed, without any "government" involvement, would that be a possibility?

We would not have the ceremony before her interview in Chennai, so she would not have to be evasive or untruthful at her interview of course... as, if we were to do this, we would have the "ceremony" after the k1 is granted and right before we moved to the 'states (and subsequently get married here). When she comes to the states, what sort of questions will they ask her when she comes through immigration?

[pushbrk 13,882]

It's probably worth mentioning that there have been other VJ couples who had serious issues due to the fact that they had an 'engagment' celebration in India and mentioned it to the CO. If you are set to have this ceremony either keep it VERY secret...this means no rings, no mention of it...etc... or wait until the visa is IN HAND. You still have the POE to get through...no rings, do not refer to each other as husband and wife..etc.

It's a gamble for sure.

Much thanks everyone.

There was no "engagement ceremony" or anything. In fact, it is a more simple process as both she and I are Christian, and her immediate family is small. Dinner at soon-to-be mom-in-law, and some time alone, was the extent of the celebrations.

So, if we were to arrange a strictly "religious" ceremony if the church allowed, without any "government" involvement, would that be a possibility?

We would not have the ceremony before her interview in Chennai, so she would not have to be evasive or untruthful at her interview of course... as, if we were to do this, we would have the "ceremony" after the k1 is granted and right before we moved to the 'states (and subsequently get married here). When she comes to the states, what sort of questions will they ask her when she comes through immigration?

Let's be very clear. Words mean things and "married" is " married". For K1 the couple must get "married" in the USA after the visa is used. Most churches with which I'm familiar, consider that only "legal" marriage equals "married". India is not the place to mess around with this. If you want to marry in India, do it, then file a petition for a spouse visa.