How to handle questions about wedding at AOS interview

[Koong and John 0]

My wife came here on a K1 Visa and we got legally married by a notary in the U.S. about a month later. However, before we arrived together in the U.S., we had a huge traditional village ceremony in Thailand which was not legally registered there so that we would be in compliance with the K1 requirement to marry in the U.S. We consider the Thailand wedding the real wedding date and the U.S. wedding just a legal formality.

My question is, at the AOS interview they are likely to ask questions about our wedding, honeymoon, etc. How do we handle these questions? Do we show the pictures from the village ceremony as evidence of a bonafide marriage, even though it was before she entered the US? We do have pictures from our legal ceremony in the U.S., along with the written vows we took. Anyone else gotten married in Thaialnd and gone through the same process?

[reeses16 8]

Your traditional village ceremony is a marriage. Your wife was no longer eligible to use a K1 visa to enter the US.

[YuAndDan 153]

Have you been scheduled for an interview?

Your timeline shows AOS Transfer, if your case is at CSC more than likely you will see an approval without interview.

You can show wedding pics from home country, just in this case it is an "Engagement Party"

Your traditional village ceremony is a marriage. Your wife was no longer eligible to use a K1 visa to enter the US.

Did you read the post??? They are already in the USA larried legally in a courthouse, and are in AOS process.

They HAVE USED THE K-1

[Koong and John 0]

Have you been scheduled for an interview?

Your timeline shows AOS Transfer, if your case is at CSC more than likely you will see an approval without interview.

You can show wedding pics from home country, just in this case it is an "Engagement Party"

Your traditional village ceremony is a marriage. Your wife was no longer eligible to use a K1 visa to enter the US.

Did you read the post??? They are already in the USA larried legally in a courthouse, and are in AOS process.

They HAVE USED THE K-1

AOS was transferred to CSC in February and then back to NVC in April. I read that this probably means they determined an interview is necessary, but I havent heard yet. That would be great if there was no interview.

Yes, it was an engagment party indeed.

[reeses16 8]

Sorry, OP. I believed it was a wedding, otherwise you wouldn't have been confused about which one constituted evidence of marriage. And then you go on to say, "Anyone else gotten married in Thailand and gone through the same process?" Whatever the case, be clear and consistent during the interview.

Edited June 5, 2009 by reeses16

[msu17 0]

Then that's how you answer. State we had an engagement party per the culture in Thailand and a court ceremony here.

[Nina+Matt 0]

in case of an interview just dont mention anything about what happened in thailand! just bring pics from the courthouse wedding here and "pretend" this was your wedding! you dont want to raise any red flags!

[daboyz 36]

Your traditional village ceremony is a marriage. Your wife was no longer eligible to use a K1 visa to enter the US.

Wrong! If it was not registered with the Amphur, it is not a legal marriage in Thailand or anywhere else.

[Mr Zee 0]

what happened in Thailand stays in Thailand... except the pictures they might be helpful in the interview.

[John & Nan 0]

a traditional village ceremony is NOT legally recognized as a marriage and is only intended to bring merit and blessings to the couple. My wife and me did the same thing. That said ,it still cost as much as a wedding!!!

Edited June 5, 2009 by John & Nan

[Eric-Pris 1,602]

I'd be willing to bet that if they mention this wedding ceremony at their interview, they will have problems, whether it was technically legal or not. If they use the word "wedding" it may be disasterous. As much as we should be advising them to lie, they should not mention ANYTHING about this ceremony that took place.

I can't remember the exact details, but there was a couple last year who showed pictures of their non-legal wedding ceremony and had a ton of problems. Maybe somebody has time to look for it.

[John & Nan 0]

I'd be willing to bet that if they mention this wedding ceremony at their interview, they will have problems, whether it was technically legal or not. If they use the word "wedding" it may be disasterous. As much as we should be advising them to lie, they should not mention ANYTHING about this ceremony that took place.

I can't remember the exact details, but there was a couple last year who showed pictures of their non-legal wedding ceremony and had a ton of problems. Maybe somebody has time to look for it.

Oh I agree I would not show the pictures of it also. For me it does not matter we are going to at K3!

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

My wife came here on a K1 Visa and we got legally married by a notary in the U.S. about a month later. However, before we arrived together in the U.S., we had a huge traditional village ceremony in Thailand which was not legally registered there so that we would be in compliance with the K1 requirement to marry in the U.S. We consider the Thailand wedding the real wedding date and the U.S. wedding just a legal formality.

My question is, at the AOS interview they are likely to ask questions about our wedding, honeymoon, etc. How do we handle these questions? Do we show the pictures from the village ceremony as evidence of a bonafide marriage, even though it was before she entered the US? We do have pictures from our legal ceremony in the U.S., along with the written vows we took. Anyone else gotten married in Thaialnd and gone through the same process?

We were never asked any such questions. We got married on the front lawn by a neighbor who is a JP.

NO, do not mention the foreign ceremony as a legitimate wedding, it voids the K-1!!!!!!! Your legal wedding is just what you say, you have a marriage certificate, yes? What's the problem? There is no requirement for anything but a LEGAL wedding. You do not have to go on a honeymoon. Tell them you got married at the "notary" (never heard of that, but hey, if it is legal, it is legal) and you had no honeymoon. No problem.

YOU can choose to recognize any ceremony you want, but if the traditional thing was a legal marriage it voids the K-1 and back she goes while you do a CR-1 visa. That is IF they don't charge you with fraud!

[Linkin 0]

When you show the picture of your tradtional marriage, they will know that you are married but it doesn't prove the bona fide married relation. USCIS doesn't count the date you registered your marriage but the one you married on according to your tradations. And to prove that you have ongoing relationship untill the Time of AOS interview, you have to show the joint account on both of your name. Any credit card. House leasing papers on both names. pictures taken together in cermonies, hanging out together, on any occasioin etc etc.

These stuffs basically show the one bona fide married life

My best opinion is, when it comes to AOS Interview, dont leave any chances, take everything but show that's being asked.

My wife came here on a K1 Visa and we got legally married by a notary in the U.S. about a month later. However, before we arrived together in the U.S., we had a huge traditional village ceremony in Thailand which was not legally registered there so that we would be in compliance with the K1 requirement to marry in the U.S. We consider the Thailand wedding the real wedding date and the U.S. wedding just a legal formality.

My question is, at the AOS interview they are likely to ask questions about our wedding, honeymoon, etc. How do we handle these questions? Do we show the pictures from the village ceremony as evidence of a bonafide marriage, even though it was before she entered the US? We do have pictures from our legal ceremony in the U.S., along with the written vows we took. Anyone else gotten married in Thaialnd and gone through the same process?