Thai wedding on a K1

[bigcasino75 0]

Hi all, I would like to give you a run down of what I am doing and get some advice on if this is possable or any problem areas that you may see in advance. I will be filing for a K1 visa for my Thai Fiencee this month( I am just waiting on some docs that she must sign and send back) she is now studing at University and will graduate in May of 2010. I am hoping that her visa will be ready around that time I am starting it now and can stall sending in the packet 3 if it is going too fast. then after she graduate and hopefuly she has her visa I will go to Thailand and we will have a Thai wedding for her family but it will not be regerstered so I dont think there will be any problems and it will be after she has her K1 in hand then we will both come back State side and have a legal wedding here. I know a lot of people say not to have a regelous wedding in the fiencees country but she is a women and wants her family to see her get married. She will already have the visa so it will be no problem for the embassy and as far as the US goes it is not a legal marrage so I dont see any problem there. does anyone agree with me or how else should I do this? Thanks for any advice

[rsn 135]

Hi all, I would like to give you a run down of what I am doing and get some advice on if this is possable or any problem areas that you may see in advance. I will be filing for a K1 visa for my Thai Fiencee this month( I am just waiting on some docs that she must sign and send back) she is now studing at University and will graduate in May of 2010. I am hoping that her visa will be ready around that time I am starting it now and can stall sending in the packet 3 if it is going too fast. then after she graduate and hopefuly she has her visa I will go to Thailand and we will have a Thai wedding for her family but it will not be regerstered so I dont think there will be any problems and it will be after she has her K1 in hand then we will both come back State side and have a legal wedding here. I know a lot of people say not to have a regelous wedding in the fiencees country but she is a women and wants her family to see her get married. She will already have the visa so it will be no problem for the embassy and as far as the US goes it is not a legal marrage so I dont see any problem there. does anyone agree with me or how else should I do this? Thanks for any advice

A few things:

1. This is definitely not the right forum for this. A Mod should hopefully move this elsewhere.
2. As long as you don't register at the local Amphur, I believe it isn't a legal wedding, so I guess you should be good to go.
3. Your other option is to do what me and my wife are doing/did: Have an engagement ceremony before filing for the K1, followed by a civil ceremony & reception in the U.S., followed by a ceremony & reception in Thailand after she has her A.P. or GC. That way you don't run the risk of causing any problems with the visa at all. Note that #2 could backfire if you aren't careful.

Edited September 7, 2009 by rsn

[Kathryn41 3,205]

moved from Site Discussion forum to K-1 forum

[AaronLV 12]

As long as it is not registered it is not a "legal" marriage. Just don't have her mention that she will be getting married in Thailand before going to the US at the interview. We had our ceremony in my wifes hometown, before we did the embassy interview, we just didn't mention it or show any pictures. This is actually a fairly common practice in Thailand with people who are doing a K1. Our attorney told us a majority of their clients end up doing this.

[Thai family 0]

I don't see a problem with your plan, since in both the Thai government's and our government there is no marriage until you're registered with the Amphur or legally married in the US. I can't imagine any consular officer being assigned there not knowing that. The kids have had a problem with going back to have the ceremony due to his career, so personally I'd do it your way. I am no attorney, though.

Thai Mom

[bigcasino75 0]

Thanks everyone for the help I read a lot on VJ not to get married before your fiencee comes to US but I think it is different in Thailand if it is not a legal marrage. My reason for this is for my Fiencee and her Family they are very old fashion and to them wee will be married then and there so it is ok for her to go to the US with me if not they would look down on this even if we came back after the fact and got married there. I already explained toy fiencee that we can not tell the embassy that we will have a Thai marrage if they ask to tell them that6 we will have a engagement party with her family and get married in the US so I think I got it covered Thank again

[AaronLV 12]

Thanks everyone for the help I read a lot on VJ not to get married before your fiencee comes to US but I think it is different in Thailand if it is not a legal marrage. My reason for this is for my Fiencee and her Family they are very old fashion and to them wee will be married then and there so it is ok for her to go to the US with me if not they would look down on this even if we came back after the fact and got married there. I already explained toy fiencee that we can not tell the embassy that we will have a Thai marrage if they ask to tell them that6 we will have a engagement party with her family and get married in the US so I think I got it covered Thank again

I wouldn't even bring up the engagement party. Just more information they don't need to know.

[Mystic Heart 0]

As long as it is not registered it is not a "legal" marriage. Just don't have her mention that she will be getting married in Thailand before going to the US at the interview. We had our ceremony in my wifes hometown, before we did the embassy interview, we just didn't mention it or show any pictures. This is actually a fairly common practice in Thailand with people who are doing a K1. Our attorney told us a majority of their clients end up doing this.

first of all, a K1 visa is a non-immigrant visa and it is clearly stated that this is for a US citizen who wishes to take a foreign FIANCE to the states for marriage. if you get married in Thailand before getting her to the states, she will be refused entry. and no, dont follow the advice saying just "dont declare" that you guys got married in Thailand.

My fiance and I had thought of getting married here in the Philippines but we were advised not to do so because that will void the K1 visa that we filed and we will have to start over again under a k3 visa which is intended for a spouse.

g'luck and grats on the engagement.

[bigcasino75 0]

Yea I think I will be good to go with this plan. AaronLV thanks that is good advice they dont need to know about the party and as someone said the ebassy in Thailand I am sure understands that a lot of pople do this and just dont regester. I have a lot of Thai frieends that have been together for years and have grown children and they are not legaly marriend but to them as long as you do the Buddist thing you are marriend not what it says on a peace of paper. Thanks again for all the help everyone.

[rsn 135]

first of all, a K1 visa is a non-immigrant visa and it is clearly stated that this is for a US citizen who wishes to take a foreign FIANCE to the states for marriage. if you get married in Thailand before getting her to the states, she will be refused entry. and no, dont follow the advice saying just "dont declare" that you guys got married in Thailand.

If you do not register at the local Amphur in Thailand, the marriage is not legal. There is nothing wrong, as far as I know, with having a non-legal marriage and not volunteering this information when talking to any immigration officials. You might want to read the previous posts again and keep in mind that the Philippines and Thailand are not the same country.

[Ning 619]

Hi all, I would like to give you a run down of what I am doing and get some advice on if this is possable or any problem areas that you may see in advance. I will be filing for a K1 visa for my Thai Fiencee this month( I am just waiting on some docs that she must sign and send back) she is now studing at University and will graduate in May of 2010. I am hoping that her visa will be ready around that time I am starting it now and can stall sending in the packet 3 if it is going too fast. then after she graduate and hopefuly she has her visa I will go to Thailand and we will have a Thai wedding for her family but it will not be regerstered so I dont think there will be any problems and it will be after she has her K1 in hand then we will both come back State side and have a legal wedding here. I know a lot of people say not to have a regelous wedding in the fiencees country but she is a women and wants her family to see her get married. She will already have the visa so it will be no problem for the embassy and as far as the US goes it is not a legal marrage so I dont see any problem there. does anyone agree with me or how else should I do this? Thanks for any advice

There are posts here that indicate what can be done to avoid the laws of the USA. The visa is issued by the embassy based on compliance with US immigration laws. We all know what K 1 visa is used for.

What you are considering doing is simply visa fraud. You want to marry in Thailand after she has the visa; then use the visa as a K 1 to have her enter the USA. What is the purpose of the entry?

If you believe what you are doing is really ok simply tell the officer at the POE she is married but the marrige isnt legal in Thailand. Let them decide if they buy the idea & allow her to use the visa to enter. That will be the best test of who actually understands the laws that apply.

I would use RSN's method to avoid any hint of fraud. Marry her in the USA & return to Thailand to have a traditional Thai wedding.

[Stephen + Elisha 92]

Hi all, I would like to give you a run down of what I am doing and get some advice on if this is possable or any problem areas that you may see in advance. I will be filing for a K1 visa for my Thai Fiencee this month( I am just waiting on some docs that she must sign and send back) she is now studing at University and will graduate in May of 2010. I am hoping that her visa will be ready around that time I am starting it now and can stall sending in the packet 3 if it is going too fast. then after she graduate and hopefuly she has her visa I will go to Thailand and we will have a Thai wedding for her family but it will not be regerstered so I dont think there will be any problems and it will be after she has her K1 in hand then we will both come back State side and have a legal wedding here. I know a lot of people say not to have a regelous wedding in the fiencees country but she is a women and wants her family to see her get married. She will already have the visa so it will be no problem for the embassy and as far as the US goes it is not a legal marrage so I dont see any problem there. does anyone agree with me or how else should I do this? Thanks for any advice

There are posts here that indicate what can be done to avoid the laws of the USA. The visa is issued by the embassy based on compliance with US immigration laws. We all know what K 1 visa is used for.

What you are considering doing is simply visa fraud. You want to marry in Thailand after she has the visa; then use the visa as a K 1 to have her enter the USA. What is the purpose of the entry?

If you believe what you are doing is really ok simply tell the officer at the POE she is married but the marrige isnt legal in Thailand. Let them decide if they buy the idea & allow her to use the visa to enter. That will be the best test of who actually understands the laws that apply.

I would use RSN's method to avoid any hint of fraud. Marry her in the USA & return to Thailand to have a traditional Thai wedding.

It is not visa fraud to have a wedding ceremony if that wedding ceremony does not have any legal effect. Consulates in some countries where this is the case actually advise K-1 applicants that this practice is fine. Your accusation is offensive.

If a person is not legally married, they are under no obligation to tell a consular officer that they are married. The determining factor for K-1 eligibility under U.S. law, and as specified in the State Department Foreign Affairs Manual, is "legally free to marry" at the time of the petition and thereafter.

The purpose of a K-1 visa under law is to enter the United States to conclude a valid marriage to the US citizen petitioner and adjust status within 90 days. If the petitioner and beneficiary are not legally married in any country, they are free to conclude a valid marriage in the United States. Once again, the accusation of fraud is incorrect and out of order.

Edited September 9, 2009 by Stephen + Elisha

[bigcasino75 0]

Ok so I just went on the US embassy Bangkok website and was looking at packet 3 and 4 info and here is what it said

SPECIAL NOTE FOR K1 VISA APPLICANTS

Do not marry your petitioner before you have received your visa and traveled to the United

States. The law requires K1 visa applicants to remain legally free to marry throughout the process. If

you get married, even to your fiancé (e), your petition will be cancelled and cannot be reinstated. If

you get married, your petitioner must file a new petition, and you must start your case from the

beginning.

As I read it it says You must remain LEGALLY free to marry and we still will be as it is not a legal marrage I know everone can inturpet it differently. Also it says all documents must be in english OR Thai if not you must have them translated is this True? has anyone turned in a Thai birth cert or other doc to the Bangkok embassy with out a translation and it passed? I am not trying to take any chances so I will have all docs translated but maybe they dont need to be?

[Ning 619]

Hi all, I would like to give you a run down of what I am doing and get some advice on if this is possable or any problem areas that you may see in advance. I will be filing for a K1 visa for my Thai Fiencee this month( I am just waiting on some docs that she must sign and send back) she is now studing at University and will graduate in May of 2010. I am hoping that her visa will be ready around that time I am starting it now and can stall sending in the packet 3 if it is going too fast. then after she graduate and hopefuly she has her visa I will go to Thailand and we will have a Thai wedding for her family but it will not be regerstered so I dont think there will be any problems and it will be after she has her K1 in hand then we will both come back State side and have a legal wedding here. I know a lot of people say not to have a regelous wedding in the fiencees country but she is a women and wants her family to see her get married. She will already have the visa so it will be no problem for the embassy and as far as the US goes it is not a legal marrage so I dont see any problem there. does anyone agree with me or how else should I do this? Thanks for any advice

There are posts here that indicate what can be done to avoid the laws of the USA. The visa is issued by the embassy based on compliance with US immigration laws. We all know what K 1 visa is used for.

What you are considering doing is simply visa fraud. You want to marry in Thailand after she has the visa; then use the visa as a K 1 to have her enter the USA. What is the purpose of the entry?

If you believe what you are doing is really ok simply tell the officer at the POE she is married but the marrige isnt legal in Thailand. Let them decide if they buy the idea & allow her to use the visa to enter. That will be the best test of who actually understands the laws that apply.

I would use RSN's method to avoid any hint of fraud. Marry her in the USA & return to Thailand to have a traditional Thai wedding.

It is not visa fraud to have a wedding ceremony if that wedding ceremony does not have any legal effect. Consulates in some countries where this is the case actually advise K-1 applicants that this practice is fine. Your accusation is offensive.

If a person is not legally married, they are under no obligation to tell a consular officer that they are married. The determining factor for K-1 eligibility under U.S. law, and as specified in the State Department Foreign Affairs Manual, is "legally free to marry" at the time of the petition and thereafter.

The purpose of a K-1 visa under law is to enter the United States to conclude a valid marriage to the US citizen petitioner and adjust status within 90 days. If the petitioner and beneficiary are not legally married in any country, they are free to conclude a valid marriage in the United States. Once again, the accusation of fraud is incorrect and out of order.

This is a collection of opinions.

You must be an immigration officer or immigration lawyer. Lets hope you are correct & at the POE.

If you are she can just tell the officer at the POE her exact situation to be allowed entry.

If she isnt she can turn to you for advise.

[AaronLV 12]

Also it says all documents must be in english OR Thai if not you must have them translated is this True? has anyone turned in a Thai birth cert or other doc to the Bangkok embassy with out a translation and it passed? I am not trying to take any chances so I will have all docs translated but maybe they dont need to be?

You are going to need the translation for AOS, so you might as well get it done in Thailand, it is only a few hundred baht.

This is a collection of opinions.

Actually it is not. If it is not registered at the Amphur then it is not a legal marriage in Thailand, they Thai government will not recognize the woman as being married, and she is free to marry anyone. The US Government will only recognize marriages outside the US that are considered legal within the country. Main point is, don't register it at the Amphur. This is why your wife once married in the US, is still considered single in Thailand until she registers the marriage at the Amphur.