Thai wedding on a K1

[Kang Lang 7]

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?

Yes you can absolutely turn in Thai documents to the embassy however, at the AOS stage you will need them translated and it is significantly less expensive to have the translation done in Thailand if you do not have a friend or family member fluent in both languages(more convenient as well).

good luck to you.

[*Robert* 2]

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.

We had a ceremony as well, and I think you will find a majority of us with Thai fiancees (at the time) did the same thing. Though we all did it, and felt it was not a legal marriage, we also never showed pictures of the ceremony or wore wedding bands while going through POE. The fact is, you will get legally married after arriving in the US, which is the whole pupose of the K-1 visa, and it will be that marriage certificate that will be used for the rest of your immigration journey.

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.

[Ning 619]

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.

We had a ceremony as well, and I think you will find a majority of us with Thai fiancees (at the time) did the same thing. Though we all did it, and felt it was not a legal marriage, we also never showed pictures of the ceremony or wore wedding bands while going through POE. The fact is, you will get legally married after arriving in the US, which is the whole pupose of the K-1 visa, and it will be that marriage certificate that will be used for the rest of your immigration journey.

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.

Why not just explain at the POE if everyone is so sure its not a problem?

[Stephen + Elisha 92]

Why not just explain at the POE if everyone is so sure its not a problem?

Why offer unnecessary information at the POE that could needlessly complicate the process?

Q: "Are you married?"

No marriage certificate - no legal marriage - legally free to marry.

A: "No."

[*Robert* 2]

Why not just explain at the POE if everyone is so sure its not a problem?

Why offer unnecessary information at the POE that could needlessly complicate the process?

Q: "Are you married?"

No marriage certificate - no legal marriage - legally free to marry.

A: "No."

Exactly!!!

Why in the world would anyone tell their life story at their POE? The CBP Officer doesn't ask if you got married before entering, and even if he did, the answer would still be "No".

Since you are a K-3, your advice really doesn't apply here, since you have not done what the rest of us did, so if you can't be helpfull, be gone.

Edited September 9, 2009 by *Robert*

[Ning 619]

Why not just explain at the POE if everyone is so sure its not a problem?

Why offer unnecessary information at the POE that could needlessly complicate the process?

Q: "Are you married?"

No marriage certificate - no legal marriage - legally free to marry.

A: "No."

Exactly!!!

Why in the world would anyone tell their life story at their POE? The CBP Officer doesn't ask if you got married before entering, and even if he did, the answer would still be "No".

Since you are a K-3, your advice really doesn't apply here, since you have not done what the rest of us did, so if you can't be helpfull, be gone.

You mean why would anyone tell the truth? It isnt a life story but it is the truthful information. Just explain that you got married but it isnt legal in your mind because of your understanding of Thai law. You need to have the courage to submit to the law.

Bobby it isnt for you to decide what is helpful. You are advocating people lie at at the POE. That isnt helpful or correct & neither are you.

You are correct in saying I didnt lie to bring my wife into the USA. What does the type of visa my wife had have to do with this?

[Stephen + Elisha 92]

Why not just explain at the POE if everyone is so sure its not a problem?

Why offer unnecessary information at the POE that could needlessly complicate the process?

Q: "Are you married?"

No marriage certificate - no legal marriage - legally free to marry.

A: "No."

Exactly!!!

Why in the world would anyone tell their life story at their POE? The CBP Officer doesn't ask if you got married before entering, and even if he did, the answer would still be "No".

Since you are a K-3, your advice really doesn't apply here, since you have not done what the rest of us did, so if you can't be helpfull, be gone.

You mean why would anyone tell the truth? It isnt a life story but it is the truthful information. Just explain that you got married but it isnt legal in your mind because of your understanding of Thai law. You need to have the courage to submit to the law.

Bobby it isnt for you to decide what is helpful. You are advocating people lie at at the POE. That isnt helpful or correct & neither are you.

You are correct in saying I didnt lie to bring my wife into the USA. What does the type of visa my wife had have to do with this?

You continue to misrepresent what people are saying. No one is advocating lying at POE.

There is no obligation to volunteer information. When a government official asks if you are married, their only concern—and the extent of their legal purview—is whether you are legally married. If you are not legally married, the answer to the question "Are you married?" is no. It's that simple.

[Ning 619]

Why not just explain at the POE if everyone is so sure its not a problem?

Why offer unnecessary information at the POE that could needlessly complicate the process?

Q: "Are you married?"

No marriage certificate - no legal marriage - legally free to marry.

A: "No."

Exactly!!!

Why in the world would anyone tell their life story at their POE? The CBP Officer doesn't ask if you got married before entering, and even if he did, the answer would still be "No".

Since you are a K-3, your advice really doesn't apply here, since you have not done what the rest of us did, so if you can't be helpfull, be gone.

You mean why would anyone tell the truth? It isnt a life story but it is the truthful information. Just explain that you got married but it isnt legal in your mind because of your understanding of Thai law. You need to have the courage to submit to the law.

Bobby it isnt for you to decide what is helpful. You are advocating people lie at at the POE. That isnt helpful or correct & neither are you.

You are correct in saying I didnt lie to bring my wife into the USA. What does the type of visa my wife had have to do with this?

You continue to misrepresent what people are saying. No one is advocating lying at POE.

There is no obligation to volunteer information. When a government official asks if you are married, their only concern—and the extent of their legal purview—is whether you are legally married. If you are not legally married, the answer to the question "Are you married?" is no. It's that simple.

If its that simple why would the OP ask the question in a public forum? Maybe he just needs to ask you.

You are advocating avoiding the law by concealing the facts. Why not let a someone trained in applying the laws decide instead of some amature arm chair legal expert & adviser like you?

Its that simple.

[Stephen + Elisha 92]

Once again, you misrepresent the facts. No one is advocating concealing facts. I contend that there is no obligation to volunteer information that is immaterial. Whether or not someone had a religious wedding ceremony is immaterial as long as that ceremony has no legal effect in the jurisdiction where it took place. The only material fact is legal freedom to marry.

In my job, I advise and assist clients on a daily basis to comply with federal laws and regulations in order to maintain eligibility for multi-million-dollar contracts. I'm good at what I do, and I'm paid quite well for it. But thanks for playing.

Edited September 9, 2009 by Stephen + Elisha

[*Robert* 2]

Once again, you misrepresent the facts. No one is advocating concealing facts. I contend that there is no obligation to volunteer information that is immaterial. Whether or not someone had a religious wedding ceremony is immaterial as long as that ceremony has no legal effect in the jurisdiction where it took place. The only material fact is legal freedom to marry.

In my job, I advise and assist clients on a daily basis to comply with federal laws and regulations in order to maintain eligibility for multi-million-dollar contracts. I'm good at what I do, and I'm paid quite well for it. But thanks for playing.

Stephen, just ignore him, because as you said, he is mirepresenting the facts and acting like a troll.

[*Robert* 2]

Unlike her, my wife and I are almost at the end of our jouney, with her citizenship just a month away. I think I know just a LITTLE more than her, and since we have already gone through the experience, and not had any issues with either the DoS or USCIS, I think my advice was sound, as was everyone else. Only the one person who is NOT a K-1, seems to think they know everything and act so self-rightuous as to not gain any kind of respect or be taken seriously.

Good luck to everyone else!

Edited September 9, 2009 by *Robert*

[bigcasino75 0]

wow looks like I started a fire. Thanks for all the help I agree and the only rason I ask the question was so many people ask about getting married in other counrtys but are told not to because it is a legal marrage but in Thailand a wedding is not legal usless reg. so I was thinking that it was different. I would never do anything to risk my Fiancee coming hear and bgeing together but I know a wedding is importain to her and her family so that is why I want it. I would never lie about it if ask point blank at the POE did you have a wedding and not reg it in Thailand I would tell them yes but Idont think they would ask this in a million yyears. I think some people only see in Black and white when most of us live in some shade of gray and this is a gray area I think the embassy is aware of it and really dont care well once again thanks for all the help and good luck to all of you!!!

[afisher 0]

Thai BC without translation is fine, but as stated above it must be translated for use in America. Get it translated down the street from the embassy, probably much cheaper to do there than in the States.

[*Robert* 2]

Thai BC without translation is fine, but as stated above it must be translated for use in America. Get it translated down the street from the embassy, probably much cheaper to do there than in the States.

Agreed. Does not need to be translated for the consulate and the K-1 visa interview, but you need to have a translated copy for AOS.

And to once again confirm... no one is suggesting lying to ANYONE, but merely what so MANY OTHERS have already done, including my wife and I. I can also confirm, we have NEVER lied about what we have done, even here on a "public forum", as the one who wanted to start all the controversy suggested.

I have been a member of VJ for many years, and have sought, and found, a lot of very good advice. Anytime I see someone giving bad advice, I will be the first to say so, and Ning was sticking her nose into something she knows nothing about.

bigcasino, stick with your plans, because you are doing NOTHING illegal, and good luck to you and your future wife, who you will marry in the USA!

[Ning 619]

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

This is a true statement of your intention to have her lie. You have just stated that if asked she is to lie about the wedding.

You have asked your question because you are concerned about what will take place if they uncover her lie. You say many people have told you not to do this. Now you are looking for others to offset that information.

"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"

Thats doesnt look " gray " to me.