If not K-1, which other visa route would be best for me?

[raian 2]

Hi folks

I know that this may or may not belong in the K-1 forum, but I just don't know where to begin posting this new development of mine.

I'm in the US and recently engaged to my fiancee from Indonesia. Her family is very insistent that she and I marry in a Siri religious wedding ceremony, with no contract signed. This must be done before she would come to the USA.

I was intent on going through the K-1 visa process. However, I just received an email from the US Embassy in Jakarta with this reply about the Siri wedding and K-1 visa process: "We did not recommend you to have a siri religious ceremony."

Their answer in my opinion was too short and not detailed enough with definite reason to justify their statement. So now I should consider another visa route other than K-1.

Questions:

1) Should just get legally married in Indonesia?

2) If I were to do the Siri wedding with no contract signed, what visa route should I go through?

3) What would be the next best visa route option for me?

I'm feeling so distraught about this because it should be so simple, however, other people are making this so complicated

Thank you in advance for any help.

Ryan

[john & jean 37]

1. yes

2. CR1

3. CR1 is the only viable option

The embassy has spoken, you should listen. k1 is for fiancee only, if you get married then file it will be denied, fees and time will be lost!!!

Edited January 25, 2011 by john & jean

[Barbara J 115]

Hi folks

I know that this may or may not belong in the K-1 forum, but I just don't know where to begin posting this new development of mine.

I'm in the US and recently engaged to my fiancee from Indonesia. Her family is very insistent that she and I marry in a Siri religious wedding ceremony, with no contract signed. This must be done before she would come to the USA.

I was intent on going through the K-1 visa process. However, I just received an email from the US Embassy in Jakarta with this reply about the Siri wedding and K-1 visa process: "We did not recommend you to have a siri religious ceremony."

Their answer in my opinion was too short and not detailed enough with definite reason to justify their statement. So now I should consider another visa route other than K-1.

Questions:

1) Should just get legally married in Indonesia?

2) If I were to do the Siri wedding with no contract signed, what visa route should I go through?

3) What would be the next best visa route option for me?

I'm feeling so distraught about this because it should be so simple, however, other people are making this so complicated

Thank you in advance for any help.

Ryan

SO if there is no contract signed is it a legal wedding according to USA? Would you have a marriage certificate?

Personally if this is what the Embassy have said then marry her over there legally and apply for CR1.

Ok and also the Embassy are saying that you are not to have a Siri wedding and apply for a K1 visa.

You would apply for your 129f petition to have her come here to marry you with a K1 visa. This is my understanding of their comment.

[raian 2]

SO if there is no contract signed is it a legal wedding according to USA? Would you have a marriage certificate?

Personally if this is what the Embassy have said then marry her over there legally and apply for CR1.

Ok and also the Embassy are saying that you are not to have a Siri wedding and apply for a K1 visa.

You would apply for your 129f petition to have her come here to marry you with a K1 visa. This is my understanding of their comment.

The Siri wedding would not be legal in any place.

No marriage certificate.

I do not know what else the Embassy is intent on saying beyond the one line statement that they replied to me with. I wish they gave me more detailed reasons and suggestions. Since there is no legal contract in a Siri wedding, it should be fine to apply with a K-1 visa.

[Aztec&Taino 144]

I'm feeling so distraught about this because it should be so simple, however, other people are making this so complicated

Ryan,

No visa journey is simple. Really, the risk you would be taking if you do participate in the wedding ceremony and then file your petition for the fiancee visa is that, after months of waiting and many fees, the consul would interpret your ceremony as the "real" (legal) thing and deny her visa.

The risk that you would run if you do not fulfill the family's wishes... Well, it could cause serious damage to your relationship and possible ill feelings from your in-laws forever!

You should seriously consider having the wedding ceremony AND do whatever steps are necessary to get legally married in Indonesia. By doing this, you could file the I-130 in order to get the CR1 visa. This visa has two main benefits over the K1 visa: it is cheaper (or should I say "less expensive"?) than the K1 route, and she would enter the US as a permanent resident; no need to adjust her status.

Best wishes!

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

Many Nigerian couples have traditional weddings thinking that they are ok because they aren't legal weddings. Recently there have been several denials of the k1's for these couples leaving them with no choice but to travel back have a court wedding and then refile as a cr1.

[payxibka 10,044]

You gave us the answer you were provided... but what was the question EXACTLY as you posed it too them...

[raian 2]

@Aztec&Taino, you are correct in all the ways you mentioned. Thank you for your well wishes. I will go the CR-1 route.

@payxibka, this is the exact question I proposed to them: "My fiancee and I will be going through the K-1 visa process. Would it be okay for us to do a Siri religious-only wedding ceremony, with no contract signed and still be qualified for the K-1 visa process?"

[payxibka 10,044]

@Aztec&Taino, you are correct in all the ways you mentioned. Thank you for your well wishes. I will go the CR-1 route.

@payxibka, this is the exact question I proposed to them: "My fiancee and I will be going through the K-1 visa process. Would it be okay for us to do a Siri religious-only wedding ceremony, with no contract signed and still be qualified for the K-1 visa process?"

Just as I thought, they "skirted" the question and really did NOT answer it.... in other words telling you you are on your own....

Edited January 25, 2011 by payxibka

[Dolores and Hakki 0]

Hi folks

I know that this may or may not belong in the K-1 forum, but I just don't know where to begin posting this new development of mine.

I'm in the US and recently engaged to my fiancee from Indonesia. Her family is very insistent that she and I marry in a Siri religious wedding ceremony, with no contract signed. This must be done before she would come to the USA.

I was intent on going through the K-1 visa process. However, I just received an email from the US Embassy in Jakarta with this reply about the Siri wedding and K-1 visa process: "We did not recommend you to have a siri religious ceremony."

Their answer in my opinion was too short and not detailed enough with definite reason to justify their statement. So now I should consider another visa route other than K-1.

Questions:

1) Should just get legally married in Indonesia?

2) If I were to do the Siri wedding with no contract signed, what visa route should I go through?

3) What would be the next best visa route option for me?

I'm feeling so distraught about this because it should be so simple, however, other people are making this so complicated

Thank you in advance for any help.

Ryan

[Dolores and Hakki 0]

You should marry in the U.S. first. You can always have a ceremony in her country later. It is stated on the USICS website that it is better not to marry first in the other country...

[raian 2]

You should marry in the U.S. first. You can always have a ceremony in her country later. It is stated on the USICS website that it is better not to marry first in the other country...

Would you be able to please link me to this information? I want to follow the rules with the visas, however, her family has completely insisted that we need to do a wedding there, be it the religious-only ceremony or the legal official one. Their matter has to deal with the cultural stigma and reputation of their daughter if she were to leave their country as a fiancee. I respect their traditional culture and there's really nothing I can do, even after several tries.

[Utha 10]

Hi folks

I know that this may or may not belong in the K-1 forum, but I just don't know where to begin posting this new development of mine.

I'm in the US and recently engaged to my fiancee from Indonesia. Her family is very insistent that she and I marry in a Siri religious wedding ceremony, with no contract signed. This must be done before she would come to the USA.

I was intent on going through the K-1 visa process. However, I just received an email from the US Embassy in Jakarta with this reply about the Siri wedding and K-1 visa process: "We did not recommend you to have a siri religious ceremony."

Their answer in my opinion was too short and not detailed enough with definite reason to justify their statement. So now I should consider another visa route other than K-1.

Questions:

1) Should just get legally married in Indonesia?

2) If I were to do the Siri wedding with no contract signed, what visa route should I go through?

3) What would be the next best visa route option for me?

I'm feeling so distraught about this because it should be so simple, however, other people are making this so complicated

Thank you in advance for any help.

Ryan

Have u ever research about K1 and CR1? If you had, then you will find out that CR1 is better for you since it is more efficient and effective (if you really sure about marrying your couple). Most important thing is the fiancee's family won't give you headache about getting married first. Compare the price and the benefits. If only we knew about it since the first time, we would be file CR1. If you think K1 gonna be faster than CR1, see the fact that we have now. Even K1 almost close to CR1 timeline. Dont get distraught, this is the process we have to face with cool head.

[Dan J 277]

My wife came to the US on a K-1 Visa. We completed the visa first. I went to Indonesia to accompany my fiancée back to the US. Before leaving we had a ceremony for her friends and family. A few weeks later after arriving in the US, we got married at the courthouse so we could begin AOS.

Its not something thats difficult to do. But, you must be very clear that you are not married, and not providing any information that might give the impression that you are married (No pictures, no wedding rings, etc...).

[unclesam112 0]

Once your fiancé (e) has entered the United States you must get married within 90 days of your fiancé(e)'s arrival in the United States. Once the marriage takes place your spouse must file Form I-485 Adjustment of Status with United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) office. The spouse who is a U.S. citizen must complete and file the affidavit of support, with the fiancé's form I-485 application to become a lawful permanent resident. Upon approval of the I-485 adjustment of status application you will be granted a conditional status green card. A conditional green card requires that you and your spouse must apply together and file form I-751 to remove conditions on green card within 90 days before your two year anniversary of your conditional green card being issued for permanent residency.