Get married in foreign country after K-1?

[QuestOfLove 0]

I have a question about a K-1. I am in the US and my girlfriend is in the Philippines. If I were to file for a K-1 and we got the Visa and had it in hand, could we then get married in the Philippines before we got married in the US? Surely the US wouldn't know that we got married? This would accommodate getting married in her country, and then her traveling back with me and getting married here.

Thanks

[RICARDO4EVA2 199]

You can get married however know that   the VISA (K1) will be void.  The US may not know about it NOW.. but they will find out... that's also visa fraud. So i would say just wait..!<br><br>You can get married however know that   the VISA (K1) will now be  void and cant be used to enter the USA.  The US may not know about it NOW.. but they will find out... that's also visa fraud. So i would say just wait..!

Edited February 10, 2011 by RICARDO4EVA2

[Inky 1,111]

A legal marriage is a legal marriage, does not matter where in the world it happens.

If you want to marry in the Phils file a CR-1 after you get married and don't even bother with the K-1.

[ryna 132]

I have a question about a K-1. I am in the US and my girlfriend is in the Philippines. If I were to file for a K-1 and we got the Visa and had it in hand, could we then get married in the Philippines before we got married in the US? Surely the US wouldn't know that we got married? This would accommodate getting married in her country, and then her traveling back with me and getting married here.

Thanks

No, because the minute you get married over there, the K-1 visa is automatically revoked as it requires that she enter the U.S. as a single person. Any attempt to enter the U.S. on th K-1 would then constitute immigration fraud which would open up a whole world of hurt should it ever come up somewhere down the line (and it very well could.)

It's not simply a case of getting past CBP on the K-1 without them knowing and calling it a day..

[bestofboston 36]

In the Philippines your Girl Friend / future wife musts obtain a CENOMAR (Prove in the Philippines that she is single and eligible for marriage) from the Philippine NTS and provide the certificied CENOMAR copy to the NVC or the Embassy. She can not obtain a Cenomar from the NTS if she is married.

If you get married, a copy of the marriage certificate will be forwarded to the NTS and she will no longer be able to obtain a CENOMAR, just a NTS copy of the marriage certificate which you need if you are married for the CR1 process.

The Manila Embassy may also have means that we are not aware of to verify her status. Do not comitt fraud if you want her here.

You can get her here faster using the K1 process. The CR1 process takes on average 10 months before she obtains her visa to come here. 5 months plus at the USCIS and 163 days on average between time the USCIS approves it and she gets an interview, assuming you are quick at getting the papper work in. My wife and I were married last April and we are still waiting on her interview. It has not been scheduled yet.

K1 visa process cost more in the long run but she will have her visa in hand in 8 months on average.

Don't screw it up because you think you are smarter than they are.

[Anh map 2,098]

You can have a party, stand up in front of everyone and promise to love each other, and dress up in wedding clothes. Just don't have an officiant that can legally marry you. Have a friend or family member preside over the "wedding".

As stated already, legally married is legally married. US recognizes marriage in PI.

[ryna 132]

"Don't screw it up because you think you are smarter than they are. "

Best.. advice.. ever!

On top of that, having just been through it, I'm fairly certain that when you go for the marriage license in the U.S., you'll be asked to sign, under penalty of perjury, that you are not married (and/or to list all previous marriages and dates of termination) while you are, in fact, legally married (even if unknown to the U.S. gov't) because your foreign marriage is considered valid here automatically.

Now, we're talking Federal and State (whichever it may be) issues...

[corazónENparaguay 46]

The question to ask your embassy is whether a ceremonial wedding is recognized as a "legal" marriage. It's best to ask your embassy before doing any planning.

[Pedro Thiago 2]

So would I be correct in assuming that a completely ceremonial marriage event without any documents or paper-signing would still be possible while intending to travel on a K1, even if it is of a religious nature? My fiance's family would really like us to observe their traditions but no legal processes would take place.

[Harsh_77 718]

Don’t try to go around the system, it might look sweet and quicker – but if you are caught it will create visa fraud issues.

Even her new status then would be revoked based on she entered US on invalid visa.

[QuestOfLove 0]

Thanks for the replies. I was just curious if anyone has done it. I see that its a bad idea lol

[corazónENparaguay 46]

So would I be correct in assuming that a completely ceremonial marriage event without any documents or paper-signing would still be possible while intending to travel on a K1, even if it is of a religious nature? My fiance's family would really like us to observe their traditions but no legal processes would take place.

It depends on the country in question. Some countries do recognize ceremonial weddings as "legal" marriages. An e-mail to the embassy would likely resolve any questions. The recommendation is to not mess with it, or have it confused with an actual marriage, but one shoe does not fit all. Be safe and check with your embassy would be my recommendation.

[KemalTuanaYalcin 16]

I have a question about a K-1. I am in the US and my girlfriend is in the Philippines. If I were to file for a K-1 and we got the Visa and had it in hand, could we then get married in the Philippines before we got married in the US? Surely the US wouldn't know that we got married? This would accommodate getting married in her country, and then her traveling back with me and getting married here.

Thanks

No, if you get married in the Philippines, her K-1 visa basically then becomes null and void. The whole idea around the K-1 is to give your fiance the opportunity to come here conditionaly for 90 days to provide you both with time to become married. Now, you can do a non-legal religious type wedding but you may need to get documents or evidence or statements that it was religious only and that no legal papers and nothing was registered in the Philippines concerning a marraige. And yes, the government will can can find out if you had a legal marraige over there prior to her coming here.

[inloveVEN 46]

i dont think this is the path for K-1 Visa

K-1 visa is non imigration visa, its valid only to be used one time but even getting married your foreign fiancée is not allowed to leave the country you need to introduce and Adjustment of status after getting married before 90 days.

if you dont get marry by this time then you are not allowed to AOS via K-1.

if you want to get marry abroad, then is better if you get marry, come back and then you need to file a petition using IR-1 / CR-1.

[Aztec&Taino 144]

Thanks for the replies. I was just curious if anyone has done it. I see that its a bad idea lol

If somebody has done it, they would be pretty stupid to post it in a public forum. It would be akin to someboy posting, "Hey, I found this checkbook and wrote some checks and cashed them and I got away with it!"

As other members have said; do not try to outsmart the system. If you want to marry in her country do so and file for the CR1. Otherwise, be prepared to wait to get married in US soil, after she has entered using her K1 visa.