Marriage before visa??

[David R 2]

Hi All,

My fiance and I are currently in the US but we are both leaving for Australia soon as we wait for the K1 visa.

We are considering the idea of having the wedding before we leave so some of her ill relatives can make it and then possibly signing the papers when we return on the K1 in 5-8 months.

I am assuming we are able to have the "wedding" or party before we have the visa as it will be nothing offical but I am now wondering if there is the possibility of actually signing the papers also but waiting to lodge them when we return with the K1 visa in hand.

Can anyone tell me if this would be at all possible.

Thanks so much for your time.

David

[elyhim 41]

If you are married you cannot file a K1. If you marry after you file and before the visa you will be denied.

[Thomas&Cleofe 358]

Party....Yes Wedding...No way.

That will cause denial of k-1 visa.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

A K-1 is for marriage in the US only. You cannot get the K-1 or enter the US on a K-1 if you are married. There is no "file later" trick - married is married.

If it is important to marry in Australia, then I suggest a spousal visa after wedding there. A spousal visa is cheaper and less complicated anyway. If you are going to be living in Aus for a while, why not?

[rocks 494]

A K-1 is for marriage in the US only. You cannot get the K-1 or enter the US on a K-1 if you are married. There is no "file later" trick - married is married.

If it is important to marry in Australia, then I suggest a spousal visa after wedding there. A spousal visa is cheaper and less complicated anyway. If you are going to be living in Aus for a while, why not?

IR-1/CR-1 is far less expensive and you can get a GC once you enter the US.

[David R 2]

I see, we cant get married in Aus because most of our guests are from US. We are already down the road with the K1.

So if I understand correctly, we can have a wedding party with everything but actually getting legally married?

Perhaps we will have the reception and then wait until we get the visa and just get married in a small ceremony after we return with the K1 visa.

[David R 2]

We can actually have a ceremony/party etc as long as we do not legally married. Is this correct?

I do not want to violate any rules of the visa etc...

Thanks so much for your time guys.

David

[C-ma'am 684]

We can actually have a ceremony/party etc as long as we do not legally married. Is this correct?

I do not want to violate any rules of the visa etc...

Thanks so much for your time guys.

David

You can, but you need to be very careful. Don't share those pictures as evidence and make sure none of your guests goes to, for example, Facebook to congratulate you on your marriage.

Anything like that, can make the CO think you are married and they can deny you on the spot.. no say on the matter from you.

It's very risky.

[David R 2]

OK, we are starting to really like the idea of changing from the K1 to a CR1 and just getting married in Australia before coming back here for the big ceremony etc that my fiancee wants.

Can anyone see any dramas with changing from K1 to CR1 and would we still be able to come over on the VWP if we wanted to while we were waiting?

Also, does anyone know the timeline for CR1? Is it quicker or slower than the K1?

Thanks guys!

David

[David R 2]

You can, but you need to be very careful. Don't share those pictures as evidence and make sure none of your guests goes to, for example, Facebook to congratulate you on your marriage.

Anything like that, can make the CO think you are married and they can deny you on the spot.. no say on the matter from you.

It's very risky.

But technically we would not be married and if it really came down to it I am sure we could get documentation proving we were both unmarried. Would this be OK do you think?

[elyhim 41]

But technically we would not be married and if it really came down to it I am sure we could get documentation proving we were both unmarried. Would this be OK do you think?

People have been denied for wearing rings in pictures. It is risky.