Fiance visa and religious ceremony

[Azeera0903 0]

Hello,

We send out the petition in November and we received Notice of Action NOA 1 in December 10th, 2013 confirmed that our case is in initial review stage. As a Muslim, and in my country to be able to legally married, Muslims need to register their marriage under the Syariah law. My fiance and I is planning to do the religious ceremony (get married under the Syariah law) once we get the fiance visa (K-1), before I move to the US permanently. But, we curious whether is possible and not messing-up the fiance visa procedures. Appreciate thoughts and perspectives from members of this forum.

Azeera and Felipe

[Azeera0903 0]

Additional to my note earlier, we would like to know whether this move will complicate the K1 visa requirement.

Azeera and Felipe

[KayDeeCee 4,900]

If it is a legal marriage there, then it is a legal marriage for the purpose of immigration. You cannot get married and then enter the US with a K-1. A K-1 is for unmarried persons only. The marriage must take place in the US within 90 days of entry. Your K-1 would no longer be valid and you could not enter the US with it if you marry first.

http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/86920.pdf

If the law is complied with and the marriage is recognized, then the marriage is deemed to be valid for immigration purposes.

Edited January 18, 2014 by Jay-Kay

[Cathi 5,849]

My friend from Algeria was just denied for doing this. Married is married, of course it complicate things, it will result in a denial. A k1 is for you to travel the US and get married HERE within 90'days. I don't understand why so many people can't grasp this concept.

[slowlyman 118]

Even if you get the K-1 approved, if the CO at the POE gets a whiff of your ceremony, he could turn you back on the next flight. If it is important to be married in your home country. It would be best to file the CR-1.

[belinda63 3,053]

If you are already married when you arrive with your K-1 visa you will not be permitted to enter as you are not a "fiance" but a "wife". You must have your marriage inside the US. Any marriage in any other country that is recognized as such by the government, which it sounds like yours would be, will void the fiance visa.

[Avery Cates 1,141]

Hello,

We send out the petition in November and we received Notice of Action NOA 1 in December 10th, 2013 confirmed that our case is in initial review stage. As a Muslim, and in my country to be able to legally married, Muslims need to register their marriage under the Syariah law. My fiance and I is planning to do the religious ceremony (get married under the Syariah law) once we get the fiance visa (K-1), before I move to the US permanently. But, we curious whether is possible and not messing-up the fiance visa procedures. Appreciate thoughts and perspectives from members of this forum.

Azeera and Felipe

If you're going to do that, you'll have to get married and go the CR-1 route.

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

Not only do you risk denial on entry but at every point later in the process and when it comes to USC they do investigate. If you have posted wedding pics on face book by then you can have USC denied AND they will revoke your green card for fraud

[Eric-Pris 1,607]

Don't forget about the lifetime ban from the US for misrepresentation (lying).

[Ilovemyman 147]

Hello,

We send out the petition in November and we received Notice of Action NOA 1 in December 10th, 2013 confirmed that our case is in initial review stage. As a Muslim, and in my country to be able to legally married, Muslims need to register their marriage under the Syariah law. My fiance and I is planning to do the religious ceremony (get married under the Syariah law) once we get the fiance visa (K-1), before I move to the US permanently. But, we curious whether is possible and not messing-up the fiance visa procedures. Appreciate thoughts and perspectives from members of this forum.

Azeera and Felipe

You cant do that, because you are getting merry before enter tu usa.

they are going to send to you back home if you enter to usa.

That is a legal marriage in your country reconozied by the law.

[del-2-5-2014 1,340]

Hello,

We send out the petition in November and we received Notice of Action NOA 1 in December 10th, 2013 confirmed that our case is in initial review stage. As a Muslim, and in my country to be able to legally married, Muslims need to register their marriage under the Syariah law. My fiance and I is planning to do the religious ceremony (get married under the Syariah law) once we get the fiance visa (K-1), before I move to the US permanently. But, we curious whether is possible and not messing-up the fiance visa procedures. Appreciate thoughts and perspectives from members of this forum.

Azeera and Felipe

Not sure about the sharia thing but almost all other islamic process can be down in the US, we have mosques and imams here too.

[Ketsuban 1,035]

It shouldn't really matter whether your home country sees you as married or not, since you aren't planning on living there. Wait until you get to the US to get married.

[Ebunoluwa 6,136]

Hello,

We send out the petition in November and we received Notice of Action NOA 1 in December 10th, 2013 confirmed that our case is in initial review stage. As a Muslim, and in my country to be able to legally married, Muslims need to register their marriage under the Syariah law. My fiance and I is planning to do the religious ceremony (get married under the Syariah law) once we get the fiance visa (K-1), before I move to the US permanently. But, we curious whether is possible and not messing-up the fiance visa procedures. Appreciate thoughts and perspectives from members of this forum.

Azeera and Felipe

No, you can't do that without getting into huge problems.

You would be considered married legally in your country with the ceremony under Syariah law and therefore also be considered legally married in the eyes of the US.

Don't do it.

[N&P 3]

No, you cannot. When you register under the Syariah law in Malaysia, it is considered a legal marriage. Since you have already filed for K1, you can either proceed with it and get married in USA or withdraw your current petition, get married and then file for CR1 or K3.

[Azeera0903 0]

If it is a legal marriage there, then it is a legal marriage for the purpose of immigration. You cannot get married and then enter the US with a K-1. A K-1 is for unmarried persons only. The marriage must take place in the US within 90 days of entry. Your K-1 would no longer be valid and you could not enter the US with it if you marry first.

http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/86920.pdf

Dear Jay-Kay,

Many thanks for the link. We missed this document before! This document is very helpful, indeed!

And, to all members that responded to this thread, thank you so very much! And, this really put both of us back on the right track. Sometimes, it is easy to lose sight of things that very critical throughout K1 visa process. As in my case, we both need to consider my parent's point of view that certainly want us to get married according to religious principle. In my religion, a unmarried single woman need to get her father/ guardian permission to get married (called as 'wali'). Plus, in my country, we have dual system where Islamic laws applied to Muslims - all Muslims, while civil marriage for non-Muslim couples. The reason that we planned to do religious ceremony in Malaysia first before I fly to the US is to consider my parents and family religious background. As for now, we need to make a detour and come out with new plans and put more efforts to explain to my parents. We're thinking to bring my parents to the US and do the religious ceremony after we register the marriage under the US civil law. The religious ceremony can be held in Malaysian Embassy or mosques nearby. But, by doing this my parents need to apply for B1/B2 visa category.

Azeera and Felipe