petition submitted for K1 but want to get married earlier in Hungary

[BarbiHun 0]

Hi there,

I hope someone can answer this question.

We submitted the petition for K1 a month ago. But we would like to get married in April in Hungary, probably even before I would have my interview at the embassy. My family would be happy to see us getting married here, since they cannot all afford to travel to US and attend our wedding there.

Anyone has any info whether this is possible or it would cause me any problems while dealing with the embassy in Hungary?

Thanks in advance.

[Penguin_ie 5,999]

It is possible.

What you need to do is withdraw the K1 (and loose all the fees associated with it), get legally married, then file the CR-1 spousal visa. The spousal visa takes about a year so with a wedding in April 2015, you are looking at spring 2016 by the time she gets her visa and can move to the USA.

[Pitaya 2,577]

Welcome to the forum.

Agree with Penguin.

To participate in the K1 Fiancé(e) visa program you have to get married to your US citizen petitioner within 90 days of your arrival in the US. If you do get married in Hungary, you are will not eligible for a Fiancé(e) visa, and should pursue a CR1 Spouse visa instead. It will cause big problems at the US embassy in Hungary. Many people have the wedding in the US, then have a wedding celebration in their home country afterwards, after they have started the Adjustment of Status (AOS) process and have obtained their Advanced Parole (AP) document. The AP document allows for international travel while the AOS is being adjudicated. There are numerous forum threads discussing this very often asked scenario.

Good luck on your immigration journey.

[clairegie 265]

Anyone has any info whether this is possible or it would cause me any problems while dealing with the embassy in Hungary?

Of course it would, because you wont be a Fiancee by then if you decide to push through with the wedding in Hungary. Just have an engagement party or just come back to Hungary and renew your wedding vows and have a little celebration after for the family after you adjusted your status.

Otherwise, like Penguin said, withdraw the K-1 petition and file a spousal visa.

[usmsbow 802]

Perhaps you could have the wedding and just not get legally married in Hungary? In other words have the ceremony and party but don't actually get married.

[clairegie 265]

Perhaps you could have the wedding and just not get legally married in Hungary? In other words have the ceremony and party but don't actually get married.

too risky

[BarbiHun 0]

thanks everyone. We assumed it was not going to be possible, but wanted to read opinions.

On the other hand, what if the marriage happens only in church?

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

Most church weddings are legal marriages. Do not risk it. If immigration EVER finds out they can pull everything you have including citizenship on the basis of your fraud at entry.

[Zedayn 486]

If you want to marry in your country, withdraw your I-129F petition first, then get married, finally file an I-130 for CR-1 visa.

[usmsbow 802]

thanks everyone. We assumed it was not going to be possible, but wanted to read opinions.

On the other hand, what if the marriage happens only in church?

I would do research if I were you. Find out what the legal requirements for marriage are in your country. Talk to your church's priest/pastor and see if it is even possible to have the ceremony and not become legally married.

If I were you, and wanted some kind of ceremony before coming to the US to become legally married, I would a) do it in a private, non-church venue b) have a friend (instead of priest/pastor) preside over the "event". That would minimize the risk.

Just my 2 cents.

[clairegie 265]

I am unaware of any churches that lets people have the ceremony without actually getting married. Wouldn't the priest get mad?

[kehills 217]

thanks everyone. We assumed it was not going to be possible, but wanted to read opinions.

On the other hand, what if the marriage happens only in church?

If you can be viewed as married in any way, you run a high risk of being viewed as married. Don't take this risk, or you could find yourself in a world of trouble.

[Rossa 3]

If the church operates separate from the government, then marrying in the church would not be a problem, because it is not reconized by the government.

[Pianist27 31]

I would do research if I were you. Find out what the legal requirements for marriage are in your country. Talk to your church's priest/pastor and see if it is even possible to have the ceremony and not become legally married.

If I were you, and wanted some kind of ceremony before coming to the US to become legally married, I would a) do it in a private, non-church venue b) have a friend (instead of priest/pastor) preside over the "event". That would minimize the risk.

Just my 2 cents.

This is seriously bad advice. Don't do anything that could possibly, even by the wildest stretches of the imagination, be thought of as a marriage. As someone mentioned above, if you want a wedding outside the USA, either do it after you are married in the USA, or refile as a spousal visa.

If the church operates separate from the government, then marrying in the church would not be a problem, because it is not reconized by the government.

More bad advice. The government whose recognition is most relevant is the US government, and it's quite likely (if not certain) that a consular official in that country would consider a church wedding an actual wedding.

[msbau764 245]

The OP needs to realize that there are a few cases of the CO denying K1 visas for marriage ceremonies. In some cases the CO knew about the ceremonies without any disclosure from the petioner or beneficiary. It is TOO risky. Like some said, come to the US on a K1 visa and return to Hungary with the greencard in hand and marry in a church. You only have to get legally married in the states; the hoopla and extravaganza of a wedding can be left for your home country