I-129F K1 Visa - Traditional Wedding (Vietnam) without marriage certificate

[luckytxn 2,263]

This is the correct way to doing it in Vietnam. Do not get married since you have filed for a fiance visa. Vietnam is too high fraud consulate to risk.

Just have a Dam Hoi...

[Mozzer1972 7]

Since you are filing a K1, you should not get married until after your fiance arrives in the US and you have 90 days to do so from the date of entry.

You can have a Dam Hoi (engagement party) in Vietnam with your family and friends. This is very common in Vietnamese culture and there are situations where NOT having a Dam Hoi can cause some issues/delays with HCMC. Meaning, they might ask your fiance at the interview why you did not follow the cultural norm and not have a Dam Hoi if you choose not to have one. You can read some of the old threads on this.

For my case, we did not have a Dam Hoi but were still able to recieve a pink.

Good luck to you both.

[David & Diana R 1,005]

Hi All,

We are working on our K1 Visa; already received NOA2 and waiting for paper works at NVC forwarded to Vietnam.

We are also planning to have a traditional wedding for our friends and families in February.

Is it safe to mention this at the Interview or should my fiance hide it?

Thanks for all the help.

Regards,

DO NOT get married or hold any ceremoney of any kind that even resembles a wedding. NEVER HIDE ANYTHING from any government official throughout this process. Lies of ommission count as regular lies.

[hir0 49]

A wise VJmember which I can't remember the name or page once said ' if it looks like a wedding, smell like a wedding or is like a wedding.. It will very likely be seen as a wedding' (the exact words may have been alterates by me lol)

Be careful with the K1visa, a ceremony smelling like a wedding can get you denied. It's crazy but it happens..

[Ketsuban 1,034]

You don't want to end up in a situation where you're too married for a K-1 (ceremony took place), but not married enough (no certificate) for a spouse visa. Don't do anything to intentionally wreck your chances.

Edited October 6, 2014 by Ketsuban

[ricewanted 3]

I'm not sure what happened to other posts about against the wedding in VN for a K-1. My case was OK and good with K-1 after a wedding in VN:

- Two years ago, we attempted to register cert of marriage license in Justice Dept - So Tu Phap (HoChiMinh), but they denied our application due to missing documents.** The missing docs were:

(I was divorced 10 yrs ago in US). Justice Dept - SoTuPhap HCM asked me to bring my divorce decree & have VN Embassy in US to translate Eng -> Vietnamese then get certified by VN Embassy in either DC or California (these Embassy staff asked $570 while Representative in Hanoi told me over the phone of $250, I sent the money order of $250 + $40 Certified Postage Fees, they took out the money, trashed my case after I refused paying more).

- Went back to HCM another time, swear & notarized in US Consulate at HCM for a Single Affidavit ($50/each stamp) & certified with So Ngoai Vu (VN Immigrations Office to certify (some $5 - $15 fees, can't remember exactly).

- Went back to Justice Dept SoTuPhap again, got denied again. But someone approached me & claimed they had "connections" & willing to get us "through" for some $. They asked how much I made and gave me a price in $USD.

- We went ahead get engaged & wedding in VN w/o license.

- We had to get married in VN because I only have 2 relatives in USA (hundreds of friends, but VN traditions only care about parents & relatives).

- Filed K-1. Explained the case with a typed letter attached to I-129F.

- 6 months later, K-1 interview & VISA in hand. Just be truth during interview, it's ok to be nervous (my fiance/wife said).

- Current in AOS: got married ceremony with my only 2 relatives & a small dinner bunch of friends & co-workers.

That's our case.

Edited October 6, 2014 by ricewanted

[ricewanted 3]

K-1 + medical + fees + AOS + fees (again) + medical-incompleted ===== more EXPENSIVE & LONGER then the IR/CR1.

But I'll rather pay the US government with my hard working dollars than paying someone else to support their corruptions. I am, and still do bitc** about those wasted $!!.

Edited October 6, 2014 by ricewanted

[Ulink2 7]

THIS IS JUST PERSONAL OPINION

US government recognizes a wedding is a proof of a legal marriage if the local law does so. in US, wedding in a church is legal (most of my friends in US are Americans so they only got wedding in church). BUT in other countries, a wedding may be meaningless to the government .

To answer this question - people should know about Vietnamese marriage law and culture:

1. Registered for marriage and obtained marriage certificate = legally married

2. A sole ceremony only is not recognized as a legal marriage. Of course, in case of disputes for example property disputes, the courts may step in and recognize - but this does not happen often.

3. Ceremony is not only for you and your wife/husband but it is also a way of showing respect and care to your fiancee and her/his family. "Danh Phận" is a very important term in Vietnamese culture.

If you are male and apply for a female, then the 100% correct culture thing is to get a proper wedding before taking her to US.

I know a number of people got rejected on K-1 but not because they got the wedding but lack of proof for on-going relationship. All of my uncles (3) and some of their friends got big wedding, they applied for K-1 and their fiancees/wives came here - they did not hide the fact that they wedded.

Edited November 9, 2014 by Ulink2

[Ulink2 7]

In addition, I wanted to add what I found out from Vietnam Marriage and Family.

Whether a wedding is recognized as a legal marriage depends on "when"

"Tại điểm b, khoản 3 Nghị quyết số 35/2000/QH10 ngày 9/6/2000 về thi hành Luật Hôn nhân và gia đình năm 2000 đã hướng dẫn vấn đề này như sau: Nam và nữ chung sống với nhau như vợ chồng từ ngày 3/1/1987 đến ngày 1/1/2001, mà có đủ điều kiện kết hôn theo quy định của Luật này thì có nghĩa vụ đăng ký kết hôn trong thời hạn hai năm, kể từ ngày 1/1/2001 (ngày Luật này có hiệu lực) cho đến ngày 1/1/2003. Từ sau ngày 1/1/2003 mà họ không đăng ký kết hôn thì pháp luật không công nhận họ là vợ chồng."

Any wedding from 1/1/2003 without being officially registered for marriage (aka no marriage certificate) is not considered a legal marriage under the Vietnamese law.

People may want to ask if wedded after 1/1/2003 but without marriage certificate is illegal?

1. No, it is not, unless the two persons do not meet legal marriage requirements like age, same sex, very close (close cousins).

2. It is not recognized when dispute happens:

- Property disputes : if it is under one's name, it is that one's property only.

- Financial support : no responsibility if break-up

- Divorce: there is no divorce as the marriage has not been recognized by the law

My personal opinion and what I saw from my uncles' case,

- If you had a wedding without obtaining a marriage certificate, then explain it clearly.

- If you intend to do it but you have doubt and you cannot deal with the pressure - then do not do it.

You should understand, no parents in Vietnam (even with the new generation) want their kids go to another country without having a properly wedding FIRST and other elders/relatives can attend.

Again, what I said above was my opinion, depending on your case, then make your decision.

Edited November 9, 2014 by Ulink2

[Tighfield 3]

With our case, our paperwork is getting done really fast. Faster than normal. So she will be coming to the US first and then later, we will go back to Vietnam for a big wedding ceremony with her family/friends. At least that is the plan for now, it could change.

I know it's very important for her family to have a big wedding. This is off topic, but it seems people in Vietnam (and probably other parts of Asia) love to gossip! Rumor on the streets is that I gave my fiancee's mother $10,000 to buy her. Yeah... right. So you have to be careful what you say to those people that know a girl's family. They don't understand American life or life in other parts of the world, unless they happen to travel outside of Vietnam.

My personal opinion would be to just avoid causing trouble and get married in the destination country first. Better to be safe than sorry.

[Ulink2 7]

With our case, our paperwork is getting done really fast. Faster than normal. So she will be coming to the US first and then later, we will go back to Vietnam for a big wedding ceremony with her family/friends. At least that is the plan for now, it could change.

I know it's very important for her family to have a big wedding. This is off topic, but it seems people in Vietnam (and probably other parts of Asia) love to gossip! Rumor on the streets is that I gave my fiancee's mother $10,000 to buy her. Yeah... right. So you have to be careful what you say to those people that know a girl's family. They don't understand American life or life in other parts of the world, unless they happen to travel outside of Vietnam.

My personal opinion would be to just avoid causing trouble and get married in the destination country first. Better to be safe than sorry.

Agreed to all.

Just for this topic, Americans draw very clear line between girlfriend/boyfriend - moving together - engaged - wedded while other culture may not.

Gossip yes. We have heard a lot about us too, her mother cried one time when somebody made some hurtful comments which were not true.

Edited November 10, 2014 by Ulink2

[Daron_VA 0]

If you have a Dam Hoi (engagement ceremony), the US Consulate in Vietnam would not view the petitioner and beneficiary as married. Base on my case, my fiance just had her interview and the CO asked if we had an engagement ceremony and how many people attended. She even presented pictures of our ceremony, and at the end our visa application was approved.

[Casey&Titi 14]

I know this thread is a few months old, but I agree with what everyone has stated. Don't risk it by getting married before you receive the K-1. My fiancee and I also chose to apply for a K-1 and are currently waiting for the NOA2. Our engagement has been a hybrid of sorts and we had also entertained the idea of having a wedding ceremony, but ultimately chose to wait until she arrives to the US, per K-1 rules.

I proposed to her on one knee traditional western style with a diamond engagement ring, but made it very clear to her, that we couldn't go forward unless her parents also accepted, which luckily for me they did. After proposing and receiving her mother's and father's blessing, me and her entire family went out for dinner and we decided that since we weren't getting married in Vietnam, we would still practice the traditional Vietnamese engagement ceremony.

Since my mom can't fly, she was not able to be present, but my best friend of 18 years and his wife were able to. On a side note, he and his wife are Filipino and everyone thought they were VK, it was pretty funny! Anyway, I didn't have lots of groomsmen or bridesmaids to accept any of the gifts, but I learned about the traditions and made sure to present my fiancee's family with a roasted pig, betel nuts and leaves, cake, money and other gifts and offerings in red wrapping to place on her family's ancestor mantel. We also rented out a restaurant and had our Dinh Hon, that a few hundred friends and family attended. In addition to the dowry, I also presented my fiancee with diamond earrings and diamond necklace and brought individual gifts for her, father, mother, brother, sister-n-law, sister and nephews.

I know how important the wedding ceremony is to Vietnamese families to include your fiancee's, but heed the warnings and suggestions that the other VJ members have laid out before you. Do not get married or have your fiancee mention anything about already being married during the interview. Have a Dam Hoi or Din Hon and continue being patient until the interview day arrives.

Edited January 25, 2015 by incon3037r

[CowBoE 429]

Hi All,

We are working on our K1 Visa; already received NOA2 and waiting for paper works at NVC forwarded to Vietnam.

We are also planning to have a traditional wedding for our friends and families in February.

Is it safe to mention this at the Interview or should my fiance hide it?

Thanks for all the help.

Regards,

I don't understand why people file for fiancee visa but want to get married locally.

Then they should have filed for spouse visa.

You can have the wedding that's disguised as a party or engagement ceremony,

and have a good chance of getting away with it if everyone keeps silence about it,

but why subject yourself to such risk (and fraud)?

[Casey&Titi 14]

I don't understand why people file for fiancee visa but want to get married locally.

Then they should have filed for spouse visa.

You can have the wedding that's disguised as a party or engagement ceremony,

and have a good chance of getting away with it if everyone keeps silence about it,

but why subject yourself to such risk (and fraud)?

Maybe you know more on this topic, but to my understanding an engagement ceremony does not replace or disguise a wedding! If I were to marry my fiance in Vietnam, we would still have to perform these ceremonies. It's also been noted that the Vietnamese Consulate more times than not will inquire if you and your fiancée took part in a traditional engagement ceremony. This is not fraud or placing any risk on your K-1 visa outcome like actually being married would.

A Le Dinh Hon/ Dam Hoi is a traditional ceremony, where the groom and his family and friends make a long procession, bringing gifts to present to his fiancée's parents, who present it at the ancestor's mantel and share with extended family and friends as an announcement of their daughter's engagement. The fiancé also presents his fiancée with an engagement ring, necklace and earrings. When everything is agreed upon it called Dam Cuoi. The announcement of the engagement is then celebrated with friends and family at a party of sorts.

No vows were exchanged and nothing in this ceremony remotely sounds like a wedding to me. If anything allows the fiancée's family to celebrate and share in the engagement.

Edited January 25, 2015 by incon3037r