Can I have a civil wedding ceremony with my fiance who I will start sponsoring this week?

[kamw 93]

Nope nope nope. I don't think an engagement party is too bad but a civil wedding is just that : a wedding. You will be denied and forced to do a spousal visa.

[aaron2020 11,651]

Oi gioi oi!!!!!!

If I had a dime every time this comes up among Vietnamese people, I would be rich.

Vietnamese want the guarantee of marriage on their turf because of the fear that the K-1 petitioner may take the girl's innocence and not marry her in the U.S. They do not realize that marriage voids the visa. They don't really care about legal consequences because they believe everything can be fixed with a bribe.

My LPR brother is petitioning his 30 years old son. The son has a girlfriend. The girlfriend's family insisted on a marriage. They were not satisfied with only a Dinh Hon (engagement). I happen to be in Vietnam and had to go talk to them to smooth things out. I made it clear that my unmarried nephew can immigrate to America in 3 years when his PD becomes current, then return home to marry and petition his wife in 2 years, and that once she becomes a USC, she can petition her parents and siblings, or they could marry and no body goes to the U.S. because my LPR brother can not have a petition for a married son. The chance for her family to immigrate was enough for them to see it my way.

You need to make it clear to her family that a marriage ceremony will void the visa.

[Isaiah41 2]

@JohnCal

Here is my experience, I had my K1 interview a week ago and I saw a guy who answered all questions right and everything was looking good until he said yes when asked if he has had any form of traditional ceremony. He was denied a K1 visa and was asked to go and file for a CR-1 instead. A word is enough for the wise. And don't let traditional mentality of your fiancee's parents give you a heartache you may not easily forget.

Simply explain the process to them and the options you have and let them be part of that decision making and that way whether you choose a Fiancée or Spouse route you won't be stressed.

Be advised

[Isaiah41 2]

Consular Officers are trained to interview based on respective cultures. If they have expect that you have a Dinner Hon engagement pls confirm, I am beneficiary in Nigeria that recently got approved; the officers at the Nigerian embassy interprete a traditional engagement often times to mean a customary marriage as long as the man paid the bride price and this has frustrated a lot legitimate relationships who were ignorant of the specifics of the consular officers in Nigeria. But I hear that in places like China a traditional engagement ceremony is a MUST for the CO's there. So like Anh Map and Aaron said make your confirmations. You can't afford to assume.

If I were you I will totally avoid anything that has to do with ceremony and simply travel down and get pictures with you girl's family and parents as a way of proving you guys have their support.

A lot if applicants out if desperation to prove bona fide of their relationship end up "over proving" it.

[Ryan H 3,790]

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As aaron stated you can't get married here and have the K1. But, having the Dinh Hon / engagement ceremony is pretty standard fare at the HCMC consulate. The consular officers look for that event as a sign of a legitimate relationship. That often satisfies the family concerns as they get to have the big throw down before she heads off for the US.

As far as marrying here, a big pain in the ###. Though they have scrapped the pre wedding interview requirement for those marrying foreigners.