Engagement Photos

[Poubon 8]

Hello !

My fiance is getting ready for his K1 Visa interview in November. I mailed him all my documents (I am the petitioner in US). Now my question is regarding our engagement party photos. Do you think it would be ok for us to include this in the file? I don't want to be denied because them. I read on some threads where couples had cultural ceremonies that too closely resembled weddings.

But we didn't have a huge party. We had a dinner at a restaurant with about 15 friends. I wore a saree but didn't wear any bridal jewelry. There was no makeup or even earrings.

Do you think this would be an issue? I am getting paranoid since we are so close to the end of this journey and want to make sure we don't mess anything up.

[Georgia16 2,858]

Seeing how many get denied for that in your country, why take the risk?

[Poubon 8]

Some were denied because they had very elaborate wedding clothing. But I am unsure if this is an issue and would like to know what others have experienced in India.

[afortunada 182]

Agreed - why take the risk? If you have plenty of other evidence, I see no reason why you would want to risk it by getting in one more photo together. Besides, photos are secondary evidence, so there is absolutely no way that you would be approved just for including one single photo. I'd say leave it out!

[Poubon 8]

When the I129F was sent I front loaded it with 5 pictures of us together with friends. There is one pic of us together at the party but no one else is in it. So I guess for that photo its too late since they already have it. I wont include anything further then.

[KierenHby 897]

Embassy staff look for any evidence of an engagement ceremony resembling a wedding. With the 5 pics already front-loaded, don't risk it with additional pics. He carries evidence of continual communications between the two of you, and a roadmap, if any, in support of a US wedding down the road.

[Poubon 8]

Thanks for the feedback!

[abhi_meli 150]

Show them plans for the wedding in USA.I also included some pics where my wife was wearing a saree with makeup and everything was fine.No one asked anything about them.To be on the safe side do not show more pics and be ready to show plans of wedding in the USA.

[Poubon 8]

Show them plans for the wedding in USA.I also included some pics where my wife was wearing a saree with makeup and everything was fine.No one asked anything about them.To be on the safe side do not show more pics and be ready to show plans of wedding in the USA.

Thanks Abhishek, what kinds of plans should I show them? I haven't been able to plan because I wanted to wait for Visa to be approved first. So we are planning on doing a court marriage (legal marriage certificate) and then save money for the cultural/religious marriage later. I bought a wedding dress already. Should we just show that receipt?

[KierenHby 897]

So we are planning on doing a court marriage (legal marriage certificate) and then save money for the cultural/religious marriage later. I bought a wedding dress already. Should we just show that receipt?

If the dress was purchased after the engagement, keep the receipt handy; ditto for any emails\phone logs re: court marriage. Anything that shows plans for a US wedding.

[Poubon 8]

If the dress was purchased after the engagement, keep the receipt handy; ditto for any emails\phone logs re: court marriage. Anything that shows plans for a US wedding.

Ok yes, the dress was bought 2 months after i came back from India (after engagement).

[cricketman 22]

We recently had our interview at Mumbai and I was getting paranoid about the engagement pics. Ours was super simple too, but like many cases here where the interview went south after that I was worried. I asked my fiance to carry the pictures of our engagement and others where we hung out etc. but to show them only if they ask specifically for the engagement pics. Luckily they didnt ask us for anything during the interview. IMO but its ultimately your call, ask your fiance to carry but show only if they ask for it specifically because I saw many interviews here for india where they asked for those and it looks worse if they ask and you dont have.

[Poubon 8]

We recently had our interview at Mumbai and I was getting paranoid about the engagement pics. Ours was super simple too, but like many cases here where the interview went south after that I was worried. I asked my fiance to carry the pictures of our engagement and others where we hung out etc. but to show them only if they ask specifically for the engagement pics. Luckily they didnt ask us for anything during the interview. IMO but its ultimately your call, ask your fiance to carry but show only if they ask for it specifically because I saw many interviews here for india where they asked for those and it looks worse if they ask and you dont have.

This is really helpful. I think we may do that. Just in case they ask. But don't show them unless they say something.

[abhi_meli 150]

Thanks Abhishek, what kinds of plans should I show them? I haven't been able to plan because I wanted to wait for Visa to be approved first. So we are planning on doing a court marriage (legal marriage certificate) and then save money for the cultural/religious marriage later. I bought a wedding dress already. Should we just show that receipt?

Have your fiance carry the wedding dress receipt.He should be able to answer,clearly what are your wedding plans.He should be able to explain that you guys are planning to get married in the courthouse followed by a wedding ceremony sometime in the future.If you are planning to invite some of your close friends or relatives then he can tell that also and make sure the people you say are coming for the courthouse wedding actually know everything because the CO might want to call them and ask them.Basically you fiance has to speak with confidence and never ever show any uncertainty about wedding plans.

[kris_hetfield 11]

Sorry for venting, but I've been seeing so many threads about sending photos from engagement parties, gatherings, etc...

Why does everyone have this compulsion to put those up with the application? From the CO's perspective it could look like a formal marriage event, especially if you're wearing any traditional garments.

They don't need evidence of your engagement as much as they need evidence of the couple having met in the last 2 years. Some casual pics with the family are fine so send those over.

Don't risk all the hardwork you put into the application by sending a picture of what could be construed as a marriage celebration