Ceremony/Reception while K1 Visa is Pending

[RB&MN 3]

Hello All,

 

Can I do a wedding ceremony while the k1 visa is still processing? She comes for a visit, we do the party, she goes back until visa is granted.

 

R+M

[Becci391 339]

Just now, RB&MN said:

Hello All,

 

Can I do a wedding ceremony while the k1 visa is still processing? She comes for a visit, we do the party, she goes back until visa is granted.

 

R+M

That's NOT the purpose of a K1.

K1 is for entering the US, getting married here and apply for AOS and not for getting married while still waiting for the K1 visa to get approved.

[Marzena & Stephen 544]

No please dont do anything that can seem like a marriage it can potentially abandon your K1 visa process because they may "assume" you got married. 

 

 

[Loren Y 2,732]

Definitely do not do anything Ceremony wise, reception wise, anything that may be construed as a wedding anything. I was considering the same thing. Do a search here on VJ and you will find tons of horror stories of K1 visa applicants being "Too Married" to get the visa. All it takes is one lone photo tweeted or shared on facebook, or even taken with a camera and you will end up "Too Married" for the visa. I thought it was a load of $%#@ when I saw people telling me that, in my mind your either married or not. Turns out in the eyes of the CO, USCIS, Whoever thinks they are in charge that day, they get wind of you doing anything close to a ceremony you'll be filing for a CR1 before the ink dries on your rejection stamp for the K1. Just what I have researched and seen on here, check it out yourself. Search" K1 too married" or something along those lines.

 Just to be extra safe don't even attend a wedding, even if it's not yours, don't get caught in a tuxedo or at the local wedding planners shop, etc. OK , that may be a little extreme, but don't risk it.

Edited April 12, 2018 by Loren Y

[RB&MN 3]

We want to get married september 2nd. Have the date set and all. I have received my NOA1 on 1/24/2018. Finance is from Canada. You all think this visa will come in before Sept 2nd?

 

If no, what's plan B?

 

R+M

[Lemonslice 4,569]

12 minutes ago, RB&MN said:

We want to get married september 2nd. Have the date set and all. I have received my NOA1 on 1/24/2018. Finance is from Canada. You all think this visa will come in before Sept 2nd?

 

If no, what's plan B?

 

R+M

K1 is to get married in the USA... do you want/are you planning to get married in Canada?  If so, you filed for the wrong visa.

 

Possible plans B:

- Changing the date (and location) of the wedding

- Get married and start over by filing a spouse visa (CR1)

- You move to Canada

Edited April 12, 2018 by Lemonslice
typo

[RB&MN 3]

No, planning to get married in the US.

[Becci391 339]

1 minute ago, RB&MN said:

No, planning to get married in the US.

You have to wait for your fiancee to have the visa in her passport.

You CANNOT get married while she's visiting you and planning on doing the K1 route.

You can get married yes, but then you have to file for CR1.

[Lemonslice 4,569]

3 minutes ago, RB&MN said:

No, planning to get married in the US.

Then:

 

Possible plans B:

- Changing the date (and location) of the wedding

- Get married and start over by filing a spouse visa (CR1)

- You move to Canada

[payxibka 10,044]

13 minutes ago, RB&MN said:

 You all think this visa will come in before Sept 2nd?

No

[RB&MN 3]

how long does the CR1 process take? Will she be able to visit me?

[payxibka 10,044]

Just now, RB&MN said:

how long does the CR1 process take? Will she be able to visit me?

Currently 12-14 months.  She can visit but entry is not ever a guarantee

[NikLR 13,220]

1 minute ago, RB&MN said:

how long does the CR1 process take? Will she be able to visit me?

12-14 months.  You start from scratch.  Yes but only for short visits.  She may need to provide evidence she is returning to Canada.  

 

To be honest, CR1 is better for independent people from Canada.  

[DaveAndAnastasia 2,079]

6 minutes ago, RB&MN said:

We want to get married september 2nd. Have the date set and all. I have received my NOA1 on 1/24/2018. Finance is from Canada. You all think this visa will come in before Sept 2nd?

Unless processing times speed up considerably over this year, there's almost no chance of it; it's possible a handful of people will get their visa and be ready to go in less time than that, but there's no way you should count on that; if your case is handled in anything close to normal current processing times, you won't be.

 

Pretty much everyone here advises to not even think about setting a wedding date until your fiancé(e) has a visa in hand. There's too much uncertainty in the timeline, especially before you have an interview date. Certainly don't make any non-refundable deposits on anything where you can't change the date, or buy anything with the date printed on it. If you already have, it's probably a sunk cost (though this early I'd see if you can change your date or get a deposit back with some penalty, unless you want to abandon the K-1 and start over with a CR-1, in which case you can marry in the US on September 2nd if you want, but you couldn't apply for a CR-1 until after then, or do a quick courthouse wedding and still have your ceremony on your planned date).

[RB&MN 3]

So you suggest I abandon the K1 visa now, go to Canada and get married and start the Cr-1 process when I come back? Will she be able to come to the states?