Wedding Ceremony Prior to K1 Appointment

[Tracer6158 27]

Hello everyone....really glad I found this site, it has been VERY helpful for my fiance and I.   So here's a quick summary:  She is in Bolivia and we would like to have our ceremony in Bolivia.  Religious ceremonies are meaningless in Bolivia, only government "ceremonies" are considered legal.  So, I'm estimating that her K1 packet will arrive at the consulate in La Paz around April 15.  We want to have our ceremony in Bolivia but we want to do this before May 3 which is  the date for the country's new election.  There is a good chance the election results is going to cause more chaos like it did late last year, which could potentially make for a difficult ceremony process or maybe even mean more blocked roads, protests, and even violence, similar to last year.  Sooooo, we are thinking....what would be the problem with having our ceremony in late April, before the May 3 election, then she later goes to her K1 interview, etc, hopefully gets her visa, and takes off to the US to be me with me of course and do our courthouse wedding.  Any problems with this plan?   The first potential issue is needing to reschedule the K1 interview if it just happens to fall on a day in late April but in this case I think her K1 interview will be after May 3.  Any input appreciated please   

Edited February 4, 2020 by Tracer6158

[Lucky2Lucky 2,526]

It is highly highly NOT recommended to have ANY type of ceremony before you enter on a k1. Often times this can make you “look too married” and result in a denial. If having a religious ceremony in Bolivia is important to you you should come on a k1, get married and once you have your green card or AP then go back to Bolivia to have the ceremony.

[Tracer6158 27]

Thanks Lucky...in this case, I (the groom and petitioner) would go to Bolivia have the ceremony, return to the US while she remains in Bolivia, later goes to her K1 interview, then, if approved, she goes to the US....not a good idea?

[arken 4,197]

Agreed, it’s not a gud idea. If the CO or POE officer finds the photos of the ceremony thru social posts n such, it’s highly likely she will be denied.

[SuznAaron 121]

16 minutes ago, Tracer6158 said:

Hello everyone....really glad I found this site, it has been VERY helpful for my fiance and I.   So here's a quick summary:  She is in Bolivia and we would like to have our ceremony in Bolivia.  Religious ceremonies are meaningless in Bolivia, only government "ceremonies" are considered legal.  So, I'm estimating that her K1 packet will arrive at the consulate in La Paz around April 15.  We want to have our ceremony in Bolivia but we want to do this before May 3 which is  the date for the country's new election.  There is a good chance the election results is going to cause more chaos like it did late last year, which could potentially make for a difficult ceremony process or maybe even mean more blocked roads, protests, and even violence, similar to last year.  Sooooo, we are thinking....what would be the problem with having our ceremony in late April, before the May 3 election, then she later goes to her K1 interview, etc, hopefully gets her visa, and takes off to the US to be me with me of course and do our courthouse wedding.  Any problems with this plan?   The first potential issue is needing to reschedule the K1 interview if it just happens to fall on a day in late April but in this case I think her K1 interview will be after May 3.  Any input appreciated please   

There are stories on here of people appearing "too married" for a K1 visa. IMO I would not have any ceremony that could be perceived as a wedding. It could cause you problems.

[Tracer6158 27]

Ok...thanks guys...disaster avoided   

[payxibka 10,044]

37 minutes ago, Tracer6158 said:

Ok...thanks guys...disaster avoided   

Very difficult to keep it from social media nowadays.   Somebody would post pics and since they request your "handles" it would be very easy for them to see

[Tracer6158 27]

On another note, she has a social media presence but I, happily, do not     Hopefully I'm not looking suspicious due to having no SM presence.

[carmel34 3,531]

2 hours ago, Tracer6158 said:

So, I'm estimating that her K1 packet will arrive at the consulate in La Paz around April 15.

Another issue to keep in mind is that estimated processing dates are only guesses, it is impossible to know for sure when your specific case will arrive at the consulate, an interview scheduled, visa approved, then later issued and delivered, etc...  If you've been on this site for a while, you know that making firm plans based on estimated dates is always risky.  I always say, hope for the best, but plan for the worst, that way you won't be sorry holding non-refundable airline tickets, wedding deposits, etc.  I agree with others that it is not worth taking a chance on having any kind of ceremony before traveling to the US on a K-1 as others have been refused entry for being "too married for a K-1."  I hope all goes well with your K-1 process so that you can be together in the US soon.  Good luck!

[Tracer6158 27]

Good points Carmel..thanks for the input.

[elkski 28]

wow, to think they may look at social media...  1984

 

[Orangesapples 1,954]

3 minutes ago, elkski said:

wow, to think they may look at social media...  1984

 

You've heard of the NSA, right? Privacy is dead. 

[elkski 28]

YEs NSA is located near my house.  I knew a guy at the power company. he said they put in a big supply line for them.  Plus they got like 27 million gallons or some crazy high number of water per day for cooling the servers.  lots cheaper than aircon.

[rrobin0609 387]

If the political situation is more stable after she gets her GC (or even after AP), you guys can always travel back and do a religious ceremony or vow renewal so her family can feel more included as part of the celebration.

 

Although there is not political turmoil in the UK (unless you want to consider having waited almost a year to do Brexit), thats what we did. We renewed our vows one week after our first anniversary.

[Cyberfx1024 7,978]

4 hours ago, elkski said:

YEs NSA is located near my house.  I knew a guy at the power company. he said they put in a big supply line for them.  Plus they got like 27 million gallons or some crazy high number of water per day for cooling the servers.  lots cheaper than aircon.

Yep that is definitely far more efficient as well than having to use the AC to keep server cool. 

4 hours ago, Orangesapples said:

You've heard of the NSA, right? Privacy is dead. 

This I can agree with you on. Privacy is almost dead unless you only use cash and completely off the grid.