Filing for K-1 and getting married

[crazysamurai 0]

I am US citizen engaged to an Indian citizen. I am exploring my options (K-1 or K-3) to have her come to US. I have a question related to filing K-1. Is it legal to file K-1 for my fiancee right now and go to India and get married

I was thinking about filing K-

[crazysamurai 0]

SORRY everyone I accidentally clicked on Post before I was done typing. Here is my full question:

I am US citizen engaged to an Indian citizen. I am exploring my options (K-1 or K-3) to have her come to US. I have a question related to filing K-1.

I was thinking about filing K-1 for her right now and then go to India in 2-3 months and get married to her. This marriage is only going to be "ritual" marriage and not a "legal" marriage. There is not going to be any "legal" registration of marriage with any legal entity. Is it legal to file K-1 before going to India and finish only "ritual" part of the marriage and have my fiancee come to USA on basis of K-1 and finish "legal" marriage in USA by "legally" getting married here in court within 90 days of her arrival. Has anyone else filed K-1 for their fiancee like this? Does USCIS allow filing K-1 in this manner??

I am new to this forum and there are lot of people here who have far more understanding of K-1/K-3 process than what I understand. I appreciate your help for this. Thanks in advance.

Crazy Samurai.

[JVKn'CVO 11]

Hi CrazySamurai,

Welcome to VJ and congratulations on your engagement

Here's the link to a thread on this issue non-binding religious wedding allowed?

Good Luck!

Caro

[Rob & Jin 0]

SORRY everyone I accidentally clicked on Post before I was done typing. Here is my full question:

I am US citizen engaged to an Indian citizen. I am exploring my options (K-1 or K-3) to have her come to US. I have a question related to filing K-1.

I was thinking about filing K-1 for her right now and then go to India in 2-3 months and get married to her. This marriage is only going to be "ritual" marriage and not a "legal" marriage. There is not going to be any "legal" registration of marriage with any legal entity. Is it legal to file K-1 before going to India and finish only "ritual" part of the marriage and have my fiancee come to USA on basis of K-1 and finish "legal" marriage in USA by "legally" getting married here in court within 90 days of her arrival. Has anyone else filed K-1 for their fiancee like this? Does USCIS allow filing K-1 in this manner??

I am new to this forum and there are lot of people here who have far more understanding of K-1/K-3 process than what I understand. I appreciate your help for this. Thanks in advance.

Crazy Samurai.

If you want to get married now why not do it legally, then just file as K-3 ?

[crazysamurai 0]

Hi CrazySamurai,

Welcome to VJ and congratulations on your engagement

Here's the link to a thread on this issue non-binding religious wedding allowed?

Good Luck!

Caro

Thanks Caro for your help. The link you sent was very educational. After reading that entire thread, it seems to me that there is 50-50 split between people who feel that applying for K-1 is still lawful and legal when only "ritual"/ceremonial marriage has taken place and the other half who feel that even having "ritual" marriage ceremony is risky move and may put you at mercy of officer issuing visa.

It seems that filing K-1 after ritual marriage has worked for some and have burned others. I guess I am going to have to ask this question to an attorney or USCIS now.

[crazysamurai 0]

SORRY everyone I accidentally clicked on Post before I was done typing. Here is my full question:

I am US citizen engaged to an Indian citizen. I am exploring my options (K-1 or K-3) to have her come to US. I have a question related to filing K-1.

I was thinking about filing K-1 for her right now and then go to India in 2-3 months and get married to her. This marriage is only going to be "ritual" marriage and not a "legal" marriage. There is not going to be any "legal" registration of marriage with any legal entity. Is it legal to file K-1 before going to India and finish only "ritual" part of the marriage and have my fiancee come to USA on basis of K-1 and finish "legal" marriage in USA by "legally" getting married here in court within 90 days of her arrival. Has anyone else filed K-1 for their fiancee like this? Does USCIS allow filing K-1 in this manner??

I am new to this forum and there are lot of people here who have far more understanding of K-1/K-3 process than what I understand. I appreciate your help for this. Thanks in advance.

Crazy Samurai.

If you want to get married now why not do it legally, then just file as K-3 ?

I am trying to determine if I am lawfully eligible to file K-1 after ritual marriage (not legal marriage) since K-1 is faster than K-3.

[statman78 0]

We had a Thai style ceremony in Thailand before Ying came to the US on a K-1 visa. We did not do anything that was legally binding. During the interview we did not mention the ceremony and when talking to others we called it an engagement party. We did not have any trouble.

[pushbrk 13,729]

Hi CrazySamurai,

Welcome to VJ and congratulations on your engagement

Here's the link to a thread on this issue non-binding religious wedding allowed?

Good Luck!

Caro

Thanks Caro for your help. The link you sent was very educational. After reading that entire thread, it seems to me that there is 50-50 split between people who feel that applying for K-1 is still lawful and legal when only "ritual"/ceremonial marriage has taken place and the other half who feel that even having "ritual" marriage ceremony is risky move and may put you at mercy of officer issuing visa.

It seems that filing K-1 after ritual marriage has worked for some and have burned others. I guess I am going to have to ask this question to an attorney or USCIS now.

Rather than taking a vote, I suggest you learn what you need to learn to do what you want to do, successfully. Many fail due to major errors like referring to their wedding or to their fiance as husband or wife.

If you're going to have a ceremony that doesn't result in legal and lawful marriage; that won't produce a "marriage certificate" recognized by the local jurisdiction, make sure you don't speak of your wedding at the interview, in documents sent to the Consulate or at the POE. Never represent yourself as married until you are in the US together and "married".

I usually recommend such ceremonies, be scheduled for after the visa is in hand.