Mjc331

You do not need evidence of a “bona fide relationship” for the petition. You must demonstrate only that:
 
- the petitioner is a USC (birth certificate/passport or certificate of Naturalisation suffices)
- you are both able to marry (all previous marriages have been terminated legally through death or divorce, you are of legal age to marry and you are not related to each in such a way that marriage would be illegal)
- you have met face-to-face once in the last 2 years (boarding pass, passport stamps, photos, etc)
- you agree to marry within 90 days of arrival (letter of intent is all that’s required - wedding invites, dress patterns, menus, guest lists, honeymoon plans, etc are all NOT needed)
 
USCIS will also run a criminal record check to make sure the USC petitioner does not fall into the group of people who are unable to bring fiancés into the country. 
 
Nothing else needed. 
 
USCIS are strictly instructed not to consider whether you “make a good couple”, whether they think the relationship will last, whether they think you are a good match. They focus purely on the legal requirements being met.

The interview session will last about 5 min. The decision to approve your case and issue a visa has already been reached to a conclusion. The interview is the time for the CO to cross her "T's" and dot her "I's". Her questions will be based on your case file and her "gut" feeling about the relationship. That's all. Don't add anything that can be sidetrack this interview. "Keep it simple stupid" is so true at the interview. Why muddy the waters if you don't have to as it could lead you down the wrong road?
 
Read the experiences of others to draw your own conclusion. I still stick to my original post and not submit tuxedo and wedding dress photos.
 
https://www.visajourney.com/reviews/index.php?cnty=South Korea
 
Just my experience.

No wedding preparations are necessary for petition approval.  The only requirement related to that is the letter of intent from both beneficiary and petitioner stating that they are legally able and willing to marry each other within the 90 days.
 
That's it.  The "bonafide relationship" is not something USCIS looks into at the fiancee visa petition stage.  

Hello,
 
I would recommend against including the photo shoot in your application package.   I would recommend against even having the photo shoot.
 
Someone mentioned earlier that it would be a sign of a bona fide relationship.   That could be interpreted two ways - bona fide dating/intent to marry, or bona fide proof of marriage.  One of the suggested evidence to present for a CR-1 visa is wedding photos.  I know this is for an engagement photo shoot, but in the eyes of the USCIS and consular officer I am not sure how they will interpret it.  There are stories here of denials for minor things that got interpreted as a marriage, even from countries like UK and Australia.  Let's say for every 100 marriage parties and photo shoots that pass the K1 process, there is 1 denial.  Good odds, but I would not suggest that 1% risk to anyone here.  
 
Better evidence to present are chats, vacation photos together (non professional) and travel receipts.
 
In the end though, it is your decision.  If the photo shoot is that important to do now rather than after the civil marriage for the K-1, then go ahead?  Life will not end if you do it later, but it may feel that way.  It may feel like it's wrong not to do it, because of tradition or expectations of your wedding process.  Just be prepared for CR-1, to lessen the impact if the K-1 gets denied.

What's in the photo shoot? We did one in my husband's country but it was nothing at all like a wedding. He was wearing jeans and a button down shirt and I had a floral blue and white dress walking in a beach setting holding hands basically. Nothing from that could be misconstrued as a wedding. I wouldn't risk wearing a wedding dress in a photo shoot, for example. We didn't bring those to any interviews either.

Geography is hard.

Unless you're from a high risk* country such as Nigeria, Ghana, Morocco, India, or Pakistan, you're probably OK. My wife and I had pre-wedding photos done like you described. I don't remember if she brought them to the K-1 interview, but she did bring engagement party photos. No problems at all. Ditto with another friend of hers. This was in Indonesia (low risk country)... 
 
Edited to add: why bring them anyway? Or are you just worried that they'll see the pics on social media? 
 
*High risk=large # of rejections, not in terms of personal safety or security. 
 
 
 
 

None of this matters unless all those people were then applying for K-1s to immigrate to the US. That's why it matters.
 
I wouldn't risk it.

That's funny! New Zealand is close to Asian. Yes bud, just a little way up the road. When you get to the water's edge be sure to put your little ducky swim gear on because you are not yet in Asia. Get your map out and see where it is. It will surprise you. Oy Vey!
 
OP your free to use the information from some of us veterans or not. But we know a few things because we have seen a few things.
 
Just for kicks to a search here on VJ using "too married" and watch the responses and firsthand experiences. We are not in this boat alone.

New Zealand is kinda close to almost nothing.  Even Australia is a 3 hour flight away.
 
My point is this:  having read VJ for the past many years, I have seen multiple threads of members complaining that their K-1s were denied due to something about their petition/application and supporting info creating the appearance to the IO that they were already married.
 
You, the OP, and everyone else is free as always, to ignore this and do as you wish.

New Zealand is kinda close to Asia, is it not?
 
I will point you to Japan, China, and Vietnam as just a few countries that CERTAINLY have pre-wedding photo shoots, in full wedding garb.  Go to the Forbidden City in Beijing and just about every day you can see people taking the photos, in wedding gowns.  One day I counted no less than 6 groups trying to get shots at one of the entrances.
 
Also, how do you think they get those cheesy videos/photos to display at the reception???
 
Hows about this.. type in 'Japanese pre wedding photo shoot' into google, then click on images.  Tell me what you see.
 
For even better photos, type in 'New Zealand pre-wedding photo shoot'  let me know if you find any hobbits

Perhaps, but most engagement photos do not feature an actual wedding dress.  Any adjudicating officer has no idea what context such pictures would have been taken in.  @Greenbaum's point is that there have been many stories here over the years of folks getting denied for holding an event that could be perceived as a wedding, whether or not it was.

That's not close to what OP is asking.
 
The first link:
 
"We were denied because we told them about our unofficial wedding in Australia"
 
Second link:
 
"It will not be a legal wedding - just a ceremony"
 
What OP ACTUALLY asked:
 
"photo shoot in her country before we get married in the States."
 
Pre-wedding photos are certainly a HUGE deal in certain countries.  No, its NOT a 'wedding' or 'ceremony' - its photos.  I've done the engagement photos, I was in a suit and she was in a real live wedding dress.  We were on the beach, a park, and a temple (aka tourist trap).  That's not a wedding or ceremony, its photos.  Huge difference.  Couple on a beach at sunrise, couple in the middle of a wedding ceremony in a church.  Apples to oranges.
 
Pre-wedding/engagement photos are a sign of a bonifide relationship, is it not? 
 
 

Here is the experience of others. I'll let you make up your mind.
 
https://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/639695-k-1-visa-denied-what-now-appeal/
 
https://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/593292-not-legal-wedding-ceremony-prior-to-k1-visa-interview/
 

*~*~*procedural question moved from “progress reports” to “process and procedures”*~*~*

No need to have a “photo shoot”  

Here is an example to use of the letter of intent.
 
Fiancé Letter of Intent
 
 
(Date mm-dd-yyyy)
 
 
(PETITIONERS and BENEFICIARY'S NAME)
(PETITIONER and BENEFICIARY'S ADDRESS)
 
United States Department of Homeland Security
US Citizenship and Immigration Services
(ADDRESS OF FILING LOCATION)
 
Or when submitting for interview
 
United States Department of State
United States Consulate. (name of the country where the interview will take place)
(Embassy Address)
 
Dear Sir or Madam
I (applicant or beneficiary's name) do hereby state that I am legally able and willing to marry (applicant or beneficiary's name)  and intend to do so within 90 days of my arrival into the US using the K-1 visa.
 
Yours truly.
 
(Signature of Petitioner or beneficiary)
 
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