Thanks in Advance for the feedback!!!

It is illegal to enter the country on a fiancée visa if she is already married. Even if you have some sort of “fake” wedding ceremony, she may have to lie her way through the visa interview and POE questioning if they ask her if she is married, which happens fairly often.

My advice: Forget about which method is “easier and faster” and do it right. If your bride really wants a wedding in her hometown, then try to make it happen and then file for a spouse visa. It may not take as long as you think. The wedding day is the one day when the bride should have it her way, IMHO.

Ray

Actually, that would be the best case scenario. It is more likely that they would deny her visa and possibly even ban her for life for attempted visa fraud. Is it worth taking that chance?

Ray

I don’t think the engagement ceremony is widely used in the Roman Catholic Church. I have never seen one or been invited to one, but I have heard of similar ceremonies overseas. I think it’s another of the regional customs and traditions that you might find in different societies, like the blessing of the animals, house blessings, car blessings, quinceaneras, etc. If there is some local custom or ceremony that will satisfy everyone without actually performing a wedding, then that is certainly one option. I know of several guys married to Vietnamese ladies and a large traditional engagement ceremony was done over there before she came over on a fiancée visa.

Where some folks have gotten into trouble is with the “unregistered” or “non-legal” weddings where there is no official government documentation. If the lady considers herself married, then she may have some major problems during the interview. Some of those consular officers and border/customs inspectors are really shrewd and able to tell if someone is hiding something just by observing their mannerisms or the answers to seemingly innocent questions. I have heard of people getting denied or delayed by a lengthy investigation because they suspected that the lady was married already when applying for or using a fiancée visa. Some typical questions used to try to trip her up during the visa interview or at the Port of Entry are: “Have you met any of your husband’s family?”, “Is your husband here at the airport to meet you?”, “What date were you married?”, or “When is your wedding anniversary?”. Some of the interviewers will look directly in their eyes and ask them if they are already married. Sometimes they will look for a wedding band on her finger or a mark from a ring.

I know a lot of guys have done the “fake wedding” before she came over with the K-1 visa and they didn’t have any problems, but a few have been busted because the lady was not a good liar or acted overly nervous when questioned about her marital status. In Manila, if they even suspect she may be married, they might refer the case to an investigations unit and everything gets put on hold for months. Some have even been turned back by the immigration agents at the airport and sent back home on the next flight.

I just think there is too much emphasis on “which way can I get her here the fastest”. Is it worth it to put the little lady through all that stress and possibly face fraud consequences just to save a few months of waiting? That’s why I recommend choosing the method that is right for both of you and following the rules. There will be a lot less stress involved and waiting a few months longer won’t kill you. With a nice traditional wedding in her hometown, your bride and her family will cherish the memories forever and they will respect you even more for doing what was right and not just what was convenient for yourself.

Ray