H-1/H-4 interview: Is it necessary to schedule it after ritual wedding?

[mavboy]

Hi,

Sorry if this has been asked before...

We have been court married in May 2009. We have pictures of that....

Our ritual wedding is on Jan 17,2009. Due to usual vacation constraints and to avoid delays in visa processing , we are thinking of scheduling the interview before the ritual/traditional wedding....

Some folks have said that photos of ritual wedding is necessary...Cant we say that we are not having a ritual wedding?

-Ramesh

[shervin143]

It is advisable to schedule the visa interview after the ritual marriage so that you can go with the photographs from the ritual marriage. There are cases where a registered marriage is been conducted just for applying dependent visas. Visa officers may not issue a marriage based visa if they do not believe the marriage has been consumated. To prevent issuing visas to such people, the consulates usually ask for the photographs from the ritual marriage along with the original marriage certificate. All that the VO wants is a proof that you both were really married. If you still prefer to take the visa interview before your ritual marriage, then go with your original marriage certificate, engagement photographs (In case you get engaged before the visa interview) and the photographs from your court marriage.

If the VO gets any doubt about whether your marriage is a bonafide marriage or not, the VO might ask your wife some questions about your family, your education, where you work, about your family members, how you both met etc.