What if no wedding pix for interview?

[TheOC]

Hi, All. This forum is very informative and I wish I would know this place before my I485 filing...

Here is my story: I admit it's my mistake. We married 3 and half years ago in California. I promised my wife a big fat wedding back in my country but so far I couldn't make it. My excuse was not that trying to save the world, but I was so dedicated to my job. Not until recently, I realized that I had to ask my wife to sponsor my PR application after years long waiting for my Labor Certificate...

Anyhow, I'm facing the problem that we don't have wedding pictures for my green card interview. We have all other documents ready, such as 3 years joint filed tax records, bank statements, joint credit cards account, photos we took together on campus 7 years ago, etc....

Some friends suggest me to have a quick wedding before next month (Nov.) interview. But I already plan a big one next spring. Plus, I hate to have a wedding just for my green card. My question is: is that really a big deal not to have wedding pictures? How to convince interviewer to strongly believe my marriage?

Thanks for reading my story and any suggestions are truly welcome.

[PraetorianXI]

it is one piece of evidence, but not all that important. Do bring pictures of the two of you though and all of the other stuff. Do not worry though, some officers won't even ask to see any pictures.

[pville85]

I agree that its not a big deal.I don't know if you planned on it,but I would also get affidavits from family and friends saying that your marriage is genuine.

[bbqchickenrobot]

Great question... was curious about this myself.... we just had a small wedding, only four people.

[austriacus]

I think it depends on the IO, but mine was distrusting of pictures in general. He said some people hire fake parents for their pictures, even make wedding videos with fake parent actors and then try to show them at the interview.

OP, it looks to me like you can explain your situation well, and you already have plans for a spring wedding as you say, perhaps you can bring some proof of any wedding preparations you already have for the spring wedding if the IO has any doubt.

About pictures, I think it's more important that they see you've been consistently together, looked like a married couple in your other pictures. Anyone can look like a married couple for one day, but not everyone for years. If at all possible it would be good if you have pictures of you with her family, and her with your family, pictures of trips you took together etc.

How about any greeting cards you got when you first got married, from friends and family?

[TheOC]

You guys are really great! Thanks for your valuable inputs. Actually we do have a lot pictures in various events within 7-8 years span, like trips, family reunion, graduation, friends' wedding...

now my worries are gone....:-)

[austriacus]

TheOC,

if you don't mind me asking, what's the reason you still pursued your employment based GC after you and your wife decided to get married?

[TheOC]

austriacus，no, i don't mind. My previous company's attorney submitted EB2 RIR LC application in 2002. After 2 years, I always thought I could get that done pretty soon ...well...i was wrong...and I moved out of California last year but she was still there for her degree...back then the local lawyer in Cal we consulted said he couldn't handle the case for a new york resident. finally my wife graduated this year and joined me in nyc....and we began the process...might sound slightly unusual :-)

[austriacus]

TheOC, it sounded similar to my situation, that's why I asked. I also had to make a choice between EB and family based filing at a time when EB took prohibitively long and my then-girlfriend and I were getting closer to deciding to get married after 4 years of dating.

[FishTank]

Similar situation for me too. We just got married a month ago with a wedding of 4 people. We are saving up for a big wedding next year to have my parents over here. We took Wedding pix in professional wedding photo place and we won't have the wedding pix for the big wedding with parents and relatives till next year. Are those wedding pix we have sufficient??