Engaged but not married...

[moony1234]

Hi all,


Great forum, lots of really useful information

I know it's a bit early but I am applying to the DV-2013 when it comes around this year.

Based on previous years I am eligible to apply due to my birth country, however, my fiancé is not.

In order for her to be included on my application do we *HAVE* to be married at the time of application??

Alternatively if we are not married can she make her own application via using myself as a cross-connection?


I have seen some talk of putting a future marriage date on the application which may or may not be acceptable. Does this still limit us to 1 application or can she also enter the lottery?

Also, not sure if it makes any difference but we have had a cultural/religious wedding just not an official wedding via a registrar in our country [yet!].


Any help would be appreciated, great to sort these things out nice and early!


Final thing, does anyone know where I can see a breakdown of how many application the DV lottery received for particular countries? I have found the results which show 35 people granted for my country of birth but I have no idea how many applied...



Thanks!

Aaron

 

[moony1234]

Bump up, anyone? :/

 

[LoveAmerica]

Nope you have to be married... you can be engaged and apply but that's if your willing to take the risk for when it comes to facing the interviewer of why in that amount of time you have not been married, might look like a scam when it's not but that's the way their minds think. You might have a hard time convincing them your really "engaged"

And no you can only view how many people per country get selected in the Dv Lottery, the overall chances of winning are 0.5-1%. Those chances double to 2% if you are married though. Pretty much 1 in 160 chance of winning or 1 in 80 chance of winning if married. Just rough estimates.

 

[NuvF]

Hi all,


Great forum, lots of really useful information

I know it's a bit early but I am applying to the DV-2013 when it comes around this year.

Based on previous years I am eligible to apply due to my birth country, however, my fiancé is not.

In order for her to be included on my application do we *HAVE* to be married at the time of application?? YES

Alternatively if we are not married can she make her own application via using myself as a cross-connection? NO


I have seen some talk of putting a future marriage date on the application which may or may not be acceptable. Does this still limit us to 1 application or can she also enter the lottery?She HAS to be married for cross benefit when applying

Also, not sure if it makes any difference but we have had a cultural/religious wedding just not an official wedding via a registrar in our country [yet!].
It does. Can you PROVE with a valid document from the religious authority that they performed this ceremony and it is in their records? If so, check with your local US embassy whether that document/ceremony is acceptable.

US authorities, in general, are not just interested about a documented marriage, but on a valid and CONSUMMATED marriage. So if you can prove with valid documents (bank a/c, rent/lease, mortgage etc) that after the ceremony you lived together you will be most probably be fine. But local US embassy would give you more insight I am sure since they would know what that ceremony is.
Alternatively, the best proof for a consummated marriage.....A CHILD!!

In general, if a customary marriage is valid in your own country for legal purposes, US INA would accept it as vald too, with proper documentation or with an affidavit.


Any help would be appreciated, great to sort these things out nice and early!


Final thing, does anyone know where I can see a breakdown of how many application the DV lottery received for particular countries? I have found the results which show 35 people granted for my country of birth but I have no idea how many applied...

Nope, they have only winners

Thanks!

Aaron

Best !

 

[Zootfish]

Hi Aaron,

My (now) wife and I were in a similar situation ourselves when we applied for DV2011.

I was eligible to apply, she wasn't. On my application I listed myself as SINGLE. She did not put in any application.

Between entering the lottery and receiving my first notification letter we got engaged. We then married BEFORE returning the forms to continue the process. When I received my 2nd notification letter, my wife was listed on there with me.

We had no problems at all at our interview. We were asked a question about the fact that were married after the application but that was it.

For your question about statistics for people who have applied try: Total Number of DV Lottery Applicants by Country, Programs DV-2007 through DV-2012 from the Department of State.

Best of luck!