What should I do if I feel my spouse married me just to get residency?
In September 2009 my husband and I got married. He had been previously married, and he married her in order to gain his permanent residence and I was aware of this, he actually paid the girl, but she never showed up for the immigration interview. We went to an immigration lawyer who said we should get married within the next 6 months. We got married only 4 months after being together. After we got married he started treating me completely different, he became emotionally abusive and nothing I ever did was good enough for him. For the past 8-10 months I have pretty much been on my own and he has been unavailable to me. He says it is because he is studying all the time but I have a hard time in believing that. I left him about two weeks ago and he has never seemed more desperate. I am starting to feel unsafe. He showed up at my church the other day to tell my mother he came there to see me and wanted to take me to breakfast. I feel I am being violated. Do I have proof that he married me for his residency? His conditional residency will not end until April of 2012 and I feel like he is trying to keep me in there until then. What should I do? I don’t love him anymore, I married him because I did love him or maybe it was lust and I liked the good things he was promising.
Answered By: Fong & Associates
Don't be concerned with his immigration. If you don't want to be married, get a divorce.
Answer Applies to: Texas
Replied: 11/7/2011
Disclaimer: The response above does not form an attorney-client relationship. This answer may or may not apply to you and should not be relied upon as legal advice. LawQA does not make any representation as to the expertise or qualifications of this attorney. This attorney may or may not be admitted to state bar of your state.
Answer Applies to: Texas
Replied: 11/7/2011
Disclaimer: The response above does not form an attorney-client relationship. This answer may or may not apply to you and should not be relied upon as legal advice. LawQA does not make any representation as to the expertise or qualifications of this attorney. This attorney may or may not be admitted to state bar of your state.
Answered By: Joseph Law Firm
Contact your local Immigration and Customs Enforcement office and, if you really feel unsafe, consider contacting a domestic violence shelter or advocacy group. They can assist you with obtaining a restraining order and possibly provide shelter and other assistance.
Answer Applies to: Colorado
Replied: 11/7/2011
Disclaimer: The response above does not form an attorney-client relationship. This answer may or may not apply to you and should not be relied upon as legal advice. LawQA does not make any representation as to the expertise or qualifications of this attorney. This attorney may or may not be admitted to state bar of your state.
Answer Applies to: Colorado
Replied: 11/7/2011
Disclaimer: The response above does not form an attorney-client relationship. This answer may or may not apply to you and should not be relied upon as legal advice. LawQA does not make any representation as to the expertise or qualifications of this attorney. This attorney may or may not be admitted to state bar of your state.
Answered By: Law Offices of Grinberg and Segal
You have a few options that can be done independently or in conjunction. You could choose to do nothing, including not sign the paperwork to remove his conditions, and let USCIS make a determination. You could seek a divorce. He could still seek to remove his conditions, but he will need to prove the marriage was bona fide. This can be a difficult task if the marriage has been tenuous for some time. The third option is you could notify USCIS about what you know. The third option will likely result in an investigation into his case, revocation of his status, and removal proceedings. We have helped clients who believe they were taken advantage of by individuals marrying them solely for immigration benefits.
Answer Applies to: New York
Replied: 11/7/2011
Disclaimer: The response above does not form an attorney-client relationship. This answer may or may not apply to you and should not be relied upon as legal advice. LawQA does not make any representation as to the expertise or qualifications of this attorney. This attorney may or may not be admitted to state bar of your state.
Answer Applies to: New York
Replied: 11/7/2011
Disclaimer: The response above does not form an attorney-client relationship. This answer may or may not apply to you and should not be relied upon as legal advice. LawQA does not make any representation as to the expertise or qualifications of this attorney. This attorney may or may not be admitted to state bar of your state.
Answered By: Law Office of Immigration & International Trade Law
I am sorry to hear what you are going through. Unfortunately, you are not alone. There are a lot of people out there to take advantage people. You should write to USCIS as soon as possible to tell them your doubt so that they could revoke his green card. To the least, because of your doubt, you should not sign on his application for permanent green card when it is time. You shouldn't do so because if you defraud USCIS for him, you will likely suffer great consequence, possibly jail time.
Answer Applies to: Florida
Replied: 11/5/2011
Disclaimer: The response above does not form an attorney-client relationship. This answer may or may not apply to you and should not be relied upon as legal advice. LawQA does not make any representation as to the expertise or qualifications of this attorney. This attorney may or may not be admitted to state bar of your state.
Answer Applies to: Florida
Replied: 11/5/2011
Disclaimer: The response above does not form an attorney-client relationship. This answer may or may not apply to you and should not be relied upon as legal advice. LawQA does not make any representation as to the expertise or qualifications of this attorney. This attorney may or may not be admitted to state bar of your state.
Answered By: Feldman Feldman & Associates, PC
First consult a family law attorney and consider applying for an Order of Protection if you feel in danger or afraid at all. His immigration status is his problem. If you want to move on from the marriage feel free to file for divorce. If he wants to hold on to his green card he can but will have a high standard to show the marriage was entered into in good faith. If you wish to report him you can send a letter to the address on the I-130 approval.
Answer Applies to: California
Replied: 11/4/2011
Disclaimer: The response above does not form an attorney-client relationship. This answer may or may not apply to you and should not be relied upon as legal advice. LawQA does not make any representation as to the expertise or qualifications of this attorney. This attorney may or may not be admitted to state bar of your state.
Answer Applies to: California
Replied: 11/4/2011
Disclaimer: The response above does not form an attorney-client relationship. This answer may or may not apply to you and should not be relied upon as legal advice. LawQA does not make any representation as to the expertise or qualifications of this attorney. This attorney may or may not be admitted to state bar of your state.
Answered By: World Esquire Law Firm
As long as the marriage was entered into in good faith at the time it was contracted, then he can always get his LPR extended. If you are certain that he married you for the green card, then you can always withdraw your Affidavit od Support or not show up at the I-751 interview. But be careful, if you are just having buyer's remorse after an argument, then it is not fair to ruin his chances at a LPR since you can always reconcile and by then it would be too late if you withdrew your AOS.
Answer Applies to: California
Replied: 11/4/2011
Disclaimer: The response above does not form an attorney-client relationship. This answer may or may not apply to you and should not be relied upon as legal advice. LawQA does not make any representation as to the expertise or qualifications of this attorney. This attorney may or may not be admitted to state bar of your state.
Answer Applies to: California
Replied: 11/4/2011
Disclaimer: The response above does not form an attorney-client relationship. This answer may or may not apply to you and should not be relied upon as legal advice. LawQA does not make any representation as to the expertise or qualifications of this attorney. This attorney may or may not be admitted to state bar of your state.
Answered By: The Law Office Kevin L.Dixler
It seems that you married him, because you were in love with him. Proving that he was not in love with you will prove difficult. Yet, he can try to pursue a self-petition, where he already has conditional resident status. You may be able to divorce him without hurting him. At this point, there is a significant conflict of interest between you and the other immigration attorney.
Answer Applies to: Illinois
Replied: 11/4/2011
Disclaimer: The response above does not form an attorney-client relationship. This answer may or may not apply to you and should not be relied upon as legal advice. LawQA does not make any representation as to the expertise or qualifications of this attorney. This attorney may or may not be admitted to state bar of your state.
Answer Applies to: Illinois
Replied: 11/4/2011
Disclaimer: The response above does not form an attorney-client relationship. This answer may or may not apply to you and should not be relied upon as legal advice. LawQA does not make any representation as to the expertise or qualifications of this attorney. This attorney may or may not be admitted to state bar of your state.
Answered By: Law Office of Lonnie Hank Robin
Marriage is a difficult matter even when people truly care for each other. Why would you consider remaining married to someone who treats you poorly and you do not love? I suggest that you consult with a counselor and/or attorney to see if you are ready for marriage dissolution.
Answer Applies to: Texas
Replied: 11/4/2011
Disclaimer: The response above does not form an attorney-client relationship. This answer may or may not apply to you and should not be relied upon as legal advice. LawQA does not make any representation as to the expertise or qualifications of this attorney. This attorney may or may not be admitted to state bar of your state.
Answer Applies to: Texas
Replied: 11/4/2011
Disclaimer: The response above does not form an attorney-client relationship. This answer may or may not apply to you and should not be relied upon as legal advice. LawQA does not make any representation as to the expertise or qualifications of this attorney. This attorney may or may not be admitted to state bar of your state.
Answered By: Theresa E. Tilton, Attorney at Law
If you feel that your husband married you in bad faith, then you have the right to withdraw your petition with USCIS. You do not need proof that he married you just for the US residency. It is up to him to prove that he married you in good faith. I agree, this man is desperate, and from his history, he is also unscrupulous. Take steps to protect your personal safety.
Answer Applies to: Washington
Replied: 11/4/2011
Disclaimer: The response above does not form an attorney-client relationship. This answer may or may not apply to you and should not be relied upon as legal advice. LawQA does not make any representation as to the expertise or qualifications of this attorney. This attorney may or may not be admitted to state bar of your state.
Answer Applies to: Washington
Replied: 11/4/2011
Disclaimer: The response above does not form an attorney-client relationship. This answer may or may not apply to you and should not be relied upon as legal advice. LawQA does not make any representation as to the expertise or qualifications of this attorney. This attorney may or may not be admitted to state bar of your state.
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