Legal Question in International Law in Washington

I am planning to marry an Egyptian man in the state of Washington. He is a student at the university here on a fellowship. Once we are married I plan to petition for a Green Card on his behalf so he would become a permanent resident in the US.

The complication is that he already has a wife in Egypt whom he is separated from; however, since he is a devout Muslim, terminating the marriage would be difficult, if not impossible. In addition, according to the laws and culture of his country, it is legal for a man to have more than one wife.

My question is: what are the possible legal ramifications of us marrying? Would he be considered married in the United States even though in Egypt he is allowed to marry more than one woman? Please let us know what we need to do to make this a legal marriage.

I appreciate your help!


Asked on 12/09/09, 12:40 am

1 Answer from Attorneys

Luba Smal Smal Immigration Law Office

The US laws absolutely don't allow plural marriages. Being married to more than one woman or man at a time is considered a crime in USA. Your petition will be denied.

Because this Egyptian man is already married (even if separated from his wife), until he gets a valid and legal divorce from his first and current wife, you can't marry him in USA, and the USCIS will not approve his green card if you choose to marry a married man (whether his religion and his country laws allow for this type of situation or not).

If you�d like to schedule a confidential telephone or email legal consultation, need advice or help, please let me know and I�d be glad to help you. Contact email address: Attorney [@] law-visa-usa.com or LubaSmal [@] yahoo.com . I offer legal consultations and assist in matters of U.S. immigration law to clients from all States, as this is the matter of U.S. federal law.

Note: The above response is provided for legal information purposes only and should not be considered a legal advice. This response doesn�t create an attorney-client relationship. If you request a follow-up confidential advice on your specific situation and regarding U.S.A. immigration-related issues, we can offer a paid consultation by telephone or email to clients from all States and globally. Please visit our website http://www.law-visa-usa.com/contact_us.html for more details.

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Answered on 12/13/09, 10:53 pm


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