N400, do I have a chance?

[ocean11 0]

In 2001, I married a USC while I thought I was divorced from my previous USC. Ultimately, the marriage declared void. Now I am legally divorced from the first spouse. When I got my permanent residency years after this mess, the IO was aware of all this non intent bigamy.

I am ready to submit N400. If course, I will disclose it. I did some research and it seems bigamy is a big problem to get approved. If the USCIS approved my I485 knowing this, will they approve my N400? Also this is happened 10 years ago.

Edited February 23, 2011 by ocean11

[RICARDO4EVA2 194]

In 2001, I married a USC while I thought I was divorced from my previous USC. Ultimately, the marriage declared void. Now I am legally divorced from the first spouse. When I got my permanent residency years after this mess, the IO was aware of all this non intent bigamy.

I am ready to submit N400. If course, I will disclose it. I did some research and it seems bigamy is a big problem to get approved. If the USCIS approved my I485 knowing this, will they approve my N400? Also this is happened 10 years ago.

Welcome to VJ

I wish I had an answer for you BUT what i can say is the N-400 carries more weight than the I-485. While an Applicant who commit an act of crime gets approved for a green card or Adj. of Status the Citizenship request maybe denied. .. "moral character"

[NickD 202]

What makes this subject messy, we live in a country that has 50 different states with 50 different laws regarding marriage and divorce. Further complicated with immigration dealing with 200 different countries that may or may not recognize a marriage or a divorce in another country.

State of Wisconsin has about the most strictest laws in the country for getting married when applying for a marriage license with questions like were you ever married before. You can say no, but that would be lying. If you say yes, they want to see your divorce papers. First thing they look at, is where you were divorced and the date to see if they even recognize the divorce, and make sure that divorce was at least six months old. I understand Las Vegas has the minimum requirements for getting a marriage license and can get a five minute divorce. But as a resident of Wisconsin and not applying for a marriage license in my county, they consider that marriage in another state null and void and also could get hit with a $10,000.00 fine. After my wife and I showed our divorce papers had to wait another two weeks for a background check before we got that license.

So how did you get your marriage license, did you ask you if you were married before? Did you lie? Or did they just take your word for it? And how could you know you were divorced when you didn't have a stack of papers to prove it? After the grilling we got from my state, went through the whole thing again at AOS, then my wife went through it again at her citizenship interview. They were tough on this subject.

We are not exactly home free on this subject either, wife got her divorce in Venezuela but was previously in married in Colombia, her attorney knew of all this, but failed to file her divorce in Colombia. Had to chase her down to find out where she was. She got the hell out of Venezuela and now is living in Switzerland. USA and the state of Wisconsin recognizes her divorce, and Venezuela recognizes our marriage in Wisconsin. Our marriage is registered in that country and her Venezuelan passport shows her married name. But we learned Colombia does not recognize a Venezuelan divorce. Easy cure, theor courts want $4,000.00 USD, not pesos to review her five page divorce to make sure it complies with their laws Could pay that, but also consider that a ripoff. And we have no intention of living there, just occasional visits. But I like things to be on the up and up, so still kicking this subject around.

What we learned about Colombia, very common for their citizens not even to get a divorce, if the marriage doesn't work out, just move out and move in with somebody else. Mainly because their courts are very corrupt. Wifes' neighbor knew her as a child, his own daughter got a divorce in Las Vegas that isn't recognized either, so she maintains her maiden name ID to maintain a Colombian passport so she can visit. Have to say, I don't like this, but again dealing with a corrupt court system and a government.

This minute we are having a hard time with the USCIS with my stepdaughter, admittingly, never really had contact with the USCIS, she just tail gated her mom through the entire process until citizenship. Now we have to prove she is innocent of battery and assault charges that she allegedly committed when she was one and four years old! Would hate to be in your shoes. Find a good attorney.

[NickD 202]

What makes this subject messy, we live in a country that has 50 different states with 50 different laws regarding marriage and divorce. Further complicated with immigration dealing with 200 different countries that may or may not recognize a marriage or a divorce in another country.

State of Wisconsin has about the most strictest laws in the country for getting married when applying for a marriage license with questions like were you ever married before. You can say no, but that would be lying. If you say yes, they want to see your divorce papers. First thing they look at, is where you were divorced and the date to see if they even recognize the divorce, and make sure that divorce was at least six months old. I understand Las Vegas has the minimum requirements for getting a marriage license and can get a five minute divorce. But as a resident of Wisconsin and not applying for a marriage license in my county, they consider that marriage in another state null and void and also could get hit with a $10,000.00 fine. After my wife and I showed our divorce papers had to wait another two weeks for a background check before we got that license.

So how did you get your marriage license, did you ask you if you were married before? Did you lie? Or did they just take your word for it? And how could you know you were divorced when you didn't have a stack of papers to prove it? After the grilling we got from my state, went through the whole thing again at AOS, then my wife went through it again at her citizenship interview. They were tough on this subject.

We are not exactly home free on this subject either, wife got her divorce in Venezuela but was previously in married in Colombia, her attorney knew of all this, but failed to file her divorce in Colombia. Had to chase her down to find out where she was. She got the hell out of Venezuela and now is living in Switzerland. USA and the state of Wisconsin recognizes her divorce, and Venezuela recognizes our marriage in Wisconsin. Our marriage is registered in that country and her Venezuelan passport shows her married name. But we learned Colombia does not recognize a Venezuelan divorce. Easy cure, theor courts want $4,000.00 USD, not pesos to review her five page divorce to make sure it complies with their laws Could pay that, but also consider that a ripoff. And we have no intention of living there, just occasional visits. But I like things to be on the up and up, so still kicking this subject around.

What we learned about Colombia, very common for their citizens not even to get a divorce, if the marriage doesn't work out, just move out and move in with somebody else. Mainly because their courts are very corrupt. Wifes' neighbor knew her as a child, his own daughter got a divorce in Las Vegas that isn't recognized either, so she maintains her maiden name ID to maintain a Colombian passport so she can visit. Have to say, I don't like this, but again dealing with a corrupt court system and a government.

This minute we are having a hard time with the USCIS with my stepdaughter, admittingly, never really had contact with the USCIS, she just tail gated her mom through the entire process until citizenship. Now we have to prove she is innocent of battery and assault charges that she allegedly committed when she was one and four years old! Would hate to be in your shoes. Find a good attorney.

[NickD 202]

Talked to my wife this morning on that Colombia issue, that joker of a minister in Colombia never registered her first marriage with the state. So as far as Colombia is concerned, she never was married. But she used that certificate in Venezuela to register that marriage, so that is where the divorce had to take place. She says we can register our marriage in Colombia if we want to. My excuse with sitting in with those notaries, don't speak Spanish, my two year old granddaughter know more Spanish words than I know from watching Dora the Explorer. So doing that with her now.

[nigel 7]

In 2001, I married a USC while I thought I was divorced from my previous USC. Ultimately, the marriage declared void. Now I am legally divorced from the first spouse. When I got my permanent residency years after this mess, the IO was aware of all this non intent bigamy.

I am ready to submit N400. If course, I will disclose it. I did some research and it seems bigamy is a big problem to get approved. If the USCIS approved my I485 knowing this, will they approve my N400? Also this is happened 10 years ago.

I can't see a problem....this was some 10 yrs ago..

[NickD 202]

I can't see a problem....this was some 10 yrs ago..

Does the USCIS actually have a statue of limitations? In Part 10, just about every question starts of with, "Have you EVER...."

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

There's a difference between a Mormon or Muslim or anybody for that matter marrying more than one wife just because their religion allows it, and a guy who by mistake got married assuming he was free to marry when he was not.

The first case is a deliberate act, and although logic would dictate that freedom of religion goes beyond what the Christian ideology dictates, that's not the case in the US of A. Hence, such a person would be prosecuted, convicted, and thrown in jail.

If your error happened a decade ago and did not lead to a charge for bigamy, a trial, and a conviction, I am confident that this won't have any influence on how your moral character is valued. You made an honest mistake, and it was corrected the moment you found out. That's the right thing to do and reflects rather positively on your personal ethics. It takes a man to admit an error and it takes a man to make up for it. I think you'll be fine.

Edited February 23, 2011 by Just Bob

[pepper 34]

There's a difference between a Mormon or Muslim or anybody for that matter marrying more than one wife just because their religion allows it, and a guy who by mistake got married assuming he was free to marry when he was not.

Correction the Mormon Church doesnt allow polygamous marriage or having multiple wives.That practice has been relinquished since the 19th century.You might be talking about the breakaway cult/group Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.Just want to make this clear......

[ocean11 0]

Thank you guys for answering. I feel a lot better and hope my N400 will go smoothly.