I fell in love and got married to someone related to me.

[MaxOnline 0]

After coming back to the United States I consulted with a lawyer and he said I’m probably going to end up having problems. After I researched Armenian family law, I found out that this:

i) Cousin marriages are not allowed!

I hope I understood what you exactly talking about! your story is long and I read it fast, so I hope I didn't miss something I really liked the fact that you're ready to do anything to win your love...

From the quote above... you said the Armenian Law... did you mean the American law? if you meant the US. so it depends on which state you're living in! Check This... but if that is the problem so just move to another state... not to CANADA!

but if you meant the ARMENIAN law... so the problem that you faced was that your marriage in Armenia was INVALID and haven't been accepted by the US. just because it's not lawful in Armenia. [ in this case

Why you didn't try K1 visa? ]

Well, I've read that you considered coming to Egypt or Jordan... tell you what! Egypt is the easiest place for someone to get married... but here is some problems you might face...

(1) as you're a US. Citizen, did you give up your Armenian nationality or you have a dual citizenship? 'cause you and your girl have to be holders of the same nationality if you're considering getting married outside of Armenia or the US.

(2) I'm not sure if you have to go through the Armenian embassy if you wanted to get married here and get a affidavits or something from there...! 'cause the Armenian embassy is NOT going to issue these affidavits as long as cousin marriages is prohibited by the Armenian Law!... [ these affidavits will be required by the Egyptian court to proceed with the marriage. ] I'm also unsure that there's Armenian embassy in Egypt!

I wish you a good luck...

Edited July 6, 2008 by MaxOnline

[CaNdiD wiTcH 0]

I cannot give you any suggestions.. All I could say is that do not loose hope. Just hang in there and maybe you will see some light at the end of the tunnel. I wish that God would send someone to help you in this kind of situation. Things happen for a reason. Have faith! Good Luck..

[PlatyPius 5]

After re-reading the original post, I see that they are already married. Ergo he needs to file to bring a foreign relative to the US. The problem, of course, is that Armenia will possibly deny it because of the relationship between him and his wife. The US will likely not be the problem...it'll be the Armenian side.

Unfortunately, I don't know what to tell you, other than what everyone else has already said....immigration attorney, etc.

Good luck.

[sara..... 371]

Hi,

I want to wish u good luck and say a prayer for u.........

i dont know the law in Armenia, or even the law in the USA about this for that matter but i do know that places like Pakistan, India, Egypt and a few other countries first cousins do marry and there have been USA citizens that have gone home to the countries that they have citizenship with as well as USA citizenship married their first cousin and brought them back to the USA.......it is correct for the most part first cousins can not marry in the USA.......how ever it looks like from what i have read if the country of the spouse allows for first cousins marraige then in the end most are allowed to bring the wife or husband back to the states because that law (and im sure someone will correct me if im wrong but that law about marraige IN the USA to a first cousin only effects the couple if they are to marry here and that the USA for the most part has to abide by the law of the country that the marraige occurred in

another thing i would like to ask is does anyone in ur family know that the two of u are married? and since ur married then i am only assuming that it must be legal in Armenia

[sara..... 371]

Hi,

I want to wish u good luck and say a prayer for u.........

i dont know the law in Armenia, or even the law in the USA about this for that matter but i do know that places like Pakistan, India, Egypt and a few other countries first cousins do marry and there have been USA citizens that have gone home to the countries that they have citizenship with as well as USA citizenship married their first cousin and brought them back to the USA.......it is correct for the most part first cousins can not marry in the USA.......how ever it looks like from what i have read if the country of the spouse allows for first cousins marraige then in the end most are allowed to bring the wife or husband back to the states because that law (and im sure someone will correct me if im wrong but that law about marraige IN the USA to a first cousin only effects the couple if they are to marry here and that the USA for the most part has to abide by the law of the country that the marraige occurred in

another thing i would like to ask is does anyone in ur family know that the two of u are married? and since ur married then i am only assuming that it must be legal in Armenia

I also wanted to add that u really do need to talk to a really good immigration attorney i personally am not an advocate for the use of attorneys for immigration but because of the special needs of ur case it is probably ur best option to find out what the law really is and how to go about bringing ur wife to the USA...good luck

[Reba 2]

If the marriage is not considered legal in the country in which it took place, then a marriage based visa to the US would not be possible. If they petitioned and applied now, it would open up all kinds of worms. Their marriage would likely be nulified, once it is discovered to be illegal, would it not?

[crazyinEgypt 0]

It's quite normal for cousins to marry in many countries. We are raised to beleive it is forbidden which causes a hurdle for many to overcome when faced with issues as yours. Hope you can find a solution. Best wishes.

[Ivy. 113]

Here is a list of states and what they say about first cousin marriages: http://marriage.about.com/cs/marriagelicenses/a/cousin.htm

Maybe you could get her to the USA on a tourist visa, get married there, and then after she goes back home file for a K-3?

Edited July 6, 2008 by Ivy411

[PlatyPius 5]

Here is a list of states and what they say about first cousin marriages: http://marriage.about.com/cs/marriagelicenses/a/cousin.htm

Maybe you could get her to the USA on a tourist visa, get married there, and then after she goes back home file for a K-3?

They're already married....

[Ivy. 113]

They're already married....

And by the laws of the country they got married in, their marriage is not considered to be valid.

Reba said this:

If the marriage is not considered legal in the country in which it took place, then a marriage based visa to the US would not be possible.

Therefore, I suggested they could get married in the United States in one of the states that would consider such marriage to be valid and then they could apply for a K-3 with no problem.

[PlatyPius 5]

They're already married....

And by the laws of the country they got married in, their marriage is not considered to be valid.

Reba said this:

If the marriage is not considered legal in the country in which it took place, then a marriage based visa to the US would not be possible.

Therefore, I suggested they could get married in the United States in one of the states that would consider such marriage to be valid and then they could apply for a K-3 with no problem.

They'd have to have it officially nullified in Armenia first, though.

[Catt 6]

With little research about Armenian law, and after a daunting task, we got married. After coming back to the United States I consulted with a lawyer and he said I’m probably going to end up having problems. After I researched Armenian family law, I found out that this:

i) Cousin marriages are not allowed

ii) Cousin marriages will be considered invalid if they will be brought up to the courts for a consideration

iii) Cousin marriages will only be considered valid if she is pregnant or a child is already born

iv) Any marriage CAN be considered valid if deemed by the court

Now you see my problem? I we must’ve slipped through the cracks, because I am a naturalized U.S. citizen, I was born in Armenia. We did not lie on anything, no forms asked if we are related and it was not asked to us verbally either.

After reading this I was devastated, I didn’t know what to do. Someone recommended me to go to Canada, she come to Canada and we get married here. I contacted an attorney in Canada, and explained my situation and she said that is just fine, she could help me out with it and it will be a no problem job.

What do I need to do? How can I prove to the embassy that this is not a sham? She is the only thing helping me cling on to life right now, if I new she wasn’t in my future my fingers would slip and I would be gone.

I am willing to do anything. I have found some contacts in Armenia that will allow me to live in their home temporarily. If need be, I can move to Armenia and flee with her until things are sorted out, if need be, I can go to Armenia, officially nullify our marriage, flee to a country such as Egypt or Jordan where cousin marriages are legal and get married over there. I will do anything!

I am desperate, and there is no way I can turn to family for help .

Hi Capsule, I agree with previous posters that you are definitely in need of a decent immigration attorney (at US one, if the idea is to live together in the US) to help you sort this out, before you go any further. Maybe you can first inquire whether they can help you before you spend alot of money for a first consultation.

But this is what I gathered from your post, and these seem to be the most important questions at hand. Please correct me if I misunderstood:

- You said you guys already got married. I assume in Armenia?

I also assume that you got married secretly, and that your family doesn't know?

- If you did get married, then (unless in Armenia polygamy is accepted) there is no way your wife can (be forced to) get married to anyone else in Armenia, without first having the first marriage annulled or getting a divorce. I assume that once they go to city hall to file for that marriage, it would be noticed (I do not know how this works in Armenia).

- You say that after you were married, you found out that legally you shouldn't have been able to get married, considering the blood ties that bind you.

- If I am not mistaken, this makes your marriage annullable. But until the annullment happens, at this moment you definitely ARE married. (At least that is how it works here.)

- Maybe there are even waivers possible, under Armenian law (other than the woman being pregnant). But again this differs from country to country. And I would think that the waiver would be requested before the marriage takes place.

- I do not understand the reasoning for going to Canada and getting married (again) there. Please make very sure that that will not create extra problems. If you are legally married in Armenia (until someone would invoke the nullity), I would think that you could not get married again in Canada... Again maybe I am wrong. Definitely discuss this with the Canadian attorney you mentioned, and ask her about how you could get married in Canada if you were already married in Armenia.

- So since you are now married, have you already filed for K-3 visa or for IR1-CR1 visa for your wife, so she can join you in the US (or do you intend to stay in Canada?)?

- I assume that during this visa process, you being first cousins and this being a problem under Armenian law for marriages, might cause problems (and I assume this is what the US attorney you talked to, meant?). However if Armenian authorities didn't notice this when you filed for marriage, how big is the chance that the Armenian Embassy and CIS authorities would notice?

If you guys were married, I assume you have proof of it? (marriage certificate). Is it very clear you guys are cousins (like same last name)? I am wondering if it would create problems for you later down the road if you do not voluntarily bring up that your wife and you are first cousins (however please never ever lie to CIS, should they ask you directly!) ...

- The way I read your posts, right now your biggest problem is your family...

If you file for immigrant visa or for K-3, in both instances, your wife will at some point receive correspondence from her Embassy/Consulate and also (if you go immigrant visa) from NVC (choice of agent form). Does she still live with her family? If so, I would think ahead about how her family will react to this, to avoid any unpleasant situations.

If her parents really want her to marry someone else and they can in some way force her to do this, then at some point it should become clear she is already married.

Also, if your marriage under Armenian law is really annullable, technically I think someone of her family members could invoke the nullity before a court (again this depends from country to country but I would do research about this).

I hope you will find someone to guide you through the next steps ahead, and wish both of you the best of luck.

[Ivy. 113]

I found information about a lawyer in the US that is specialized in Armenian Family Law: http://www.armenianyellowpages.us/?desc=Ar...ery&cid=134

Sefyan Law Firm - Attorney, Lawyer, Law Office, Lawyers

1101 East Broadway, Suite #207

Glendale, CA 91205

Phone: 818-500-1882

Fax: 818-484-2193

Website: http://www.sefyan.com

[pushbrk 12,898]

- The way I read your posts, right now your biggest problem is your family...

If you file for immigrant visa or for K-3, in both instances, your wife will at some point receive correspondence from her Embassy/Consulate and also (if you go immigrant visa) from NVC (choice of agent form). Does she still live with her family? If so, I would think ahead about how her family will react to this, to avoid any unpleasant situations.

If her parents really want her to marry someone else and they can in some way force her to do this, then at some point it should become clear she is already married.

That's the way I see it too. If she lives at home with her family, they will find out about any visa process unless she can arrange mail to be delivered at another address. At least an initial consultation with a qualified immigration attorney is a good idea.

My suggestion would be just to go ahead with the K3 visa path using the guide here. Unless your first cousin relation ship comes up AND is considered invalid by the US Consular officer, it will be a non-issue in the visa process. If it does, you'll have to start over with a legal marriage or a fiance visa path.

My read is that your marriage is a legal one unless and until challenged directly.

How you're going to overcome her immediate family's knowledge and/or reaction is another matter entirely.

[Catt 6]

- The way I read your posts, right now your biggest problem is your family...

If you file for immigrant visa or for K-3, in both instances, your wife will at some point receive correspondence from her Embassy/Consulate and also (if you go immigrant visa) from NVC (choice of agent form). Does she still live with her family? If so, I would think ahead about how her family will react to this, to avoid any unpleasant situations.

If her parents really want her to marry someone else and they can in some way force her to do this, then at some point it should become clear she is already married.

That's the way I see it too. If she lives at home with her family, they will find out about any visa process unless she can arrange mail to be delivered at another address. At least an initial consultation with a qualified immigration attorney is a good idea.

My suggestion would be just to go ahead with the K3 visa path using the guide here. Unless your first cousin relation ship comes up AND is considered invalid by the US Consular officer, it will be a non-issue in the visa process. If it does, you'll have to start over with a legal marriage or a fiance visa path.

My read is that your marriage is a legal one unless and until challenged directly.

How you're going to overcome her immediate family's knowledge and/or reaction is another matter entirely.

Yes, plus this might be a red flag at the Embassy's interview also. What if they ask "how does your family feel about your marriage?", "Was your family present at your wedding?" or something similar.

I would really think about how these questions will be answered in advance.