Prenuptial Agreements

[TayL 0]

Ever since we started talking about this whole marriage thing, my fiancé and I have been planning to get a prenup. Not because we don't think it'll work out or anything, but because we've never had the chance to live together and you never know what will happen.

But I'm wondering, could having a prenup be seen as some kind of "not a real marriage" thing by the USCIS? I love my fiancé very much and don't anticipate anything going wrong, but I've seen divorces that were messy and took decades to clear up.

Has anyone here had a prenup with their fiancé(e) that they signed during the immigration process? Do you think this would affect your application (either good or bad)? Anything else that should be known?

[trailmix 77]

Ever since we started talking about this whole marriage thing, my fiancé and I have been planning to get a prenup. Not because we don't think it'll work out or anything, but because we've never had the chance to live together and you never know what will happen.

But I'm wondering, could having a prenup be seen as some kind of "not a real marriage" thing by the USCIS? I love my fiancé very much and don't anticipate anything going wrong, but I've seen divorces that were messy and took decades to clear up.

Has anyone here had a prenup with their fiancé(e) that they signed during the immigration process? Do you think this would affect your application (either good or bad)? Anything else that should be known?

How would USCIS ever know that you have a prenup?

[JillA 2]

We don't have one... only because we didn't have many assets upon marriage and that's what it covers, what you had BEFORE marriage not during. I think they're a good idea, honestly. My sister had one because she owned a house when she got married. It doesn't mean you expect your marriage to fail, it means you're being realistic about life. You never know what life can bring you.

I don't see how USCIS would find out? That part is none of their business and doesn't need to be brought up.

[TayL 0]

I don't know how USCIS would find out about one, to be honest. The amount of things on the paperwork, though (parents names and places of birth, whatever else) it feels like they can find out anything, which I know is silly. I'm just not used to showing the government stuff about my life--plus, I don't know if a prenup actually has to be registered with anyone or anything like that? I don't think they have to be like, sent to the government up here or anything, but laws do vary and I dunno. Still learning about this, since it didn't seem important to start thinking about until we had that visa application in the mail! Being engaged didn't feel real, if that makes any sense, until everything was put together to start towards the marrying part of this process.

[JillA 2]

I don't know how USCIS would find out about one, to be honest. The amount of things on the paperwork, though (parents names and places of birth, whatever else) it feels like they can find out anything, which I know is silly. I'm just not used to showing the government stuff about my life--plus, I don't know if a prenup actually has to be registered with anyone or anything like that? I don't think they have to be like, sent to the government up here or anything, but laws do vary and I dunno. Still learning about this, since it didn't seem important to start thinking about until we had that visa application in the mail! Being engaged didn't feel real, if that makes any sense, until everything was put together to start towards the marrying part of this process.

No worries!! A prenup is done with a lawyer, that is all. It's a private document and the govt is not involved, well unless you get divorced then the courts get involved! But if you choose to get a prenup, it's private and your right to. USCIS would not find out, and even if they did, it's normal nowadays I think for many couples to get a prenup and doesn't mean anything bad.

[Emancipation 2]

I really haven't sorted out what i feel about a prenup.. I think I'm neutral.. we don't have one and never talked about having one. I agree with everyone else, it's becoming quite common and USCIS doesn't restrict a pre-nup. . I honestly don't think they'd care.

[TayL 0]

If we did have one, it'd be like "Rack up debt on joint accounts, debt will be shared. Rack up debt on personal accounts, debt will not be shared. Any debt you started out with will be yours if this thing ends. If anyone wins or inherits a very large sum of money, how it is shared in the case of a breakup is up to the inheritor/winner." The end.

[neiks 19]

My husband and I did a pre-nup. It has no affect on your immigration process and they really have no way of knowing about it as they are between yourself and your spouse and your lawyers.

It's a personal choice. We both had assests (mostly sedimental family passed down property and assests) that neither of us wanted to have to think about dividing up. Anything that you aquire together after marriage isn't covered under and pre-nup and will be considered marital property. I'm sure every state is going to be different in what can and can't be covered under a pre-nup.

[JillA 2]

If we did have one, it'd be like "Rack up debt on joint accounts, debt will be shared. Rack up debt on personal accounts, debt will not be shared. Any debt you started out with will be yours if this thing ends. If anyone wins or inherits a very large sum of money, how it is shared in the case of a breakup is up to the inheritor/winner." The end.

I know once you marry you inherit eachother's debts, so to speak.... but I still gulped hard when I saw my man's school loan That might takes us like 20 years or so!

[TayL 0]

If we did have one, it'd be like "Rack up debt on joint accounts, debt will be shared. Rack up debt on personal accounts, debt will not be shared. Any debt you started out with will be yours if this thing ends. If anyone wins or inherits a very large sum of money, how it is shared in the case of a breakup is up to the inheritor/winner." The end.

I know once you marry you inherit eachother's debts, so to speak.... but I still gulped hard when I saw my man's school loan That might takes us like 20 years or so!

Yeah. My debts kind of annoy me (I did some university, but cut my losses when I realized how useless my degree was going to be). They're not huge and insurmountable, just annoying. It'll only take a couple of years, though. Fortunately. Especially if the exchange rate stays how it is right now, with a low Canadian dollar. And he's got some car loan debt. But that will probably be paid off before I get down there.

[Caladan 19]

I don't know how USCIS would find out about one, to be honest. The amount of things on the paperwork, though (parents names and places of birth, whatever else) it feels like they can find out anything, which I know is silly. I'm just not used to showing the government stuff about my life--plus, I don't know if a prenup actually has to be registered with anyone or anything like that? I don't think they have to be like, sent to the government up here or anything, but laws do vary and I dunno. Still learning about this, since it didn't seem important to start thinking about until we had that visa application in the mail! Being engaged didn't feel real, if that makes any sense, until everything was put together to start towards the marrying part of this process.

It wouldn't be taken that way, and there's no requirement to report a pre-nup. If you want or need one, don't let USCIS worry you on that front.