I-129F: legally free to marry in the law of my country?

[KittyPollitt 284]

So far as I have been told, Morocco doesn't even recognize an American marriage certificate for legal purposes- It must be an Islamic wedding certificate. The family book is a local document in Morocco which basically serves to legitimize the children of a man by listing his wife and children, and doesn't have anything to do with you being legally married in Morocco.

[pushbrk 13,117]

I don't think 'family book' is referring to a Bible or Koran. It's probably some form of legal family registration system done by the Moroccan government.

Tomoka-san,

As JohnnyQuest mentioned earlier, if possible, you may simply have to verify with the Moroccan embassy that's in Japan. They may be able to give you a clear answer. Though if your marriage and divorce was done in Japan under Japanese law, it would seem that you are 100% free by Japanese law to re-marry. I believe the U.S. government recognizes marriages/divorces under Japanese law.

Having said this, I'd encourage you and your fiancee to continue to put together the information for your I-129F while trying to clear up the uncertainty about the divorce laws. I hope some other folks with a similar situation will be able to write their opinions.

I'm going to add my confirmation to what Johnny Quest has already clearly and correctly stated. The marriage and divorce both took place in Japan. As such, they were "married" and are now "divorced". The government of Morocco and it's policies are of no concern in this matter as far as USCIS or a US Consulate are concerned. Married is married and divorced is divorced.

If the OP is curious about Morocco, that's fine but it is of no consequence in the US immigration process. The same would be true if married in Morocco and divorced in the USA. Divorced is divorced. For example there is no Divorce in the Philippines but if a couple marries in the PI and subsequently is divorced in the USA, they are "divorced" anyway, for any purpose that relates to US immigration in any way whatsoever.

[Deputy Purple 1,294]

Divorced is divorced. For example there is no Divorce in the Philippines but if a couple marries in the PI and subsequently is divorced in the USA, they are "divorced" anyway, for any purpose that relates to US immigration in any way whatsoever.

I was going to point out the same regarding the Philippines...

There have been a few threads about Filipino women who were technically considered married by Philippine Law as they were the one who initiated divorce with their previous foreign spouse. At their K-1 interviews they couldn't present a CENOMAR (Certificate of No Marriage) but they did have their foreign divorce decree so for US Immigration standards they are free to marry in the US which is what matters.

[Tomoka 0]

The family book is only a local docment and doesn't have anything to do with being legally married in Morocco without having an Islamic marriage.

I'm relievd.

Thank you so much for your help, everyone