Wife left

[v70995 5]

Hello.

My wife who has a 2 year condtional green card left a few weeks ago to parts unknown.

She does not want anymore contact with me at this time.

I am consulting a lawyer on what to do next.

Do I need to report this to immigration?

We have been married about a year and a half.

Her green card expires in about 14 months.

I would be grateful for any advice.

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

No, you do not have to report this to immigration. It is up to your wife to file for removal of conditions on her own or not when the time comes, or head back to Canada. She may just need some time to deal with the issues at hand now, so I wouldn't jump the gun on anything right now, including retaining a divorce lawyer.

[v70995 5]

No, you do not have to report this to immigration. It is up to your wife to file for removal of conditions on her own or not when the time comes, or head back to Canada. She may just need some time to deal with the issues at hand now, so I wouldn't jump the gun on anything right now, including retaining a divorce lawyer.

Thank you for the reply 'Just Bob'

Not knowing her intentions I am still consulting a lawyer to review my options. For her to leave like this is completely out of character.

I am unsure at this time if I am victim of green card scam and do not want to get in trouble with immigration.

[TracyTN 237]

You're a US citizen - how could you get in trouble with immigration?

[v70995 5]

You're a US citizen - how could you get in trouble with immigration?

I do not know all the rules to this and was not sure if seperation or divorce was something I was supposed to report.

I would imagine divorce would change her status.This was curve ball thrown at me and am just seeking advice.

[TracyTN 237]

The only thing you can really do is alert ICE if you suspect she married you solely to gain a green card. At this point, it doesn't seem like you have enough information to say whether or not that is the case. Still, even if it is the case, it won't get YOU in trouble.

[v70995 5]

Lawyer advised filing for divorce so I am not responsible for debts run up etc;

I have known her for 10 years and have been through a lot together.

I do not want a divorce but unfortunately this behavior is unacceptable.

I will have to sleep on this.

[sdw 10]

Even if you get divorced you will still be responsible for anything the I864 said, so mean tested benefits. The only way you will get out of that are if she returns to Canada.

[newlyweds2010 208]

here is my 2 cents: closing any joint bank accounts wouldn't be a bad idea, to avoid liability for expenses she incurred while away.

you are still liable even after divorce for what you signed in the I-864 until she either departs permanently or becomes a US citizen, but you don't want to pay for the Lamborghini she bought with her debit card, right?

also consider that the community (at least this is the case in California, I don't know where you reside or what the applicable law is there) ends when there is a separation of the spouses with the intention to not get back together, no need to have a divorce for that. ask your lawyer.

[rika60607 215]

Filing for divorce will not save you from responsibility for her debts. Only finalized divorce can do that and this may take a loooong time.

I do not know the circumstances, but I would think - file missing person police report if she did not tell you she was leaving and you have no way to contact her (2) closing all bank/credit cards she had access to, unless you want to check and see if any charges were made and where from.

Divorce can wait until you calm down and know exactly what is going on and what you want.

Lawyer advised filing for divorce so I am not responsible for debts run up etc;

I have known her for 10 years and have been through a lot together.

I do not want a divorce but unfortunately this behavior is unacceptable.

I will have to sleep on this.

[v70995 5]

Filing for divorce will not save you from responsibility for her debts. Only finalized divorce can do that and this may take a loooong time.

I do not know the circumstances, but I would think - file missing person police report if she did not tell you she was leaving and you have no way to contact her (2) closing all bank/credit cards she had access to, unless you want to check and see if any charges were made and where from.

Divorce can wait until you calm down and know exactly what is going on and what you want.

Thank you for the reply rika60607.

I filed police report the first day they told me to contact relatives.

The only info I got was that she was ok but would not reveal her location.

Police follow up with me every few days on this.

[Aztec&Taino 144]

Lawyer advised filing for divorce so I am not responsible for debts run up etc;

I have known her for 10 years and have been through a lot together.

I do not want a divorce but unfortunately this behavior is unacceptable.

I will have to sleep on this.

For your own financial protection (and for the short term) you should close any joint bank accounts and/or joint credit cards. As to filing for divorce give it time, see if the issues can be worked out in a few days or weeks, but the lawyer is right; you are financially responsible too when you are married to someone who is careless with debts and credit. This is the reason why I cringe whenever I read stories here in VJ of people who recently divorced after years of separation just so that they can file for the fiance visa petition!

Best wishes!

[KemalTuanaYalcin 16]

I just hope maybe she is going through something personal at this point in time, that maybe she just has some issues she is dealing with and that soon she will return home. I am very sorry to hear your story but I think you are taking appropriate actions not only to protect yourself but to try and gain some understanding around the issue as a whole. I hope things look up for you and if not, I wish you the best of luck in the future!!

[coraliesolms 47]

As others have said, unless she returns to Canada permanantly, you are obligated financially for her for 10 years after visa approval. So trying to get a divorce on those grounds is just going to cost you more money.

However, if something led up to this, like a bad fight, maybe she just needs time to ger her feelings in check. You know that she is ok, and all you can do is keep trying to reach her and talk this out. Divorce should always be the last option that is chosen. You have been together for a long time, and just went througha gruelling immigration process, give her some time, and perhaps use this time yourself to reflect on what has led up to this moment, and if it can be fixed through counselling.

I wish you and your wife the best, and I hope you can pull through this together!

[mare333 0]

i have to say this:

But where is US citizen protection in his/her own country?

US citizen goes trough immigration hell to bring his wife here, pay all expenses,then SHE leave him for whatever reason and then he continues to have nightmare?

The worst thing i read on this forum is when wife comes to US, leave him after 8 months , than file for Wava and then says she can not go back to her own country because she has ties to US ! What ties???

How one person can have more ties to US after only 6 months of residence versus 30-40 years in her own country?

My 2 cents are that if it comes to divorce husband should responsabile to pay her/him plane ticket to homeland and pay all fees until she/he leave country. Fair enough.

But going trough all this hell of divorce only because she wants to stay in US is just not right.

My best friend wife filed after only 6 months of marriage in US for wava,got immigration advocate (and good/costly one) and moved to different US state.

And before she came to US she supposed to be girl without money, without good english knowlege and friends/ties in US!!! How she knows all those things?

In this case like i others im reding here US citizen should not be punished having all this expenses ant trouble!

Edited February 2, 2011 by dare888