Recently Married By Proxy.......

[Rodrique 3]

Hey you guys I am really appreciative for all the support and replies you have submitted thus far. Marie and Doug thanks for the info for the credit card, I am on that right now and will request a supplementary card for her also form both banks. I am not sure how to approach my primary bank with this, but if you can elaborate a little further it is greatly appreciated. I have my previous boarding passes, car rental agreements, my ring receipts and receipts for items purchased for her family as gifts from me. I will save every bit of documentation between us as I possibly can as evidence to show of our relationship, I will even show receipts from Western Union where I help her as needed. With all this said I thank you all immensely from my heart and hope this can be overcome.

Thanks a bunch Casprd, advice duly noted!!!!!!!

[Dan and Judy 614]

My husband was able to get a supplementary credit card in my name and add me to his bank accounts, and as his life insurance beneficiary. I did the same on my side. We sent copies of the cards and the bank statements as proof of our relationship along with our I130 and had no troubles.

Good Luck

Are you saying this was done without a tax ID# or SS card?

[Done--Really 331]

If your USC spouse has a credit card, there are no requirements for SS# or anything else to get second card. Absolutely not true to add a spouse to a bank account, but credit cards are under different regulations, so it can usually be done online and you get the second card in a week or so.

[Anh map 2,098]

You are focusing on trying to meet the minimum letter of the law. That is often a frustrating path when it comes to immigration. The key to obtaining a visa is to demonstrate a bona fide relationship. Not simply get married, consummate, and then pick up the visa.

The Consular Officer will know the law. The fact that the requirements for marrying in her country are inconvenient for you don't really carry a lot of weight. The CO also has complete discretion. If they do not feel that this is a true relationship, they will not issue an approval.

You will want your spouse to be able to tell the story of your relationship. Know details about your life (where you work, hobbies, friend's names, family details, birthday, pets, etc.). All the things that couples know about each other as relationships develop.

[Ivica_Marija_11 0]

Hi OP. I'm just curious about proxy marriage - I didn't even know it was possible. Not here to judge, but I'm just wondering why you had to do it? Was your wife unable to travel at the time? Again, no malicious intention, just curious

What do you mean by Touched, please??? Have you heard from the NVC office yet? I got approved for my husband's petition on July 18th and still haven't received a letter from the NVC office.

Thank you!

[Rodrique 3]

Hey great advice Magical and Anh map. I will focus on sharing details with my wife more in depth and what it takes to prove we have a Bona Fide marriage. I had no problem with getting her a credit card on my account, (I did that over the phone and the cards will be here in 5-10 business days, I hope it will help, it sure cant hurt) but you are absolutely correct about adding her to my bank account, they said she must have a S.S. or Tax ID number to be added on to my accounts. I will focus more on how the CO may perceive us as they have sole discretion over the matter, thanks for bringing this to my attention.

I will talk with her tonight and we will go over this more in detail. Thanks you guys and please keep the replies coming as I will utilize all that can help me in this journey.

[Dan and Judy 614]

You can still file for a K-1 visa since the marriage isn't recognized by the immigration folks until it is consummated. If you can't travel to her very soon, this may be the most logical step.

My first thought was that this would be a very good idea. But he said more than once that he is very much looking forward to the consumation part . If he filed the k1 and

then consumated before that had run it's course, He would be legaly required to change to the spousal visa .

[Ryan H 3,812]

OP: As you build your file, you will want to include evidence of how you two first came to know each other and how your relationship developed. I'm certain that is something you are already doing.

Straying from topic a little, I say this for the benefit of others who may be reading this thread and thinking of getting married by proxy because of onerous requirements for marriage in the country of your significant other; the spirit that went into the creation of the K1 was onerous marriage requirements and hurdles USC's encounter in the country of the person they wished to marry.

OP: Good luck and best wishes going forward and enjoy your trip to Rio de Janeiro.

[Dan and Judy 614]

Hey great advice Magical and Anh map. I will focus on sharing details with my wife more in depth and what it takes to prove we have a Bona Fide marriage. Thanks you guys and please keep the replies coming as I will utilize all that can help me in this journey.

It seems from what the others are saying that it would have been better to skip the proxy marriage but it is already done. I looked up the grounds for annulment in Texas and this

is the only one that I thought might fit. I think if you qualified under this rule then you could start from scratch.

Marriage Less Than 72 Hours After Issuance of the Marriage License

Texas requires people to wait at least 72 hours after they get their marriage license before they can get married. If you find out that your spouse didn't wait those 72 hours, you can get an annulment. And you should remember to actually read things like marriage licenses in the future. They can be important.

You can't file for an annulment under these grounds, if you've been married for more than 30 days.

So, those are the grounds for annulment under Texas family law. If you meet the requirements of any of them, then you can file for an annulment. If you don't, you have to get a divorce.

What are the major differences? Annulment is quicker. There's a 60 day waiting period for a divorce. Annulments can be granted immediately. Another major difference, however, is that you have to be able to prove your grounds in an annulment hearing. If you go into court and say you were drunk as a skunk when you got married or your wife turned out to be as frigid as an icebox, you've got to prove it. If you can't, no annulment. In a divorce, you can file, "no fault," and just say that you're incompatible, and you don't have to prove anything.

Assuming you don't fit through that loophole, You're stuck with your proxy marriage. I would suggest a full on church wedding in Brazil. (Church weddings are not "recognized" by Brazil) but I think it could go a long way toward satisfying the CO that you were not just trying to take the shortest route to immigration. Your having a party anyway. but Hey no consumation until after the church wedding

[sunshine79 7]

About adding your spouse to your bank account without a SSN or Tax ID, this is possible but it seems it could be different from bank to bank. I was able to add my wife very easily by going to the branch with her. This was just days after marriage but before we started our process. They only asked for ID which in her case was her Canadian drivers license.

[keysjangle 145]

What do you mean by Touched, please??? Have you heard from the NVC office yet? I got approved for my husband's petition on July 18th and still haven't received a letter from the NVC office.

Thank you!

I am still in the USCIS phase with an I-130. When I log in to check my case status on their website, it shows a date in which my file was last looked at/last updated, or "touched". If you're confused about your situation I'd suggest giving someone a call who can answer your questions.

[Ivica_Marija_11 0]

I am still in the USCIS phase with an I-130. When I log in to check my case status on their website, it shows a date in which my file was last looked at/last updated, or "touched". If you're confused about your situation I'd suggest giving someone a call who can answer your questions.

Okay, gotcha! Thanks. Good luck to you!!

[sib 7]

Here is some information to obtain an ITIN (individual taxpayer identification number). Maybe you want to do this for your wife. I had one before I moved to US and got a SSN.

I think it sounds more difficult than it is. You might be able to get the notarization at the embassy while you are with your wife.

http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/international/article/0,,id=96690,00.html

Good luck

Sib

[Egypt's Heart 6]

Good day to all my fellow VJ members,

I recently married my fiancee by way of a proxy marriage here in the US in the good ole state of Texas, she was not present as the proxy stood for her and all notarized documents giving permission to do so were verified before hand. I am a resident of NC and my wife is a Brazilian National. I have researched and found that these marriages are recognized for immigration as long as they are consummated. I am going to Rio on the 31st of this month to spend some time with my wife and then return to start the CR-1 visa process. I would like to know from all anything that you have experienced that will help me, the average time it took to receive the Consulate interview and what all I will need as far as forms and their preparation to make this process as smooth as possible. She speaks no english, but I can speak Portuguese and I am 18 years older than her. I will go to the interview with her when she receives it to prove the validity of our marriage. All responses are welcome and experiences from Rio Consulate interviewees are greatly appreciated.

Thanks to you all.

Never wanted to think of this again, but I was married via proxy in Texas, "after spending a fortune on docs and translation to marry in France, then all expired before we could marry there,"..... and filed with USCIS, it was a nightmare from Hell.

Do yourself a BIG favor, go over there and marry her properly. Its hard to prove a consumated marriage in the proxy marriage ways, my filing was a nightmare, took a 15 pounder of evidence to get an approval. So save yourself a hugh headache and marry her there, or buy stock in Excedrin. Feel free to contact me if you want to know more of the nightmare. Its my past, and the past is the past, live and learn. Proxy marriage is the #1 Big Red Flag!!!!! but I was a dumb bunny and thought i loved him, etc etc etc, truth was, he was useing me for a visa, anyways............. just saying marry her the normal way.

Best wishes!!!!

Edited September 7, 2011 by Egypt's Heart

[Rodrique 3]

Hello To all my fellow VJ members,

I finally received my NOA 2 as confirmed from my Congresswoman's counsel today.

She called personally to give me the good news.

Proxy marriages are not looked upon as scrupulous in all cases if you follow their

guidelines. I received an RFE due to me forgetting to put my wife's name in as my

current spouse on the G-325a form.......silly me; other than that I had no problem as I submitted all

evidences and the marriage was consumated after the ceremony as required.

Thanks to all of the positive feedback and the negative that routed me to search that much deeper to

put all of this together to achieve this. This could not have come into fruition without the help of

Yahweh my creator. We are finally past the USCIS stage and looking forward to the NVC process.

I have been studying the NVC shortcuts diligently and think all will be well, if not I have a support

system unlike no other here with you guys.

Again, thanks and I bid you all the best.