marriage between first cousins

[Cathi 5,748]

I was merely advising the OP to be careful. The information could still fall into the wrong hands and cause trouble for them. I wish them success and hope they're happy together for the rest of their lives.

What wrong hands? I'm still trying to understand what you are trying to get at. In the Middle East and in many South American countries it is the norm to marry first cousins. Whether people here agree with it is really not relevant. If the OP marries before she enters the country, or if they marry in a state where it is legal,nothing will happen. Many of the marriages from the Middle East that you see people petition for are between first and second cousins, it's legal there, and they have no problems getting visas. If you look at the Jordan portal(or any Middle Eastern country), you will see first cousin marriages who have been successful in getting visas. My inlaws are first cousins, my husband's sister is married to a first cousin, they all live in the Middle East where it is the norm. Stop with the judgmental posts, the OP came here to ask for help not to be judged or chastised, grow up people.

[Kev-N-Ann 45]

your point? There are a lot of stupid and outdated laws on the books, driving through a state being married to cousin isn't going to get you arrested. SMH. here take a look http://tjshome.com/dumblaws.php

It's a felony of the third degree in Texas, and I wouldn't call this an an outdated law. The latest amendment was in 2009.

http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/PE/htm/PE.25.htm#25.02

Edited January 21, 2014 by Kev-N-Ann

[karensita 0]

It's a felony of the third degree in Texas, and I wouldn't call this an an outdated law. The latest amendment was in 2009.

http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/PE/htm/PE.25.htm#25.02

OMG!! this legislative statutes is so interesting. I'm not a lawer and it's not my purpose to change an discuss about laws in Texas. I don't have problems in my personal life being in love with my cousin. If someone else think differently and judge my relationship a felony, im so sorry, but it's not my business. Of course now, it's a problem for my visa but even if it will be denied nothing cannot change my feelings.

Thank you guys, all yours posts are very interesting and useful

[Tingbudong 12]

All of the anti cousin stuff comes from the worry that you will compound genetic conditions that can lead to problems with offspring but really that wouldn't happen unless it was going on for generations..

LOL, I have some very cute cousins.. but then Im adopted..

I believe since it is an issue in some states but not others, that it must not be a federal law.. and therefore has NOTHING to do with your visa for entry. I wouldn't bring it up, but do know that there are about 10 states where its legal to marry first cousins. Colorado, New Mexico, Hawaii, Alaska, California.. and a slew of states in the deep south where they have a saying,"Nothin says luvin like marryin yer cousin!" I've also heard,"If you can't keep it in your jeans then keep in your genes!"

My lawyer suggested I have a wedding officiant hired via deposit and we drew up a "fake" or hypothetical wedding announcement naming the time and location etc of our intended wedding. I know, kind of stupid since we have no idea when she's allowed into the country, but doing both of these things in a California location will probably suffice for evidence of your intention to marry in CA. You can just look up Wedding officiants California (City of your choice) and get in touch, explain your situation and make a small deposit to get a receipt and the plan for the ceremony naming the hypothetical location etc.. For the Wedding announcement, I just bought a pretty generic card from a stationary shop, then in a computer art program with a nice script font wrote my own inside and glued it in. Voila… California wedding plans, hired officiant and location etc.. at least as close as you can get for evidence of future plans in CA.. I think I just put down $25 for the deposit.

Additional advice, even if you will marry in a state where it is legal and OK.. and mind you I don't have any issue with it at all, (if you are happy and your family supports you guys then you are luckier than most people walking around this earth) is to of course not act like its a bad secret or anything but really, knowing a lot of the judgmental people I run into in conservative states like TX or where I live in Western Michigan.. just don't bring it up unless you have to. If others hear your maiden name and ask you about it, you can laugh and admit it with a joke like the cousin luvin thing.. and they probably won't believe you and will think you are joking with them.. even though you never lied..

Good luck with your application. Mine's moving along a bit ahead of schedule but Im still going crazy waiting.