Got scammed through marriage, what are the consequences?

[sara..... 371]

Sounds like they wanted you to divorce Religiously so that she could demand payment as Islam requires the man to do so that she does not become..well you get the idea anyways get an attorney and not a religious one so that your not out any more money

sara

[Leatherneck 693]

Don't be concerned about the father's threat of getting some of your money, his daughter can get no cash from you. She was not married to you long enough to be legally entitled to any support.

If you get a divorce in the KSA, it will be recognized in the USA.

[Karam and Jamie 44]

Greetings everybody,

I am seeking for an advice in regards to my case.

Actually, I came to USA 3 times before, on the last time I entered the states on B2 visa for a clinical externship and couple of courses and conferences (I am a doctor) and it happened on last November 2013. Actually while I was in the states last time, I got married to a girl whom I already knew for 1 year before that and the marriage papers were signed and done on December 2013. As my wife was a LPR, she petitioned i-130 only for me and it got approved later on March 2014.

Anyway, we had our wedding on February 2014 and actually things went downhill really fast right after the wedding. That happened for 1 reason, those people (Her parents and her) planned on getting a Divorce right after the wedding as they have the old culture of a girl should be a VIRGIN if she is never married, and the girl WAS NOT and all what they did was to cover that up, and at the same time they will get some money from the marriage (As per Arab's marriage culture, the man pays some amount of money and jewelry to the girl before the marriage which I already did and it costed me 35,000$) . Basically, I would say it was a scam.

I have traveled back to Saudi Arabia on March 2014 and ever since her parents called me twice and asked me for the religious Divorce and not the legal divorce but I didn't do anything regarding that. They all blocked me on every sort of contact form, changed all their phone numbers and they are even telling all our shared contacts to not give me any information about them.

Before we dip deeper into this, I had 2 marriage papers (The first is the religious islamic marriage certificate which we do with the presence of a religion man and which gives the marriage its religiousness. The second is the legal marriage certificate from the county which we only did for the USCIS paperworks for the immigration benefits).

At the mean time, me and her are considered married (Legally) as we had a marriage certificate at the county and also she sent that marriage certificate to the USCIS when she petitioned i-130 for me. She, and her parents are not willing to make a legal divorce case against me for many reasons (1- They are not affected by that paper as if they got the religious islamic divorce she can simply marry anyone within the states without doing the legal part and only do the religious part..... 2- They want to keep it as it is so they make a case against me once I am in the states on the next time, so they can win it and get a share of my wealth too).

I have some concerns regarding that case and I really pray that I can find some answers for them:

1- What is the best action to do regarding that legal marriage certificate? They already scammed enough money of me, and they want to take more!

2- What will happen the next time I enter the US and when USCIS see on their system that I am married and have i-130 approved? They wont even believe that I am separated or divorced, and also they will grill me to death and I don't think they might allow me in...correct me if I am wrong...

3- Its causing too much headache for me and I really want to find a solution to get out of this trouble without causing any problem for me on my subsequent entries or visas. I am a doctor and I go once every year for 2-3 months for couple of conferences, courses and some externships which benefits my working experience and benefits me in my country.

4- Also, please give me any other adivce you might think about other than my concerns or regarding the whole situation.

May God bless you all,,,

Thanks

If I was a man I would NEVER give a woman that much money UGH. I am so sorry for you

[Jacque67 7,328]

Greetings everybody,

I am seeking for an advice in regards to my case.

Actually, I came to USA 3 times before, on the last time I entered the states on B2 visa for a clinical externship and couple of courses and conferences (I am a doctor) and it happened on last November 2013. Actually while I was in the states last time, I got married to a girl whom I already knew for 1 year before that and the marriage papers were signed and done on December 2013. As my wife was a LPR, she petitioned i-130 only for me and it got approved later on March 2014.

Anyway, we had our wedding on February 2014 and actually things went downhill really fast right after the wedding. That happened for 1 reason, those people (Her parents and her) planned on getting a Divorce right after the wedding as they have the old culture of a girl should be a VIRGIN if she is never married, and the girl WAS NOT and all what they did was to cover that up, and at the same time they will get some money from the marriage (As per Arab's marriage culture, the man pays some amount of money and jewelry to the girl before the marriage which I already did and it costed me 35,000$) . Basically, I would say it was a scam.

I have traveled back to Saudi Arabia on March 2014 and ever since her parents called me twice and asked me for the religious Divorce and not the legal divorce but I didn't do anything regarding that. They all blocked me on every sort of contact form, changed all their phone numbers and they are even telling all our shared contacts to not give me any information about them.

Before we dip deeper into this, I had 2 marriage papers (The first is the religious islamic marriage certificate which we do with the presence of a religion man and which gives the marriage its religiousness. The second is the legal marriage certificate from the county which we only did for the USCIS paperworks for the immigration benefits).

At the mean time, me and her are considered married (Legally) as we had a marriage certificate at the county and also she sent that marriage certificate to the USCIS when she petitioned i-130 for me. She, and her parents are not willing to make a legal divorce case against me for many reasons (1- They are not affected by that paper as if they got the religious islamic divorce she can simply marry anyone within the states without doing the legal part and only do the religious part..... 2- They want to keep it as it is so they make a case against me once I am in the states on the next time, so they can win it and get a share of my wealth too).

I have some concerns regarding that case and I really pray that I can find some answers for them:

1- What is the best action to do regarding that legal marriage certificate? They already scammed enough money of me, and they want to take more!

2- What will happen the next time I enter the US and when USCIS see on their system that I am married and have i-130 approved? They wont even believe that I am separated or divorced, and also they will grill me to death and I don't think they might allow me in...correct me if I am wrong...

3- Its causing too much headache for me and I really want to find a solution to get out of this trouble without causing any problem for me on my subsequent entries or visas. I am a doctor and I go once every year for 2-3 months for couple of conferences, courses and some externships which benefits my working experience and benefits me in my country.

4- Also, please give me any other adivce you might think about other than my concerns or regarding the whole situation.

May God bless you all,,,

Thanks

I hope it was an internship rather than an externship. Sounds hostile to me.

[Propofol 1]

I am confused, why don't you just get a divorce? She will not get anything from your money, you have to be married for quite some time for that to happen. Do you want a green card or why?

No I dont want anything actually, .I want to get a Divorce but I just dont want to be harmed or used anymore by those opportunistic arrogants.. And I just want to understand the system before I can engage in anything.... Thanks for your reply Fan

Dude just get a divorce what can a man in Iran do to U..I am confused about the virginity part

seem like that concern should be on your part.....Trying to enter the US in the future U have to

be honest that U R married and petitioned for (it will be in their system) I don't know if U will be

allowed to enter , but U can afford to contact a a US atty from there since U have money. As to

the money U paid, here in the West it can come off as a Dowry or as payment for a business

marriage by a well to do person...so contact an atty beore trying to come back or the Embassy

in your country....good luck

Well, I am planning to go to a Saudi Court and file for a divorce and just get it done. And of course I will be honest once I try to enter again as I would never lie or change any fact about it. I have already contacted a lawyer over the phone and he is located in New York, I found him through Yelp. He told me that I can get the divorce overseas in a Saudi Court and it will be recognized and valid in the US and will be a solid evidence of separation. The 35,000$ were agreed upon as a Dowry, for jewleries, clothes, make-ups and such as you know. And actually I gave up on that and I know it can never come back no matter what. I appreciate your reply <3

Why are you asking a lawyer who is her family's friends?? That's the LAST thing you want! He can backbite any moment (or already chewing on you). Get a lawyer who is completely independent, does not know each partner. Honestly, I don't know if your divorce certificate back in Saudi would be recognized in the US when one married in the US. I wonder if you can consult a US lawyer and check after this. That would be both the easiest, and the cheapest. Meanwhile, I wonder if you could get in contact with USCIS and tell them that you were applying with your wife to change your status, but things are becoming rocky with your wife (you don't have to mention all the details that you mention here!!!) and thus, you would not like to continue the process. I know the petitioner can withdraw a petition, but I wonder if the "beneficiary" could also indicate somehow to USCIS that they themselves are no longer interested, or will just USCIS tell them that the petitioner needs to withdraw the application. Although, next time you come to the US (if they let you in) start filling out papers for divorce. All the best!!! So sorry to hear this, you are definitely in a tough situation!! And gosh, you spent $35000 on jewelry??? Can I marry you? Just kidding! But that's a lot of money!!!! I wonder if you could demand that back somehow? Or, simply have her return the jewelries to you and you can either resell them, or await for the real lady who will fully deserve it. :/ Good luck!

Dear AnotherLostSoul, that was the only Lawyer I knew, but now I consulted another lawyer , see the previous comment. As per the atty I consulted, Saudi Divorce decrees are valid and well recognized in USA if they are translated. So basically I think I am over with 95% of the issue because it will support my evidence when I try to visit the US on next December, he also mentioned that being married in the US doesnt mean that I have to divorce there, it can happen anywhere on earth.

I dont know if I can do that with USCIS, but I will check if I can. Definitely there should be something to do to withdraw that petition if I am no longer interetsted.

Thank your very much for your Sympathy... and yeah that 35,000$ were as Dowry, she kinda spent 20k on Golden jewelries...I don't think I can demand it back as per my new lawyer...(Even though I am not satisfied by his answers but I will consult one or 2 more about the issue). Bcause simply, I think I have to pay the same amount to lawyers to get it back from them so it wont be worth it and I have to be in the states to follow the case closely. Also, It will cause too much headache for me :S.

Thank you for your kind and generously written words , my best regards to you.

I'm no accountant but it sounds to me like taking into consideration your Vegas honeymoon you pretty much paid more for your i130 visa than anyone I have run across on visa journeys. Get as far from this woman and her family as you can! your a doctor and I would think that puts you at the top of the dating food chain

Well, I entered it in a good faith, its my first time ever I get married and I thought it will be the last time...but God wills to end it very fast. Actually they got as much as they could from me and then they opt out, kinda leaving me without any options on how to deal with them. Well Henna, for that reason I just want to come out of this without any further emotional or financial loss, enough what I lost already. And definitely there is a God in this life who never forgets his oppressed slaves .

Thanks for your post. Most appreciated.

LOL Hennagirl!! That's a good one! I was going to first post to tell him to drop that woman like a bad habit...but yours is way better...

Definitely I will...

You're a man. Divorce laws in Saudi Arabia are on your side.

For her to divorce you in the U.S. would probably take three months (to be sure she isn't pregnant). You want to be the one to divorce (and lying about her virginity should be sufficient) because you don't want her to walk into a U.S. court with your signature on a nikah saying you'll give her however much money if you divorce her - not that it's guaranteed, but there's no way to know what a judge will do.

I know it is on my side, I can simply walk in to the court, file for the divorce and get the divorce decree in the same day...I know also it would be a tough mission for her to divorce me in the US, especially to break the religious marriage. I have a very solid evidences regarding her virginity though and as well regarding her plans with her families ...So I am backing myself up in this regards...Even if she walked into a U.S court with my signature on a nikah and she demanded the however much money written there if I divorce her, she knows that I have all those evidences...I just dont want to be tricked into paying more money for them, as far as my lawyer said she cant claim that money even if it is written in the nikah and as an atty he makes sure that never happens.

Thanks for your reply and post! I appreciate it most.

[Propofol 1]

I hope it was an internship rather than an externship. Sounds hostile to me.

Its an externship, I am already enrolled in the Saudi Board for Infectious Diseases. I am on my last year now. I came last time to do 3 months here just to support my exerpeince with a US based experience. Externships are clinical rotations or attachment that are done AFTER graduation and AFTER finishing the internship! Internship is the experience gained BEFORE graduation Hence came the naming, Extern and Intern (Post and Pre graduate). I hope it is clear now.

Why does it sound hostile to you lol?

[Propofol 1]

Sounds like they wanted you to divorce Religiously so that she could demand payment as Islam requires the man to do so that she does not become..well you get the idea anyways get an attorney and not a religious one so that your not out any more money

sara

Thanks Sara, well, thats typically what they want. But they now recognize that they cant that from me. They are only demanding the divorce and thats it. I have already consulted a lawyer and lets see what will happen with them.

Don't be concerned about the father's threat of getting some of your money, his daughter can get no cash from you. She was not married to you long enough to be legally entitled to any support.

If you get a divorce in the KSA, it will be recognized in the USA.

Thanks Thats typically what my lawyer said!!! You are 100% correct!

If I was a man I would NEVER give a woman that much money UGH. I am so sorry for you

Well, I paid that as a dowry because I entered in a good faith I never thought it will end up this way. But nobody knows, life is strange at some points and have lots of hidden surprises for us.....

[Jacque67 7,328]

Its an externship, I am already enrolled in the Saudi Board for Infectious Diseases. I am on my last year now. I came last time to do 3 months here just to support my exerpeince with a US based experience. Externships are clinical rotations or attachment that are done AFTER graduation and AFTER finishing the internship! Internship is the experience gained BEFORE graduation Hence came the naming, Extern and Intern (Post and Pre graduate). I hope it is clear now.

Why does it sound hostile to you lol?

Just teasing! Good luck . The whole story seems bizarre to me.

[Propofol 1]

Just teasing! Good luck . The whole story seems bizarre to me.

Actually unless you have some background about the Arabic or middle-eastern culture it will always seem bizzare to you.

Its all about taking advantage of the culture for their own benefits

[Ihavequestions 419]

I know it is on my side, I can simply walk in to the court, file for the divorce and get the divorce decree in the same day...I know also it would be a tough mission for her to divorce me in the US, especially to break the religious marriage. I have a very solid evidences regarding her virginity though and as well regarding her plans with her families ...So I am backing myself up in this regards...Even if she walked into a U.S court with my signature on a nikah and she demanded the however much money written there if I divorce her, she knows that I have all those evidences...I just dont want to be tricked into paying more money for them, as far as my lawyer said she cant claim that money even if it is written in the nikah and as an atty he makes sure that never happens.

Thanks for your reply and post! I appreciate it most.

No it wouldn't. In the US, nobody is forced to stay married. She could divorce you and you wouldn't know it. Be careful.

[Boiler 46,075]

Why was the I 130 filed?

[jhammin 4]

That was really sad. All I can do for you is to PRAY! Better be sure for the woman your marrying next time.

Don't lose hope!

[belinda63 3,047]

Very normal for the woman to be given a dowry that is hers to keep even if the marriage fails. Very normal to sign a marriage contract.

You need to legally divorce her, not religiously divorce although you can do that to meet the requirements of your home/religion. The US will only recognize a legal divorce. You can do that in the US or your home country. She has her dowry, that is all she should get out of the marriage unless your contract says otherwise.

[Krikit 1,165]

The OP is a doctor in another country. The personal attacks have been removed. Further violations will incur a thread ban.

[Cathi 5,784]

There is nothing you can do except to divorce and move on.