Petitioner Doesnt want to live with Husband

[mtempelaar 190]

The man also has many rights, but they do not have the right to force a girl into marriage and force her to stay in that marriage (the reverse applies if it was your girlfriend doing this) This is true in the US and in Islamic countries. You cannot force someone to marry you. He does have the right to stay in the US for now, and as long as he went into the marriage with intent for a real marriage and didn't force it just so he could come to the US, then there's no reason he can't apply to remove conditions on his own and get his 10 yr card. Of course there's never a guarantee, anyone could be turned down if the gov't doesn't believe the marriage was real, but that could happen to any couple even if they are interviewing together.

You say this girl doesn't want to live together for no reason, but she does have a reason. She never wanted to marry him and was forced to do so. That is her reason. It doesn't sound like she played with your friend's heart at all. I think he forced her to marry hoping she would eventually feel differently about her. She gave it 15 months, but unfortunately it doesn't sound like her views of the marriage have changed so it's time for them to move on.

I am by no means an expert on this, but IMO if your friend's goal is to stay in the US then his best recourse would be to divorce. USCIS understands that sometimes marriages just don't work out. But if they find out he is forcing her to stay with him and that he forced her to marry him there is a chance they will think he only forced the marriage so he could immigrate here, whether it is true or not.

By the way, I totally support arranged marriages, as at least half of my friends were married that way. Growing up in the US, I find the divorce rate here is out of control. Many people seem to marry now with the intent of divorcing if it doesn't work out. I like Islam because marriage is taken much more seriously. But arranged marriages are supposed to be about family, friends, clerics, etc. matching up two people they believe share the same wants, values and beliefs. Then the couple meets and spends some time together and decide together whether or not they want to marry. All of my Islamic friends are still happily married (not saying they never have problems) while most of my American friends have divorced, sometimes multiple times. But sometimes the arranged marriage just doesn't work...especially if one of the parties is forced into it. Your friend may be a very good man, but unfortunately this girl just isn't the one for him. If he cares for her (and even if he doesn't), he needs to find the strength to let her go, if not for her, for Allah. There are many women out there whose beliefs and values will match up with his. I know divorce isn't ideal in Islam, but it happens. I cannot imagine Allah will not forgive them and InshAllah give him many blessings to him for giving this girl her life back.

Well said, across the board.