Previous marriages to non-US Citizens....problem for IR-1 / CR-1?

[millefleur 5,046]

Hello everyone,

I have a strange case. I was "married" twice before my current husband, both were non-US citizens. I say "married" because I have bitter and unhappy memories about them.

My first husband was actually mentally unstable and had psychopathic tendencies. It's a really long and depressing story. He was Japanese and we were married in Japan for only five months (but we had lived in NYC together for 2.5 years prior to that.) He tried to commit suicide in a really violent manner and survived and we divorced after this and I returned to the US quickly afterwards. He never tried to apply for any visas through me to immigrate to the US. I have no photos with him and very little evidence (but I do have old emails) of the relationship because he was mentally ill and I have extremely bad memories of this. It all happened some years ago, back in 2010 so it's not very recent. This ex-husband refuses to speak to me and we have no connection anymore whatsoever because he won't answer my messages.

My second husband was a Russian man I met here in Saint Petersburg. We got married spontaneously in Russia because I wanted to spend my life with someone and we appeared to have a lot in common and I was really happy about the idea of having a "normal" relationship after the first insane Japanese guy. We were only married for two years, from 2014-2016. He cheated on me and started acting really cold towards me in the beginning of January 2016, so I separated from him and moved out. During our marriage, we never tried to immigrate to the US together nor did any kind of immigration related procedures. Second husband had a tourist visa to the US, but it was before we were married and he never overstayed on it. I am still in contact with my second husband because he owes me money, but we don't talk very often at all. Everyone in my family was happy about that marriage and the fact that it ended so badly really caught everyone off guard.

I married my current (AND FINAL) husband, a Russian guy, (finally a GOOD experience) about a month ago. My current husband hates my two previous stories and I actually ended up deleting the photos I had of my second husband because they upset my current husband. So again, the evidence I have from the previous second-ex is mostly emails and writing.

A few other things which I assume the US government will be suspicious about: my current husband is 10 years younger than me. He asked me to marry him shortly after we met. In addition to this, he applied for a tourist B-2 visa after we married and was rejected. I know all of this sounds really shady and suspicious, but my real husband and I are actually in love and we want a life together with children. My mom and my sister met my current husband already and I am in regular contact with my in-laws who live in the same city as we do.

I'm just confused about what I should do about the two previous marriages. Concerning the Japanese ex, all I have is a tiny visa stamp in my old passport that says "Spouse / Child of a Japanese National" and the original marriage and divorce papers in Japanese, no translations yet. In terms of evidence, I don't have any photos of us together, but I do have emails from the past and plane tickets.

For the second ex, I have original marriage and divorce papers in Russian. In terms of photos, they've all been deleted but I do have some emails from the past and plane tickets from trips together.

My parents and my sister all knew about my previous marriages and my current marriage and they knew both of my ex's personally. If it's necessary, they could write statements too saying that this is true and that they were aware of all of it.

So, should I write statements explaining the reasons for why the marriages ended? Should I have my parents write statements as well? Is it necessary to print out any evidence from the previous marriages?

Also, I'm really new to this whole process (as despite having had previous marriages, I never tried to bring a spouse to the US before) when would these statements be submitted, with the I-130 forms or later at the interview? Sorry for so many questions, any help is appreciated.

[aleful 1,905]

hi

no need of statements, only both divorce decrees and attachment of translations into English

your spouse will most likely be questioned about your previous marriages, and as long as you have proof of bona fide marriage you will be fine

Edited September 1, 2016 by Ryan H
Reason for edit: to remove double post.

[Penguin_ie 5,993]

As mentioned, no need for statements. It helps that you did not seek a visa for either of the previous husbands, but the quick re-marriages both times, especially this second time, will be a red flag if you are looking to petition your current husband for a spousal visa anytime soon; it would probably help if you were married for a year or two before (not required- just that your chances of approval for the current husband would be higher). Definitely make sure your husband knows all about the exes, as he will be asked at interview.

[millefleur 5,046]

As mentioned, no need for statements. It helps that you did not seek a visa for either of the previous husbands, but the quick re-marriages both times, especially this second time, will be a red flag if you are looking to petition your current husband for a spousal visa anytime soon; it would probably help if you were married for a year or two before (not required- just that your chances of approval for the current husband would be higher). Definitely make sure your husband knows all about the exes, as he will be asked at interview.

Thanks for your response. Do you think there is a chance that the I-130 petition would be rejected as well?

But how will they know that I never sought a visa for my exes? Shouldn't I make a statement then so they will know about that?

[Penguin_ie 5,993]

Thanks for your response. Do you think there is a chance that the I-130 petition would be rejected as well?

But how will they know that I never sought a visa for my exes? Shouldn't I make a statement then so they will know about that?

I see nothing here which would prevent the approval of the I-130, as you are legally married. it is more the bonafides at the CR-1 spousal interview at the US embassy that may be an issue.

They know that you did not apply because there is no paperwork on previous visas (all paperwork is kept, for decades), and you won't be listing having previously applied on your current paperwork. Not sure on mentioning it; I would probably not go into details, just mention that you had two previous marriages (they will know as you need divorce certs anyways), and that while they were both to foreigners, you never applied for a visa or other immigration benefit for either of them, instead living abroad, but this time you wish to move to the USA because of X and Y.

[millefleur 5,046]

I see nothing here which would prevent the approval of the I-130, as you are legally married. it is more the bonafides at the CR-1 spousal interview at the US embassy that may be an issue.

They know that you did not apply because there is no paperwork on previous visas (all paperwork is kept, for decades), and you won't be listing having previously applied on your current paperwork. Not sure on mentioning it; I would probably not go into details, just mention that you had two previous marriages (they will know as you need divorce certs anyways), and that while they were both to foreigners, you never applied for a visa or other immigration benefit for either of them, instead living abroad, but this time you wish to move to the USA because of X and Y.

Ok thank you for the help!! We were sure if we should wait a few months or apply for the I-130 now. Maybe we will wait a few months more just because according to the official website, the Moscow lockbox should take less than one month to process and I-130 so we don't need to rush in theory. Thanks again for the help.