teenage married

[SunflowerSweet 1,321]

Cutting through all the back and forth over the moral issue, immigration-wise as other mentioned there is no outright guideline with the CR-1/IR-1 that would cause a denial (that I know of). As others have mentioned the problem may arise once entering the US and how your marriage will be viewed in the eyes of the law.

How close to 16 is this girl? A few month delay in filing could mean all the difference if she is close. Processing times for a spousal visa can reach up to a year and beyond, especially in MENA countries where AP can lag on for a while. If they file when she turns 16 it's entirely possible that she may she up before the visa is approved. 16 is the age of majority in many states.

Regardless of any of our opinions this girl had already married this man and is currently in Morrocco with him. I mean this in no way as an insult to the country, but I agree that I definitely think it is in the girl's best interest to be back in the states where she likely has more opportunity as well as possibly a family/friend support system.

Edited December 1, 2016 by MorganandMichael

[Boiler 46,412]

For those of you wildly offended, what is done has been done. Would this girl not be better off in a Western country at the moment? She'd have more rights, more access to domestic violence resources, the ability to pursue an education, etc. As an underage bride in her current country, her future is probably more bleak.

It is a common issue with the number of migrants having child brides, there was an article in Politico I think about it.

I assume in this case she needs to be of legal age to complete the documentation.

[cdneh 3,112]

For those of you wildly offended, what is done has been done. Would this girl not be better off in a Western country at the moment? She'd have more rights, more access to domestic violence resources, the ability to pursue an education, etc. As an underage bride in her current country, her future is probably more bleak.

I can't say for certain that she would. She will be in a new country, with no familiar friends or family about, perhaps unable to understand the language. And as far as having more rights, access to domestic violence resources and the ability to pursue the American dream and all that good stuff, how would she even know those things are available to her? All that is going to depend, and depend greatly, on the husband.

I don't know any 15 year olds who know their own minds well enough to decide who they want to marry. Is it an arranged marriage? Did she ever have any say in it at all?

[Anitafeliz 1,133]

What some people fail to see is that these girls from these countries are groomed to be wives from a young age. So what's outrages to us is perfectly normal for them.

Is it right? Who's to say.

In my state I believe with a signed concent from parent you are allowed to marry 16-17 the age of legal concent is 18 ('under 16 needs a court order from family court) But each state varies.

Edited December 1, 2016 by Anitafeliz

[EM_Vandaveer 2,417]

People who are throwing about "statutory rape" please realize that being legally married provides an exception.

[N-o-l-a 7,168]

It is a common issue with the number of migrants having child brides, there was an article in Politico I think about it.

I assume in this case she needs to be of legal age to complete the documentation.

The only info on USCIS's side that I can see about age is that the petitioner must be 18 in order to complete it. No such information about the beneficiary.

I suspect from a PR perspective that they probably work to actively discourage it or might have some ways of delaying it, but there is nothing outright indicating as such.

Edited December 1, 2016 by N-o-l-a

[Cathi 5,799]

What some people fail to see is that these girls from these countries are groomed to be wives from a young age. So what's outrages to us is perfectly normal for them.

Is it right? Who's to say.

In my state I believe with a signed concent from parent you are allowed to marry 16-17 the age of legal concent is 18 ('under 16 needs a court order from family court) But each state varies.

Not sure what you mean by "these countries" There are a few countries that may do so, but I can tell you for a fact that it is the exception and not the rule. My husband is Middle Eastern and I have traveled all over that part of the world many times and it is far different, in most places, than what is portrayed in main stream media. You talk as though Morocco is some kind of third world country and it isn't. Do some people marry early? Yes they do, but as I said, it is the exception and not the rule. Many countries in the Middle East are very progressive and Westernized, it just isn't what they show on the news because people want the world(a reason I haven't quite figured out) to think it's some kind of backwards, uncivil society. It simply isn't the case. In fact women in most countries in that part of the world are encourage to get an education and in Jordan, where my husband is from 96 % of the population if this generation are college graduates, including the women. My husband has 5 sisters, all are college graduates with minimum 4 year degrees, 3 of them have graduate degrees and are very successful, working women. Two with children one engaged to be married and two unmarried, one of whom in in her late 40's and never plans to marry. He also has 3 brothers and they are college graduates, as well. Yes, there are 9 children in hubby's family

Edited December 1, 2016 by mimolicious

[Taaz 6]

​Before we go throwing rocks at glass houses we have two states where getting married at 15 with parental consent is not breaking a long. Majority of our states will allow marriage at 16 or 17 with parental consent. Morocco is very progressive for the MENA region and this young lady would never been allowed to marry without the consent of her legal guardian.

[Anitafeliz 1,133]

Not sure what you mean by "these countries" There are a few countries that may do so, but I can tell you for a fact that it is the exception and not the rule. My husband is Middle Eastern and I have traveled all over that part of the world many times and it is far different, in most places, than what is portrayed in main stream media. You talk as though Morocco is some kind of third world country and it isn't. Do some people marry early? Yes they do, but as I said, it is the exception and not the rule. Many countries in the Middle East are very progressive and Westernized, it just isn't what they show on the news because people want the world(a reason I haven't quite figured out) to think it's some kind of backwards, uncivil society. It simply isn't the case. In fact women in most countries in that part of the world are encourage to get an education and in Jordan, where my husband is from 96 % of the population if this generation are college graduates, including the women. My husband has 5 sisters, all are college graduates with minimum 4 year degrees, 3 of them have graduate degrees and are very successful, working women. Two with children one engaged to be married and two unmarried, one of whom in in her late 40's and never plans to marry. He also has 3 brothers and they are college graduates, as well. Yes, there are 9 children in hubby's family

Where the woman are married so young.

It's usually the more poor families that need to get rid of the xtra mouth to feed...

In DR girls marry without a certificate mostly move (common law type) very young husbands can be there age to you name it.

The well off people in most of those countries usually have a good education and different moral standing.

See...that about your husbands sisters is good the read people or the news doesn't portray Mena countries allowing the woman to go to school....thumbs up for his family...

Edited December 1, 2016 by Anitafeliz

[Suss&Camm 2,213]

​Before we go throwing rocks at glass houses we have two states where getting married at 15 with parental consent is not breaking a long. Majority of our states will allow marriage at 16 or 17 with parental consent. Morocco is very progressive for the MENA region and this young lady would never been allowed to marry without the consent of her legal guardian.

Two wrongs don't make a right..

[Suss&Camm 2,213]

just..

http://www.girlsnotbrides.org/mohamad-keeping-girls-school-avoid-child-marriage-morocco/

[SunflowerSweet 1,321]

just..

http://www.girlsnotbrides.org/mohamad-keeping-girls-school-avoid-child-marriage-morocco/

Look, your opinion is totally valid and I agree that forced child marriages are a serious human rights issue in many cases, and would even personally raise qualms about the oppressive history of marriages in Western states as well but.. I guess I'm not sure what you are trying to accomplish? Are you hoping OP shares the link with her acquaintance and somehow talks her out of a marriage she is already in? It's really hard to do much with just a vague secondhand account from OP. I definitely think you should pursue the cause if it's something you believe strongly in, but I don't necessarily think that this post is the best platform to do so. Edited December 1, 2016 by MorganandMichael

[Taaz 6]

​Actually in terms of education many MENA countries the higher education institutes have more female students than male. After the USA Jordan has the next highest rate of college educated women.

[RobertM54 36]

Legal age of marriage in Morocco was raised from 15 to 18 in 2004.

With parental consent seems to not be specified.

http://www.girlsnotbrides.org/child-marriage/morocco/

I think it will be very difficult before she is 18.

In USA, the age of consent with parental consent is less than 16 in 5 states.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Age_of_marriage_in_the_United_States

[hateadminforms 19]

Did we answer the question?

You can be married in Europe c.15 years of age, so less judgement and time to close off the discussion thread maybe?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marriageable_age

Andorra 16 14 with judicial authority^[127]

Denmark 18 15 with an exemption named "Kongebrev" (which is a "letter from the king [granting an exemption]").

Estonia 18 15 with court permission.

Never mind other countries like:

Belize 18 14 with parental consent

Trinidad & Tobago 18 14 with parental consent males, 12 with parental consent females.

As I mentioned before, did we answer the question? Age to be married is irrelevant,

Edited December 1, 2016 by hateadminforms