Married twice--any advice?

[cfbgc 0]

Hi everyone,

I’m looking for a little advice and from the postings I've read on here, you all seem really nice and knowledgeable.

My husband and I were married in May 2005. However, his passport was about to expire so in early April 2005, he sent it to the embassy to be renewed. By the day of our wedding, the passport had not been returned and we couldn’t get a marriage license. We had a huge wedding ceremony and reception that day and consider it to be our wedding day—plus all our friends and family think it’s our wedding day and all our wedding pictures were taken that day. However, we didn’t receive his passport and weren’t able to get a marriage license until JULY. So our marriage date as far as USCIS knows is in July.

As I was looking at the “practice questions” here, I started thinking "what do we say?" Do we tell the whole long story or just kind of lie and say we had the wedding and reception in July? I don’t want them to think we lied about our wedding date--which one do you think we should use?

Thanks for your help!

____________________________

2/21/2006: Sent I-130, I-485 and I-765 to USCIS

3/10/2006: USCIS sends receipt notice for I-130

4/5/2006: USCIS sends recipt notice for I-485 and I-765

4/20/2006: USCIS Biometrics Appt.

5/30/2006: USCIS approves I-130

7/13/2006: I-485 Interview Scheduled!

[lquin 0]

Hi everyone,

I’m looking for a little advice and from the postings I've read on here, you all seem really nice and knowledgeable.

My husband and I were married in May 2005. However, his passport was about to expire so in early April 2005, he sent it to the embassy to be renewed. By the day of our wedding, the passport had not been returned and we couldn’t get a marriage license. We had a huge wedding ceremony and reception that day and consider it to be our wedding day—plus all our friends and family think it’s our wedding day and all our wedding pictures were taken that day. However, we didn’t receive his passport and weren’t able to get a marriage license until JULY. So our marriage date as far as USCIS knows is in July.

As I was looking at the “practice questions” here, I started thinking "what do we say?" Do we tell the whole long story or just kind of lie and say we had the wedding and reception in July? I don’t want them to think we lied about our wedding date--which one do you think we should use?

Thanks for your help!

____________________________

2/21/2006: Sent I-130, I-485 and I-765 to USCIS

3/10/2006: USCIS sends receipt notice for I-130

4/5/2006: USCIS sends recipt notice for I-485 and I-765

4/20/2006: USCIS Biometrics Appt.

5/30/2006: USCIS approves I-130

7/13/2006: I-485 Interview Scheduled!

Do not lie about any dates...!!!!!!!

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Tell them the truth- that you had planned a big wedding but that the necessary documents (passport) weren't back in time so you went ahead with the ceremony and reception as planned, then had the 'legal' ceremony in July. You shouldn't have any problems:-).

[wherezdabearz 0]

I agree. Tell the truth

Alison

[moondancer627 0]

Ditto, don't lie to the government, they know all anyway. You will be surprised what they pull out of your files.

Also you take an oath before the interview that you will tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

[Girona40 0]

Although you had a huge party for the family and, to all intense and purpose, consider the earlier date to be the day you married, legally you did not marry until July and this is all they are interested in - the date you became legally married to your partner.

Nobody but the USCIS official is going to know your answer to this question - the rest of your family and friends are not going with you to the interview - they are not going to know any different.

Good luck with everything.

[diadromous mermaid 36]

Hi everyone,

I’m looking for a little advice and from the postings I've read on here, you all seem really nice and knowledgeable.

My husband and I were married in May 2005. However, his passport was about to expire so in early April 2005, he sent it to the embassy to be renewed. By the day of our wedding, the passport had not been returned and we couldn’t get a marriage license. We had a huge wedding ceremony and reception that day and consider it to be our wedding day—plus all our friends and family think it’s our wedding day and all our wedding pictures were taken that day. However, we didn’t receive his passport and weren’t able to get a marriage license until JULY. So our marriage date as far as USCIS knows is in July.

As I was looking at the “practice questions” here, I started thinking "what do we say?" Do we tell the whole long story or just kind of lie and say we had the wedding and reception in July? I don’t want them to think we lied about our wedding date--which one do you think we should use?

Thanks for your help!

____________________________

2/21/2006: Sent I-130, I-485 and I-765 to USCIS

3/10/2006: USCIS sends receipt notice for I-130

4/5/2006: USCIS sends recipt notice for I-485 and I-765

4/20/2006: USCIS Biometrics Appt.

5/30/2006: USCIS approves I-130

7/13/2006: I-485 Interview Scheduled!

How did you record your date of marriage on the forms you've already filed?

[Reba 2]

you have to give them the legal date you married, because you do have to give them a copy of your legal marriage certificate, they know it anyway.

[Euro 3]

Well i dont see the problem you got married in July, so thats the date you say you got married, RIGHT??............or did i miss something??

you didnt realy get married in May as you didnt have a licence, you just went through the motions!!!

Edited June 17, 2006 by euro

[kerewin21 2]

I agree, don't lie, just explain the situation to the officer when you have your interview. THey'll want to see your wedding photos, so show them to them. A lot of people here have a small wedding then a big wedding, I don't see what's wrong with doing it the other way around! I really don't see why they would care or how it could hurt you. I think the only way you could run into problems is if you lie. Just make sure that all your paperwork matches (ie the dates on your application and your marriage certificate)

[hcj 0]

Assuming both "marriages" took place in the US and your spouse did not leave the US in between the two dates --

I would tell them that you had the wedding ceremony in May and the legal marriage in July.

[Collie 122]

Your official wedding is the date considered on your marriage cert. thats the only date that USCIS is looking for so if you go and lie and say May, you are digging yourself a big deep hole.

[nyc 0]

Don't lie, just explain the situation.

[ohiobuck 0]

Lying is never a good thing, tell the truth even if it is a long story. Plus it isn't uncommon for these types of things to happen, especially in other countries. My husband and I had our wedding party on a Saturday because we wanted his sister to be with us because she had to return home on Sunday and couldn't wait any longer. She had already waited 3 weeks with us. It wasn't until the next Monday we finally were married in Morocco and then the next day (Tuesday) before we could get the wedding certificate at the court house. In some ways all three dates are are wedding date, lol. I know your time frame is longer but it's for a very good reason you had to wait for a passport and they should understand this.

I wish you good luck,

Paula

[*Robert* 2]

Always go with the legal dates! It's as simple as that. It's what is on your marriage certificate, so anything else doesn't matter, except for sentimental reasons.