This is probably too late, but what red flags should I watch for?

[StormHeraldEDM 5]

Hello folks,

I've been watching this forum for a while - and oddly, I should have known better than file our I-130 prior to asking for advice, but I didn't...and I can't change that fact at this point Moving right along.....

I realize that my husband and I have (most likely) a good chunk of time ahead of us before we will have to defend ourselves, but I'm trying to be alert to red flags.

About him: Canadian guy, never married (previous to current). Lived in the same city all his life, stable jobs, no criminal records, etc etc.

About me: USC. Moved around a few times with family growing up, then continued to move as an adult. Switched careers a few times before settling into my current path - just finished my most recent schooling May '10, now back in school for more. I have a decent job (RN).

This is my 3 marriage - first was right out of high school (over a decade ago) and ended in just over a year. I have a daughter from that union who is currently 11. I have no idea where he is, we never had contact after I left due to spousal abuse. Second spouse - married during a particularly depressed time, moved across country, was away from friends and family, etc. This is where things get interesting.

I was married to my second spouse for a bit over a year when my current spouse and I met, playing World of Warcraft. We had a mutual friend who both of us knew in person, and the attraction was mutual. After several months of talking in game and online, we decided to meet in person (Fall '07). I flew up to Canada to spend time with him - and while we liked eachother, we just weren't ready to do what needed to be done to be "together". So we went back to our respective homes and went on with our lives as friends.

Fast-forward a couple years. I had finally gotten my fill of the sham marriage I was in - final straw was when spouse was accused of abusing my daughter, and there was an investigation. Though unfounded, I myself could not convince myself of his innocence....so I finally left state. Moved back in with my folks. Through a stroke of odd luck, in late December, I returned to playing WoW (hey, I had to try out Cata!) - and there was my guy. We hadn't talked terribly much over the previous year, as my home situation had deteriorated. But we started talking and spending time online together, and this time it clicked. We were head over heels for eachother!

I flew up to Canada to spend time with him again in Feb '11 - when I came back, we knew we were the soulmates we had always looked for. My divorce from previous spouse was finalized in April, in May, my dear hubby and I married - (he came to the US for a week to visit, meet my friends, etc), after which he went back home to Canada. We had aprivate ceremony, his parents couldn't come due to health problems, my family was not invited due to previous issues regarding their views of my relationships. My daughter and I went back up during the summer to spend time with him and his family, and he's coming back down here to spend Christmas with us.

The potential pitfalls and how I addressed them (feel free to chip in with what I missed, or may have coming up >.<):

Problem: My previous marriages- They were both to USC by birth, no visas/immigration issues involved. That being said, current relationship began while I was legally married to another man. Yes, feel free to judge me, it is what it is. May have possible concerns regarding bona fide?

Solution: a) I wrote a personal statement as part of I-130 packet, detailing the evolution of current (and most important!) relationship

b) Was not able to get affidavits - my flakey teenage sister (19 years old) said she would write one, but never did. After nagging for months...gave up. Other friend who knew both of us was killed in a car wreck in July.

c) Included copies of previous divorce decrees, current joint bank statement

d) Included what few photos we did have of our actual marriage ceremony. It was small and meaningful, nothing flashy. We both decided on having something more "traditional" in late '12, near his hometown, so his extended family could attend.

e) Skype logs, phone logs, and a brief statement about how we spend time together online via WoW and more recently League of Legends and Lord of the Rings Online, etc....

On a side note, not sure how to handle the issue with back tax transcripts, either. Assuming we'll be into 2012 when I have to provide transcripts, I'll have one year of our marriage, but previous transcripts would be joint with previous spouse. He and I do not speak, he has the tax records. I have no issue making minimum income qualification this year, but previous years, I was in school and making minimal income...will that be an issue? What do I do about it? Joint sponsor may be...out of the question.

I'm sure this was more rambling than it needed to be, but I sure do appreciate your assistance!

-Stormherald

[at long last 58]

Hello folks,

I've been watching this forum for a while - and oddly, I should have known better than file our I-130 prior to asking for advice, but I didn't...and I can't change that fact at this point Moving right along.....

I realize that my husband and I have (most likely) a good chunk of time ahead of us before we will have to defend ourselves, but I'm trying to be alert to red flags.

About him: Canadian guy, never married (previous to current). Lived in the same city all his life, stable jobs, no criminal records, etc etc.

About me: USC. Moved around a few times with family growing up, then continued to move as an adult. Switched careers a few times before settling into my current path - just finished my most recent schooling May '10, now back in school for more. I have a decent job (RN).

This is my 3 marriage - first was right out of high school (over a decade ago) and ended in just over a year. I have a daughter from that union who is currently 11. I have no idea where he is, we never had contact after I left due to spousal abuse. Second spouse - married during a particularly depressed time, moved across country, was away from friends and family, etc. This is where things get interesting.

I was married to my second spouse for a bit over a year when my current spouse and I met, playing World of Warcraft. We had a mutual friend who both of us knew in person, and the attraction was mutual. After several months of talking in game and online, we decided to meet in person (Fall '07). I flew up to Canada to spend time with him - and while we liked eachother, we just weren't ready to do what needed to be done to be "together". So we went back to our respective homes and went on with our lives as friends.

Fast-forward a couple years. I had finally gotten my fill of the sham marriage I was in - final straw was when spouse was accused of abusing my daughter, and there was an investigation. Though unfounded, I myself could not convince myself of his innocence....so I finally left state. Moved back in with my folks. Through a stroke of odd luck, in late December, I returned to playing WoW (hey, I had to try out Cata!) - and there was my guy. We hadn't talked terribly much over the previous year, as my home situation had deteriorated. But we started talking and spending time online together, and this time it clicked. We were head over heels for eachother!

I flew up to Canada to spend time with him again in Feb '11 - when I came back, we knew we were the soulmates we had always looked for. My divorce from previous spouse was finalized in April, in May, my dear hubby and I married - (he came to the US for a week to visit, meet my friends, etc), after which he went back home to Canada. We had aprivate ceremony, his parents couldn't come due to health problems, my family was not invited due to previous issues regarding their views of my relationships. My daughter and I went back up during the summer to spend time with him and his family, and he's coming back down here to spend Christmas with us.

The potential pitfalls and how I addressed them (feel free to chip in with what I missed, or may have coming up >.<):

Problem: My previous marriages- They were both to USC by birth, no visas/immigration issues involved. That being said, current relationship began while I was legally married to another man. Yes, feel free to judge me, it is what it is. May have possible concerns regarding bona fide?

Solution: a) I wrote a personal statement as part of I-130 packet, detailing the evolution of current (and most important!) relationship

b) Was not able to get affidavits - my flakey teenage sister (19 years old) said she would write one, but never did. After nagging for months...gave up. Other friend who knew both of us was killed in a car wreck in July.

c) Included copies of previous divorce decrees, current joint bank statement

d) Included what few photos we did have of our actual marriage ceremony. It was small and meaningful, nothing flashy. We both decided on having something more "traditional" in late '12, near his hometown, so his extended family could attend.

e) Skype logs, phone logs, and a brief statement about how we spend time together online via WoW and more recently League of Legends and Lord of the Rings Online, etc....

On a side note, not sure how to handle the issue with back tax transcripts, either. Assuming we'll be into 2012 when I have to provide transcripts, I'll have one year of our marriage, but previous transcripts would be joint with previous spouse. He and I do not speak, he has the tax records. I have no issue making minimum income qualification this year, but previous years, I was in school and making minimal income...will that be an issue? What do I do about it? Joint sponsor may be...out of the question.

I'm sure this was more rambling than it needed to be, but I sure do appreciate your assistance!

-Stormherald

they aren't there to pass judgement on the reasons for marriage failure,. They just want absolute proof of the relationship you are petitioning for.

I wish you luck. I'm Canadian also married 3 times before. All bad mistakes. life goes on and they have all lead to this place in our lives.

Terri

[Navyk 78]

Interesting story. Your husband needs to know details of your previous marraige, as he will be questions regarding your past marraiges. Actually having information of those details proves your true and continuing relationshsip. The bottomline is preapare your husband for questions related to your previous two marraiges - this is your red flag area and if you guys take care of this, you should be fine.

Since your 2009 and 2008 wages are not good, look for a co-sponsor. For your AOS, your 2010 Tax Transcripts are fine (2009 & 2008 are optional).

[sheeshkabelle 153]

Same story, but we played Final Fantasy XI I was married twice before). I was married when we first started talking, but divorced before we ever met in person.

USCIS doesn't care about prior marriages. They only care about this one. We had a small wedding of his family and friends in Canada. None of my friends or family could make it. My sister joked, "I was at the first two, look how those turned out!" The way we look at it, it's no different then running to Vegas and eloping. We're still married and we still love each other. One way to know how committed you both are, is spend 10 months out of the year apart.

As for the income taxes. Just call up the IRS, tell them you want your tax transcripts for the years you need. They're yours too, they will give them to you.