Does the US recognize Muslim marriages?

[thebushpilot 0]

I am a US citizen, my wife is Philippine national. We met in Kuwait and were married under Muslim law in 2007, The marriage was not registered as a civil marriage with either the Philippine or US embassies as I had a civil wife in the US and she passed away in October 2012. My Philippine wife and I have two daughters the first born in Kuwait in 2009 and the second born in Uganda in 2010. Both daughters have their US citizenship and Social Security cards. We were married again in a civil ceremony in the Philippines in November 2012. Will the US recognize the earlier of the two marriages? We are here seeking the best approach to get my wife permission to live in the US. We would greatly appreciate any advice. Given the circumstances there may be more than one approach.

[Rich and Wen 101]

I suspect that your Kuwait 2007 marriage will not be recognized because you were married already. Dual marriages are not allowed anywhere in the US, and that would be the law that governs here.

[thebushpilot 0]

There comes the catch! The muslim marriage was and is a marriage all the same and the immigration forms want the status of all prior prior marriages. Since the marriage under Sharia Law was then and is still valid and since the other marriage is now dissolved does that not leave a valid marriage that occurred in 2006.

[Cathi 5,849]

what do you mean by a Muslim marriage? I am married to a Muslim , we were married in a Muslim country,and the marriage is recognized. Your first marriage to this wife in Kuwait will not be recognized because you were married to another woman, and married your second wife while still married to your first. Because bigamy is not allowed in the US, the first marriage to your second wife is not recognized. It has nothing to do with the fact that you were married in a Muslim country under Islamic law.

There comes the catch! The muslim marriage was and is a marriage all the same and the immigration forms want the status of all prior prior marriages. Since the marriage under Sharia Law was then and is still valid and since the other marriage is now dissolved does that not leave a valid marriage that occurred in 2006.

no

Edited August 16, 2013 by mimolicious