Single or married, I don't what to put.

[mimicoco 5]

Hi everybody, I have a situation and I don't know what to do. May be anyone who has been through the same experience can share with me.

I'm filing the paperworks for my mother to come live with me as a permanent resident (I'm a naturalized US citizen). I have to indicate on the form if she is married or single. She has been "traditionnaly" married with my father for 30 years but they don't have any official paper proving that in my knowledge.so I was about to put single on the form and just to make sure I asked her but she told me the contrary. That they did sign a marriage paper the day of the traditionnal ceremony and that my uncle is in possession of the document.

I called my uncle,it turned out that it wasn't a marriage paper but just some kind of receipt showing how much money was paid for her dowry. Now I don't know what box to check.if I check single, at the interview at the embassy when they ask her if she is married I'm pretty sure she will say yes. Because in her mind she is married. If I check married, and the mariage certificate is requested,there is none.So I don't know what to do now.

Anyone has any suggestion about that?

Thank you in advance!

[kris&me 572]

need to check and see if there is a registered document and then you can fill out the forms correctly

[mimicoco 5]

Thanks kris&me for your answer. Like I indicated on my post there is no registered paper. They have never been to the court house. Just the tradional marriage and they have been together for 30 years and have 5 kids. In Cameroon a traditional marriage is recognized as a regular marriage just that people don't sign a document for that.

[Uneks 13]

She is married, pls don't complicate it by putting single. They will not ask for an official document to show that.

The Co will ask her why she wants to go stay with you instead of her husband. If her husband is dead, she will need to show prove. If divorced she will be asked for prove.

They are aware that in most cases Africa traditional marriages don't have paper documents per say.

She will need loads of pictures of her n u when u were lil and also with u, her n siblings.

Worse case senerio, they will ask her to get a dna done. In that case, they will also refer you to a hospital in the US to get same done. Good luck.

[mimicoco 5]

Thanks for your answer Uneks.

I will apply for my father later on if my mother likes it here and wants to stay otherwise

she will go back home. That's why I'm not applying for my father concurrently now.

Well if they don't ask for the marriage certificate that's ok then. I will put married hoping they won't ask for it. If they do so then I will be stuck.