Legal Question in International Law in New York

Marriages to women in foreign countries

I have a girlfriend in China. She claims that she married a guy from N.Y. and was not present at the ceremony. She has never been to the US and met the guy on the internet, and has never seen him face to face. I believe that I saw a news story a short time ago about this sort of thing being legal. Is this a valid marriage and is she on her way to becoming an American? What factors have to be in place for a marriage such as this to be legal?

Thank you.


Asked on 5/23/04, 11:34 am

2 Answers from Attorneys
William Pinzler william M. Pinzler

Re: Marriages to women in foreign countries

There are ways in which this marriage might, and I emphasize might, be legal but we need more facts. However, I suggest you start with the State Department. They will know not only about what the rules are, but what the current scams are.

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Answered on 5/24/04, 8:31 am
Daniel Press Chung & Press, P.C.

Re: Marriages to women in foreign countries

Whether or not the marriage is legal (and my guess is that it's not, at least for U.S. purposes), she is not "on her way to becoming an American" unless she has an immigrant visa/green card and has begun her physical presence in the U.S. If the marriage is legal, her "spouse" would have to petition for the immigrant visa. My guess is that this will never happen.

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Answered on 5/24/04, 10:04 am


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