Polygamy, bigamy, and multiple marriages are all relationships in which a person has more than one spouse. While polygamy is legal in some countries, it is illegal in the United States.
This means that if you are married to more than one person at the same time, you may be denied U.S. citizenship. In this blog post, we will discuss polygamy, bigamy, and multiple marriages and how they impact your U.S. citizenship application.
What is Polygamy
Polygamy is the practice of having more than one spouse at the same time. If you are married to more than one person at the same time, you may be denied U.S. citizenship.
This is because polygamy is illegal in the United States. Polygamy is a felony offense in the United States and it is punishable by up to five years in prison.
What is Bigamy
Bigamy is the practice of marrying someone who is already married to someone else. Bigamy is also illegal in the United States and it is punishable by up to five years in prison.
If you are married to more than one person at the same time, you may be denied U.S. citizenship based on bigamy.
Multiple Marriages
Multiple marriages are when a person has been married multiple times. While multiple marriages are not illegal in the United States, they can impact your U.S. citizenship application. If you have been married multiple times, you may be required to provide additional documentation to prove that your previous marriages have ended.
If you are married to more than one person at the same time, you may be denied U.S. citizenship. This is because polygamy, bigamy, and multiple marriages are all illegal in the United States. If you have questions about how these relationships will impact your U.S. citizenship application, please contact an experienced immigration attorney for help.
Polygamy, Bigamy, and Multiple Marriages and the U.S. Immigration Law: What You Need to Know About U.S. Citizenship
Under U.S. immigration law, polygamy is not recognized as a valid marriage, and bigamy is grounds for inadmissibility. Multiple marriages may also complicate your ability to obtain citizenship or permanent residency in the United States.
If you are married to more than one person, or if you have multiple wives or husbands, it is important to understand how this will affect your immigration status. While there are some limited exceptions, generally speaking, polygamy is not recognized as a valid marriage under U.S. law.
This means that if you enter into a polygamous relationship, you will not be able to sponsor your spouse for immigration benefits such as a green card or citizenship. In addition, if you are found to be in a polygamous relationship, you may be deemed inadmissible to the United States.
Bigamy is also grounds for inadmissibility. Bigamy is defined as entering into a marriage while still married to someone else. If you are found to have committed bigamy, you will not be able to obtain a green card or U.S. citizenship through your spouse.
Multiple marriages can also complicate your ability to obtain citizenship or permanent residency in the United States. If you have been married more than once, USCIS will want to know whether your previous marriages were ended by divorce, annulment, or death. They will also want proof that any children of your previous marriages are now your legal dependents.
If you are currently in a polygamous relationship, or if you have been married more than once, it is important to speak with an experienced immigration attorney to understand how this will affect your ability to obtain U.S. citizenship or permanent residency. There may be options available to you, but it is important to get expert advice before taking any action.
Should You Apply to Naturalize If You (or a Partner) Have Practiced Polygamy?
The short answer is maybe. It depends on a number of factors, including when the polygamy was practiced and whether it was entered into before or after the marriage that is the basis for your naturalization application.
If you are currently married to more than one person, or have been married to more than one person at any point in the past, USCIS will not automatically deny your application for naturalization. However, they may ask additional questions about your marital history during your interview, and if they determine that you have engaged in polygamy, they could deny your application on moral grounds.
It’s important to note that polygamy is only considered a moral ground for denial if it is currently being practiced. If you have previously been married to more than one person but are not currently practicing polygamy, USCIS will not consider it a moral ground for denial.
Additionally, if you are applying for naturalization on the basis of marriage to a U.S. citizen, and you entered into that marriage while you were still married to someone else, USCIS may deny your application on the grounds of bigamy. However, if you divorce your first spouse before applying for naturalization, USCIS will not consider bigamy to be a moral ground for denial.
Overall, whether or not polygamy or bigamy will be considered a moral ground for denial of your naturalization application depends on a number of factors.
Should You Apply to Naturalize If You’ve Committed Bigamy?
The answer to this question is not as simple as a yes or no. If you have committed bigamy, that is, if you have married more than one person while knowing that your first marriage was still valid, then you may be ineligible for U.S. citizenship. However, there are some exceptions to this rule.
If you marry someone who is already a U.S. citizen, then you may still be eligible for citizenship even if you have committed bigamy. This exception is known as the “spousal exception.” In order to qualify for this exception, you must meet all of the following criteria:
- You must have married your U.S. citizen spouse in good faith, believing that your first marriage was no longer valid.
- You must have been a permanent resident of the United States for at least three years at the time of your naturalization application.
- You must be able to show that your bigamous marriage was entered into before you knew or had reason to know that your first marriage was still valid.
If you do not meet all of the criteria for the spousal exception, then you will likely be denied citizenship on the grounds of moral turpitude. However, there are some cases where people have been granted citizenship even though they have committed bigamy. For example, if you can show that your bigamy was due to cultural or religious reasons, then you may be able to obtain citizenship.
Sham (Fraudulent) Marriages and U.S Immigration Law
The term “sham marriage” is often used by immigration officials to describe a marriage that was entered into for the sole purpose of evading U.S. immigration laws. Sham marriages are considered fraudulent and are punishable by law.
There are a few key things that officials look for when determining if a marriage is sham:
- The couple does not live together as husband and wife
- The couple does not have a sexual relationship
- One or both spouses entered into the marriage for the purpose of evading U.S. immigration laws
If you are found to have entered into a sham marriage, you will be subject to arrest and deportation. In addition, you may be fined or imprisoned. If you are thinking about entering into a sham marriage, you should know that it is a serious crime and you will be punished if caught.
Entering into a sham marriage is not the only way to commit immigration fraud. There are many other ways to commit immigration fraud, such as:
- Falsifying documents;
- Using someone else’s identity;
- Overstaying your visa;
- Working without authorization.
All of these actions are considered immigration fraud and can lead to arrest and deportation. If you are thinking about committing immigration fraud, you should know that it is a serious crime and you will be punished if caught.
Conclusion
U.S. citizens can marry whomever they want, as long as that person is legally allowed to marry in the United States. There are no residency requirements for getting married in the United States, so you can get married anywhere in the country.
There are some restrictions on who you can marry if you’re already married, though. You can’t have more than one spouse at a time – that’s called polygamy, and it’s illegal in the United States. If you marry someone while you’re still married to someone else, that’s called bigamy, and it’s also illegal.
You might be wondering why somebody would want to have more than one spouse. In some cultures, it’s seen as a way to provide for more than one family. In the United States, though, it’s generally seen as selfish and unfair to everyone involved.
If you’re thinking about getting married, make sure you understand all of the legal implications beforehand. It’s a big decision, and one that shouldn’t be taken lightly.