It's over

[Tim626]

What is the name of your state? MN
I was married in Ethiopia in May. Since returning I've learned the truth about her past, her other men, the deception and lies, the need to take and get more and more money... I have not begun the petitioning process to get her to the U.S. and if it goes my way she will not come here. I have an appointment with the INS on Agust 30th. The problem is that her dishonest niece has my marriage cert and is not forthcoming about handing it over. (I believe it's my property). I don't know my wife's birthdate, her address, the exact spelling of her name, or even the exact date of the marriage. What do you think the INS will tell me? What's my best method of making finalizing this matter?

 

[HappyHusband]

What's my best method of making finalizing this matter?

A divorce or annulment.

What is the purpose of the August 30th interview?

 

[Tim626]

Purpose

I have a friend who told me this was my first step. He grew up abroad and because of family business has had contact with people of many cultures. My plan would be to explain that this marriage was a mistake and it would be best if we could end it and move on.

 

[evcalyptos]

I have a friend who told me this was my first step. He grew up abroad and because of family business has had contact with people of many cultures. My plan would be to explain that this marriage was a mistake and it would be best if we could end it and move on.

Either your friend confused you or you left out part of your story.

If you haven't filed a petition for her anywhere, USCIS doesn't know you exist. They won't care if you are married or not; she can not immigrate without you, even if she has your marriage certificate.

I think you not knowing your wife's details would pretty much kill any petition anyway

 

[Tim626]

What now

Thanks
OK, I'm really not too worried about her getting here. However, the obnoxious niece holding the marriage cert also has the petitions with my information filled in. All my wife's info is with this "package" but not on the petitions yet. What could become of this in the wrong hands?
Next I need a divorce lawyer? That's my only option?

 

[evcalyptos]

Thanks
OK, I'm really not too worried about her getting here. However, the obnoxious niece holding the mariiage cert also has the petitions with my information filled in. All my wife's info is with this "package" but not on the petitions yet. What could become of this in the wrong hands?
Next I need a diorce lawyer? That's my only option?

Well that IS a pickle.
Do you know where the obnoxious niece lives? Nearby? Call the cops and report it as a theft. Why does she have the package of petitions and applications? That's like losing your checkbook where all the checks are signed and blank.
If the niece lives in Ethiopia or plans on filing these papers anyway, the fraud will eventually catch up to them. If you think this is a genuine possibility, the only office I can recommend you to is the US Consulate in Ethiopia, and put a fraud warning out, at least related to your own name. Do this in writing and cc every official you can think of: ICE, CBP, USCIS Service Center, the National Visa Center etc. Send it by trackable mail.

I don't know. I'll think on this for awhile.
Get the package back!

 

[Tim626]

Pickle Indeed!

Yes I know where she lives. I was there today. You see, she was my travel companion on my visit this spring. I let her hang onto things as I felt I needed to uncover some facts before I went ahead. The paperwork was of no concern to me until recently. I visited her apartment to see her roommate in hopes of retreiving said documents. The niece is in Atlanta where she'll be moving at the end of the month. She's instructed her roommate not to give me anything. So a phone call was made. This niece insists she'll give me the forms (or at least the marriage cert) when she returns in a week. I don't trust that she can tell the truth from fiction, but I guess I'll wait and see. I had thought of asking the police to visit the apartment. Grounds for search?
Thanks for the advice on the above.

 

[evcalyptos]

Yes I know where she lives. I was there today. You see, she was my travel companion on my visit this spring. I let her hang onto things as I felt I needed to uncover some facts before I went ahead. The paperwork was of no concern to me until recently. I visited her apartment to see her roommate in hopes of retreiving said documents. The niece is in Atlanta where she'll be moving at the end of the month. She's instructed her roommate not to give me anything. So a phone call was made. This niece insists she'll give me the forms (or at least the marriage cert) when she returns in a week. I don't trust that she can tell the truth from fiction, but I guess I'll wait and see. I had thought of asking the police to visit the apartment. Grounds for search?
Thanks for the advice on the above.

OK, clarify something please.
The forms and applications: are any of them already signed by you? Or are they just partially filled in or what? If there are petitions with your original signature floating around out of your control, in the situation you describe, it could be a major problem.
If the above is true, you really should make an effort at contacting the State Dept and notifying them. You have to put aside any embarassment about why you are in this situation (marrying a woman whose details, including last name, you do not know) and pursue it. It's a security issue for the US and could be a financial disaster, or worse, for you.

If on the other hand they're unsigned forms, well, it's still not smart to have your personal information out of your control like that. I would move with extreme paranoia. Ethiopia is not as renknowned as Nigeria or some of the neighboring countries for fraud, but I'm just an average joe and I can think of all kinds of nefarious possibilities for that kind of paperwork.

You've found yourself quite a little drama! Have fun

 

[Tim626]

No, I don't look too bright

But thanks for the encouragment.
I've been thinking that these forms would not have been signed. Normal practice would be to sign and date them when complete. I do however have a memory of going over some of this paperwork with my wife and her niece back in Addis Ababa and putting the current date on one. Whether or not I also signed is unclear right now.
Also, do I have legal basis for reporting these things stolen and having them recovered by local police?
Further, I have no clue what all those "alphabet soup" agencies mentioned above would be. Perhaps I can start with emails to the US consulate and State Dept.?