I-130 RFE for Prior Marriages: Divorce Decrees, Annulments, and Proof

An I-130 spouse petition can stall when USCIS cannot confirm that every prior marriage legally ended before the current marriage began. This issue can involve the petitioner, the beneficiary, or both spouses, and it often appears as a request for a divorce decree, annulment order, or death certificate.

The response should include the final court order, not only a filing receipt, separation agreement, or religious divorce document. If the divorce happened outside the United States, the filing should explain the issuing authority, include a certified English translation, and match names, dates, and places across the marriage certificate and forms.

Some cases need more than proof of termination. If a permanent resident obtained status through a prior marriage and later petitions for a new spouse, special scrutiny can apply during the first five years. The file may need evidence that the prior marriage was bona fide or that it ended by the former spouse's death.

New Horizons Legal helps families organize prior-marriage records, fix name or date inconsistencies, and answer I-130 RFEs before a small document issue becomes a denial.