# A Question about Polygamous Marriages **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 7, 2014, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-polygamous-marriages/700612 "2014-10-07T01:29:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2014, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-polygamous-marriages/700612/1 "2014-10-07T01:29:47Z")
If a man from Saudi Arabia is married to his legally permissible 4 wives, how does that work if they come to America, to live or work? Does the US recognize the multiple wives? If he dies without a will, how do his US assets get moved around. Can an American move to Saudi Arabia, keep his American citizenship and come back with four wives of his own? Need answer quick. ---
**Author:** ![Enola\_Straight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dec6dc/32.png) [@Enola\_Straight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Straight)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2014, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-polygamous-marriages/700612/2 "2014-10-07T03:15:35Z")
AFAIK, the US govt. only recognizes the first wife…the other three are just a couple of women that’s hanging around. BTW, The Fundamentalist LDS Church advises it’d adherents to take advantage of this: Sister Wives apply for Government Assistence, since the are classified “unmarried”, they and their children are destitute. It is a practice known as “Bleeding the Beast”:rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2014, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-polygamous-marriages/700612/3 "2014-10-07T04:36:53Z")
There is no law in the US against “having” two wives. Bigamy is the act of entering into a marriage with one person while still legally married to another. As long as he did not do that while under US jurisdiction, it is perfectly legal. If he wanted to become an American citizen, that would probably be an impediment. If he dies inttestate, the probate court can do whatever they wish, regardless of his nationality or marital status. No, an American cannot move to Saudi and marry a second wife. First of all, there is no provision in Saudi Arabia for a civil marriage, so under Saudi law, it would not be permissible for a foreigner to marry without the authorization of the Saudi government. Saudi Arabia recognizes the civil rights of non-Muslims residing or visiting in their country, but does not go as far as granting them privileges if Muslim traditions. Am American friend of mine in Jordan married a British woman there, and there was no way they could do so under Jordanian law. The US Embassy formalized their marriage, in the embassy, which they would not have done if he had been already married to someone else. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2014, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-polygamous-marriages/700612/4 "2014-10-07T14:09:59Z")
> [@](#): > > No, an American cannot move to Saudi and marry a second wife. First of all, there is no provision in Saudi Arabia for a civil marriage, so under Saudi law, it would not be permissible for a foreigner to marry without the authorization of the Saudi government. Saudi Arabia recognizes the civil rights of non-Muslims residing or visiting in their country, but does not go as far as granting them privileges if Muslim traditions. You’re assuming that the American in question is a non-Muslim. And there are surely other localities in the world which allow polygamy and which do not require the partners to be Muslims (though they might have other requirements instead). ---
**Author:** ![md2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@md2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md2000)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2014, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-polygamous-marriages/700612/5 "2014-10-07T14:15:20Z")
Something similar happened in Canada - a fellow immigrated from Afghanistan with his immediate family, his wife and his “sister”. Obviously Canada’s vetting process for immigrant pedigrees etc. had some flaws, or the guy was rich enough to make things happen with documentation. > **[Shafia family murders](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shafia_family_murders)** > > The Shafia family murders took place on June 30, 2009, in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Shafia sisters Zainab, 19, Sahar, 17, and Geeti, 13, along with their father's wife Rona Muhammad Omar, 52 (all of Afghan origin), were found dead inside a car that was discovered underwater in front of the northernmost Kingston Mills lock of the Rideau Canal. Zainab, Sahar, and Geeti were daughters of Mohammad Shafia, 58, and his wife, Tooba Mohammad Yahya, 41. The couple also had a son, Hamed, 20, and three So when he got tired of one wife and thought the daughters were getting too uppity, they got to sleep with the fishes. But short answer, the wife he liked was presented as his wife, and the other one was “aunt” and “domestic servant on visitor’s visa” (which doesn’t sound right to me). I recall during the trial it was mentioned she was presented as his sister for immigration purposes. ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2014, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-polygamous-marriages/700612/6 "2014-10-07T18:54:14Z")
Thanks for the replies. It just occurred to me that I had no idea how this would be handled. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2014, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-polygamous-marriages/700612/7 "2014-10-07T19:36:43Z")
> [@jtur88](#): > > Am American friend of mine in Jordan married a British woman there, and there was no way they could do so under Jordanian law. The US Embassy formalized their marriage, in the embassy, which they would not have done if he had been already married to someone else. That does not jibe with [this information provided by the US Embassy in Jordan](http://jordan.usembassy.gov/acs_marriage_jordan.html): > [@](#): > > The U.S. Embassy in Amman cannot perform marriages in Jordan, even for U.S. citizens. It also does not jibe with [the information provided by the UK government on getting married in Jordan](https://www.gov.uk/marriage-abroad/y/jordan/other/jordan/partner_other/opposite_sex): > [@](#): > > Contact the relevant local authorities in Jordan to find out about local marriage laws, including what documents you’ll need. > > There are no civil marriages in Jordan, but you can get married through a religious ceremony at a church or Sharia court. > > You may be able to get married at the British Embassy if you’re both resident in Jordan and can prove that there are no other suitable facilities. > > Contact the British Embassy in Jordan for more information. ---
**Author:** ![GreasyJack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/df705f/32.png) [@GreasyJack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreasyJack)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2014, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-polygamous-marriages/700612/8 "2014-10-07T23:28:21Z")
Before they started recognizing them, the US government had no problem telling people in foreign same-sex marriages that their spouses were SOL in terms of immigration and such. I would assume that the wives beyond wife #1 would be in the same boat. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2014, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-polygamous-marriages/700612/9 "2014-10-08T00:25:39Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > That does not jibe with [this information provided by the US Embassy in Jordan](http://jordan.usembassy.gov/acs_marriage_jordan.html): The one I referred to took place in 1975. The US Embassy is no longer in the business of providing services of any kind for any traveling Americans. You can’t even renew your passport any more at US consulates abroad. I cited that to illustrate that in general, it is very difficult for foreigners to marry abroad, although in some case, some countries consulates will still perform that service. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2014, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-polygamous-marriages/700612/10 "2014-10-08T01:46:54Z")
> [@jtur88](#): > > The US Embassy is no longer in the business of providing services of any kind for any traveling Americans. You can’t even renew your passport any more at US consulates abroad. News to me. I renewed my passport here in Panama last year. In fact, the [State Department website](http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/passports/renew.html) says: > [@](#): > > From Outside the United States: > U.S. citizens residing abroad (except those living in Canada) should renew their passports at the nearest U.S. Embassy or U.S. Consulate. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2014, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-polygamous-marriages/700612/11 "2014-10-08T03:25:42Z")
> [@jtur88](#): > > The one I referred to took place in 1975. > The US Embassy is no longer in the business of providing services of any kind for any traveling Americans. Well before the 1970s, the US State Department was not in the business of conducting marriages at its embassies and consulates. The US State Department is not out of the business of providing services to traveling Americans. > [@](#): > > You can’t even renew your passport any more at US consulates abroad. You can renew your passport at most US consulates (and even those consulates that aren’t staffed for the usual citizen services hold periodic service visits from the citizen services section of the embassy above them and one of the services provided at such visits is passport renewal). What you can’t do, other than for an immediate emergency, is get a passport immediately; however, the consulate/embassy still does the application and adjudication of same. [For your edification](http://jordan.usembassy.gov/acs_passport_services.html): > [@](#): > > U.S. citizens residing or traveling abroad who wish to renew their passports will be issued the latest, state-of-the-art passports incorporating a photo-digitized image and other enhanced security features. Applications received and adjudicated at the U.S. Embassy in Amman, Jordan will be issued by domestic passport facilities in the U.S. > > U.S. citizens can pick up their new passports approximately 7 to 10 working days from the date they submit their application. New passport pick-up is between 3:00pm and 4:00pm and no appointment is required. The Embassy does not provide expedited processing for passport services. Citizens are urged to plan ahead and submit their applications two (2) months prior to the expiration date of their passport. And, since I mentioned [emergency passports](http://jordan.usembassy.gov/acs_passport_services_emergency.html): > [@](#): > > **Emergency Passport** > > If you require emergency travel, the Embassy may issue you an emergency passport on a case by case basis. In general, emergency passports require at least one business day to process. > > An emergency passport has all the same requirements and fees as a regular passport, but has a very limited validity and will need to be replaced with a regular passport upon arrival at your destination. Your application should follow all of the instructions for the type of passport service you are requesting. > > For emergency passport services, or for other issues not listed in the online appointment system, please contact the American Citizen Services unit directly by phone from Sunday to Thursday between 2:00 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. at (+962-6) 590-6950, or by email at [Amman-ACS@state.gov](mailto:Amman-ACS@state.gov). If you have an emergency situation outside of these hours, contact the Embassy at (+962-6) 590-6000. Those last two links are to the US Embassy to Jordan site. Oh, nifty fact about me: I was a passport agent and stationed overseas. Another nifty fact: Quite recently, 18 August 2014, I had visa pages added to my US passport at the US Embassy here in Beijing. I’m going to go with having visa pages added to my passport as a service provided to a traveling American. > [@](#): > > I cited that to illustrate that in general, it is very difficult for foreigners to marry abroad, although in some case, some countries consulates will still perform that service. For some cases, yes. In the case you specifically stated, no as the US embassies and consulates do not do that. Either your friend forgot that the marriage was done at the UK embassy or he simply confused getting the required statement from the embassies with getting married. Or you are mistaken. By the way, it’s not all that difficult for foreigners to marry abroad. There may be a couple of extra steps, depending on local requirements, compared to what a foreigner is used to back in their country, but it’s not all that hard, obviously, as plenty of foreigners get married while visiting other countries.