The citizen spouse must sign a contract (I-864) with the Federal government promising to support the non-citizen spouse financially. In most cases, even if the couple divorces, the citizen spouse must continue to support the non-citizen spouse.
Countries including Australia, Canada, Germany, Mexico, and the U.K. regularly work with U.S. courts to enforce alimony orders across international borders. However, enforcing an international alimony order may take more time than enforcing a domestic one.
In Scotland, Sweden, Finland and New Zealand, financial independence for both spouses is at the heart of the court's approach and the obligation to maintain a spouse is not imposed, save for a short period or in exceptional circumstances.
Moving to another country does not automatically exempt you from paying alimony. Here are some key points to consider: Legal Obligations: If you have a court order for alimony, you are legally obligated to comply with it, regardless of your location.
How do you file for divorce if you're in the U.S. and your spouse is overseas? Serve the petition. Prepare your divorce papers, making sure all information is accurate and complete. Submit your divorce papers to the central authority in your spouse's country. File papers with the court.
Someone doesn't have to be a US citizen. The qualifications to draw a spouse benefit in that scenario is age at least 62, have a spouse who draws SS and have been in the US LEGALLY for at least five years.
Typically, this obligation continues until your spouse becomes a U.S. citizen, accrues 40 qualifying work quarters in the U.S. (roughly 10 years), permanently departs the country, or passes away.
As with marriage, divorce has zero impact on whether a person who is in the nation illegally can be removed from the country. If you are in the US illegally, getting married even to a US citizen won't grant you legal status nor does it make you eligible for legal status. With divorce your circumstances don't change.
Even if a spouse immigrant is denied alimony in divorce proceeding, she or he can seek support as set out under form I-864. Further, the spouse immigrant has no obligation to find a job (which is a requirement for alimony in California) to obtain support under form I-864.