Forced Marriage

Forced marriage is a marriage that takes place without the consent of one or both people in the marriage. Sometimes family members will threaten or use force to make someone consent to marriage. This issue does not just affect female victims; research suggests that 15 percent of the cases involve male victims.

The U.S. Department of State views forced marriage as a human rights abuse and, in the case of minors, a form of child abuse. If you are a U.S. citizen and the victim of a forced marriage overseas, you can:

  • Contact the closest U.S. embassy or consulate or call our Overseas Citizens Services office in Washington, D.C. at 1-888-407-4747 (from outside the United States and Canada, call 202-501-4444).
  • Check the “Special Circumstances” section of our country information pages for further information and possible resources in the country you are visiting. 

For more information:  https://www.uscis.gov/humanitarian/forced-marriage

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Listings of private entities on this page are provided as a convenience and should not be construed as an endorsement by the U.S. Department State or the U.S. government of the entity, its views or the products or services it provides. The order in which names appear has no significance, and the links may be removed at any time at the discretion of the Department.

Last Updated: November 22, 2022