Marriage Problem holding up immigration

[davesboat29483]

Not sure what to do. I am a born American citizen. Lived with a woman from 2001 to Summer of 2008. Never married to her but filed taxes Married filing joint. In 2007 I started emailing the neice of my 25 year friend and developed feelings for her. In the Spring of 2009 I went to visit her in Viet Nam and we were married. Want to immigrate her to America. Am I considered to be married to both women? I read that the United States government does not recognize common law marriage but some States do. Very confusing. Should I get a divorce from the first woman who I never married? How do you do that? If I do that, My divorce will be at a date later than my marriage to my Vietnamese wife? Is our marriage valid? Will we have to divorce also and remarry? I'm sure this has happened before and would like some advice on how to proceed. Thanks

[immihelp]

You need a lawyer that handles both the family law and the immigration law.