How much does an arranged marriage cost in the USA? This is a soap opera plot, but it doesn't have a happy ending!
Forging a marriage in the United States is one way that many people try to get a green card. But using this route to try to get a green card is not only wrong, it is criminal.
It's a Federal Crime
This is because marriage fraud in the US is a federal crime punishable by law, and both the immigrant and the US citizen will face severe penalties for this crime: the US citizen, if aware of the fraud, will have to pay fines and can go to jail. And the immigrant who has attempted to defraud a marriage can receive up to $250,000 in fines and 5 years in jail on U.S. soil, receiving immediate deportation after the sentence.
Inability to get a green card in the future
Furthermore, it is certain that this immigrant will never get a green card again, because he or she will have a negative record with the U.S. Immigration Department, which is the USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services).
Marriage fraud is when a person marries a U.S. citizen or someone who already has a green card in order to use that to live legally in the United States. And it is also fraud if the immigrant lies to an American to get married with the intention of just getting a green card.
Although it may seem like an easy solution in the short term, this "way out" can have serious consequences, both for the American who accepts money to fake a marriage, and for the immigrant who pays to fake this marriage.
Frequent Crime
Because this type of crime is so common, the USCIS is extremely strict when reviewing marriage VISA applications, and does a social investigation of those involved in this type of situation.
Immigration Investigates the Veracity of the Relationship
It is common for the USCIS to visit the couple at their residence and ask questions about their intimate life and also investigate around the neighborhood to see if people who know them can really tell that they are married and living as a couple.
Therefore, those who have the intention to commit this type of fraud can easily be discovered and suffer the consequences, which are severe.
What's Cheap Is Expensive
In short, forging a marriage in the United States may seem like an easy solution to obtain benefits and a permanent visa, but the consequences for this kind of act are serious and long-lasting.
It is important to remember that honesty and integrity are significant values in American society, and are fundamental to building a life in the United States.
How to get a green card totally legally
A green card, also known as a permanent residence card, is a document that gives a foreign national the right to live and work permanently in the United States. There are several ways to obtain a Green Card, such as through employment, family, investment or even a lottery.
To get a green card completely legally, you first need to know if you are eligible to apply for a green card under the US government's rules.
EB2 is one of the easiest ways
The most common way to obtain a green card used by immigrants of all nationalities is through an EB-2 work visa, where you need to prove that you have extraordinary experience and/or skills in your professional field. Professions such as doctor, pilot, dentist, and physical therapist can easily be your gateway to the United States.
Regardless of the method chosen, it is important to remember that the process for obtaining a green card is bureaucratic and requires the presentation of documents and the fulfillment of several legal requirements.
Therefore, it is recommended that you seek the advice of a specialized immigration counselor to help with the process.
Want to know if you are eligible for a green card?
Fill out our technical form and find out if you are eligible.
