One potential path to receiving a green card is to marry a U.S. citizen. The government does try to look out for married couples and give them options so that they can stay together. Allowing the spouse to become a permanent resident is one way that they do this.
For example, someone may come to the United States on a student visa because they get accepted at an American university. While attending classes, they fall in love with another student who is already a citizen. The two get married after graduation. The student visa would no longer apply, but the new spouse can get a green card.
Fraudulent relationships
Green card marriage fraud is when the relationship itself is not real. The couple is not in love, they are not looking to establish a life together, and they may not even have long-term plans to stay married. They may be planning to get divorced as soon as they can feasibly do so. The marriage is a sham.
Instead, the entire goal of the pretend marriage is just to obtain the green card. This is often a faster and easier path to getting a green card than taking other steps. But engaging in this type of fraudulent behavior could lead to very serious federal charges, and it is strictly illegal.
Your rights as an immigrant
It is important to be aware of green card marriage fraud so that you can avoid doing anything that would indicate that you are not using these immigration tactics correctly. If you do find yourself facing allegations of fraud, it is also important to understand exactly what legal steps you can take.
