HACKER Q&A
📣 anonymousdev69

Thoughts on marrying someone for a green card


I've been living in the US (on an H1-B) for 3 years now and have started the green card application through PERM twice. The first time, I had to switch companies bc the startup I was on ran out of money. and the second time there were layoffs and the whole process re-started. I give up on this, It takes too long and it is too uncertain.

I think I've found a loophole in the system, pay someone that is ABOUT to get their green card to marry right before they get it. And so, I would just do an adjustment of status. (and completely skip the whole process and investigations). I anticipate less scrutiny since I am not applying to get a marriage green card, I would just obtain it as an extension of my spouse's.

The other option would be to marry a US citizen abroad, wait for 2 years and apply for a permanent green card and then move go back. More time and more work...

Thoughts? Comments? Suggestions? Ideas?

Ps: this is obv and anonymous throwaway account.

  👤 LinuxBender Accepted Answer ✓
There is a movie based on this concept and even shows how such things are investigated for fraud. The movie is called "Green Card" staring Gerard Depardieu and Andie MacDowell, directed by Peter Weir. I don't know if the movie holds true to the current process but I suspect it might; in that, the two of you would likely need to know each other well enough that it would be believed you have been together for some time. It's a movie so obviously subject to the movie industries limited investigation into that process.

Maybe someone here has been through this process recently and could detail how the process actually works.

👤 JohnFen
Well, doing that sort of thing is fraud. You'd have to be OK with that.
👤 injb
They are definitely going to scrutinize the marriage. I don't know if it'll be as intense but I don't see why it wouldn't be. The adjustment of status process generally puts the burden of proof on the applicant, so it's not really any extra work for them. They'll just say, provide proof that the marriage is legit and it'll be up to you.
👤 dieselgate
Think I know someone who is in the “loophole” situation you mentioned but not a sham. If it were to be sham it may be more risk than it’s worth imo - there’s no legal recourse to prevent them from just taking the money

Edit: and real life is messy. Best of luck to you regardless