Can the U.S. prevent fraudulent marriages?

When couples gets engaged, it is an exciting time in their life that can be a happy occasion. For some couples, this may also include a process that involves immigration. If one spouse is a citizen of the United States, their spouse may be able to apply for a fiance visa to enter the country and reside here with their fiance. However, the couple must wed within a certain period of time. If they fail to do so, the non-citizen must leave the U.S. They will be no longer eligible for the fiance visa since they failed to marry within the required amount of days. Since this process allows someone to enter the country as an immigrant, it may be taken advantage of. There have been incidents where the marriage was proven to be a fake marriage. The couple initiated the marriage to bring in the immigrant from another country and allow them legal access to reside in the U.S. However, the steps involved in the process for a fiance visa may be able to deter fraudulent marriages from occurring. The process to obtain a fiance visa is not a quick and easy one. It can take a long time and it is very in-depth.

What steps are taken to prevent these frauds?

Applying for a fiance visa includes many steps that the couple needs to go through. Each individual will have a background check done to monitor any criminal activity. This will monitor their fingerprints and their names. The authorities have the right to ask for any additional information that they may need to decide on your case. In addition to the background check, the individuals will have to provide proof of their relationship. They must be able to establish that they have known each other within two years of prior to filing for the visa. Proof of this can be in the form of photographs of the two, correspondence between them, financial support of one another and much more. Other requests that may be made can include an income evaluation to show that the petitioner’s income meets or exceeds 100% of the U.S. poverty guidelines. With this evaluation, it can ensure that the petitioner can meet the income requirements to support both parties while they are living in the United States.

John Sesini is an experienced immigration attorney with offices in Green Bay and Milwaukee Wisconsin. If you have any questions regarding immigration law matters, please contact the Sesini Law Group, S.C. and schedule your initial consultation with our firm today.

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