The Trump administration has tightened green card rules. Marriage to a US citizen no longer guarantees a green card. Officials will thoroughly investigate the genuineness of the marriage and the couple’s cohabitation, so that fraud can be prevented.
New York: The Trump administration has also started taking tough decisions on the Green Card, i.e. permanent residence permit, which is considered an important step towards American citizenship. Immigration experts have warned that now it will not be easy to get a green card through marriage alone. Well-known immigration attorney Brad Bernstein has clarified that by marrying an American citizen, you can apply for a green card, but there is no guarantee of getting it. This step is part of the Trump administration’s strict restrictions that are being imposed to stop marriages conducted solely for immigration benefits.
Is marriage real?
Now immigration officials will scrutinize green card applications based on marriage very carefully. The officials will ensure that the marriage is not only legal but also genuine or only on paper. Green card will be given only when the officials are convinced of the depth and genuineness of their relationship. The purpose of this new step is to end attempts to obtain citizenship by taking advantage of loopholes in immigration laws.
The officials will mainly focus on whether the couple is living together after marriage or not. It may be difficult for those who live separately due to job, studies or financial reasons to get a green card. Brad Bernstein has warned that the Immigration Department will not pay attention to these reasons and will only check whether they are living together as husband and wife or not. According to immigration laws, a legal marriage means that the couple lives under the same roof. Living separately can be considered fraud in the marriage, which may lead to the application being rejected and further legal action. The couple’s entire lifestyle and relationship will be examined to determine whether the marriage was arranged solely for the sake of immigration benefits. It is believed that these new strict rules will be a big blow for those who consider marriage an easy way to get a green card.