Marriage Fraud
Chicago Immigration Marriage Fraud Lawyers
The Immigration Reform & Control Act of 1986 (IRCA) and the Immigration Marriage Fraud Amendments of 1986 (IMFA) provided drastic changes in the Immigration laws affecting aliens in this country or those wishing to gain admission to the United States as immigrants. The IMFA established a two-step process for those seeking status based on marriage so that a person would initially receive conditional resident status that could be converted to permanent status after two years. The IMFA placed a two-year bar on obtaining permanent residency through a marriage entered into while the person was in exclusion or deportation and a five-year bar on a permanent resident petitioning for a new spouse where he has obtained status based on an earlier marriage.
The IRCA of 1986 and the IMFA of 1986 remain firmly in place. It is also of some importance to note that should an intended immigrant or those seeking status in the United States through the initiation of an I-130 visa petition filed by a spouse or by an intended spouse who is an American citizen, then should the USCIS determine that the visa petition is fraudulent in that the parties are simply seeking status for the beneficiary spouse without any real intent to create a bonafide and legitimate lifelong marital relationship, then the consequences to both parties are considerable. Under the IMFA and other existing immigration laws, should the USCIS conclude that the alien spouse has committed marriage fraud or that they intend to commit marriage fraud, then they are barred from seeking any status whatsoever while remaining in the United States. Possible immigrant status may then only be achieved should the alien spouse/beneficiary actually leave the United States for a period of time of perhaps two years or longer in order to have a possible opportunity to re-enter this country as an immigrant based upon a subsequently filed new I-130 visa petition.
Once a conclusion has been reached by the USCIS that one has committed marriage fraud, this fact remains part of the permanent record file of the alien in question, and thus it shall forever impact that same individual’s attempts to enter the United States as an immigrant or perhaps as a nonimmigrant in the future.
When advising those seeking counsel in our offices or those who have retained our services for possible immigrant visa purposes, we consistently admonish those individuals as to the consequences of committing marriage fraud.
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Brittni Rivera and her team (Carina Lopez) are fantastic! They are responsive, efficient and beyond compassionate. Brittni Rivera and her team treated me with dignity and respect as they patiently answered all of my questions. They didn't move on without making sure I understood each step. Their work ethic was impressive. It felt like they were an extension of my personal team. I can't say enough to convey my gratitude…
Huge thanks to Attorney Matthew for his incredible support on our immigration case! 🙏 He was professional, responsive, and his expertise led to a successful outcome. We truly appreciate his hard work and highly recommend his service.
I’m deeply grateful to God for leading us to this law firm; it is a true blessing to work with such professional and passionate individuals. Their dedication and commitment help make a difficult situation far less traumatic. In our case, we received 100% support from Attorney Andrea Ochoa and paralegal Rafael. May God bless them and allow them to continue this wonderful work. Thank you—a thousand thanks.
I give my total recommendation and trust in this great organization that has supported me and my family in very difficult times, especially the lawyer Andrea Ochoa and her paralegal Rafael who were little angels that God has sent us to be able to face all the obstacles that we have had along the way. Thank you very much with all my heart. ❤️
I have heard from several people that Brittni is a great attorney. When my friend was detained, I recommended Brittni to take his case. She did an amazing job putting together all the necessary information, especially given that we had only a couple of days to submit the habeas corpus application. She and her team worked very professionally and provided clear guidance throughout. She stayed in touch consistently and was…
Highly recommend Jennifer Peyton in federal litigations. She’s very polite and experienced.
I decided to use the services of Kriezelman Burton & Associates, LLC, and Kevin was nothing short of professional and amazing. From the consultation to the final approval, he gave us confidence and reassurance throughout the entire process. When I first told him about my wife’s wish to change her status, the first thing he said was, “We will get it done.” Even during the USCIS pause, he continued to…
Great service and attention. Felt safe and confident since the first meeting. Couldn't be happier with the results and services. I had the pleasure of working with attorney Andrea Ochoa and it was a great experience would absolutely reccomend her services
Our experience with the firm was extraordinary. We worked with attorney Andrea Ochoa. Since the very first meeting we met, Andrea gave us all the confidence to proceed with our case. She always answered our questions shortly and offered clear guidelines to proceed. When my son's case received a notice of intent to deny, she planned how to fight that decision effectively. We totally recommend everyone to trust their case…
I just want to say huge thank you to Mr. Kevin A. Raica. for everything he has done for me throughout my immigration case. When I first came to Kevin, he explained the SIJS process clearly and walked me through the steps. We first needed to get the guardianship court order before moving forward with the I-360, and he connected me with a trusted attorney to help with that part.…
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