What about a "Marriage of Convenience"?

[varun]

What if:

1. A man marries a wealthy older woman, with the promise to take care of her in old age (this relationship is not consummated, and is purely financial)?

2. A gay man marries a lesbian to pass as a heterosexual.

3. A foreign citizen marries an American of opposite sex, for a green card.


Are the above marriages valid in the eyes of the law? They are between opposite gender persons.

Who gets to decide which marriages are real and which are sham?

[lcordero]

1. This charade of marriage being "religious" has to be scrapped

Marriage was originally intended as the pooling of resources between two people or two families.

[noiretextatique]

2. kick...with incest and bestiality

being used as comparisions to gays marrying: this is a breath of fresh air :7

[dsc]

3. marriage 3 is not valid under the law

though in practice it is difficult to prove someone did marriage 3 for the reason stated. The INS spends much time and money investigating such marriages and if they decide you have done this the green card goes bye bye.

[outinforce]

4. I Think that the marriage is still valid

But I think that the INS rules are such that if they are able to show that the marriage was for the sole purpose of obtaining a work permit or a resident alien card, then the INS can withdraw those documents.

I do not think the INS has the power to annul a marriage.

[varun]

5. according to some estimates...

...half of all marriages between American and foreign citizens are for the green card.

I doubt that INS can accurately pinpoint such marriages. On the other hand, some REAL marriages might be doubted by the INS too.

So, Dubya's amendment should also include exclusions from marriage for reasons:

#1,2,3....

:eyes:

[emulatorloo]

6. Great Oliphant Cartoon Explains it All