What is considered a Marriage Fraud

By Atty. Chris Caday Lozano

It is important to know how USCIS determines a marriage to be fraudulent and what is the required evidence to reach that determination.  If the USCIS determines a marriage to be fraudulent under INA Sec. 204(c) no future petition will be approved for the alien involved.   A good point of reference is the case decided by BIA on August 23, 2019. 

In the BIA case Matter of P. SINGH, the board issued a ruling about the evidence required to deny a petition for an alien who was previously charged an INA 204 (c) violation for marriage fraud.  

The BIA enumerated the following are the legal standards to follow:

 (1) The standard of proof necessary to bar the approval of a visa petition based on marriage fraud under section 204(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, 8 U.S.C. § 1154(c) (2012), is “substantial and probative evidence.”

(2) The degree of proof necessary to constitute “substantial and probative evidence” is more than a preponderance of evidence, but less than clear and convincing evidence; that is, the evidence has to be more than probably true that the marriage is fraudulent.

(3) The nature, quality, quantity, and credibility of the evidence of marriage fraud contained in the record should be considered in its totality in determining if it is “substantial and probative.”

(4) The application of the “substantial and probative evidence” standard requires the examination of all of the relevant evidence and a determination as to whether such evidence, when viewed in its totality, establishes, with sufficient probability, that the marriage is fraudulent. (5) Both direct and circumstantial evidence may be considered in determining whether there is “substantial and probative evidence” of marriage fraud under section 204(c) of the Act, and circumstantial evidence alone may be sufficient to constitute “substantial and probative evidence.”

In this case the beneficiary married the maternal grandmother of the petitioner.  After an investigation by the USCIS Fraud unit they determined that the marriage was made to evade the immigration law. 

Section 204(c) of the Act states, in pertinent part:

No petition shall be approved if (1) the alien has previously been accorded, or has sought to be accorded, an immediate relative or preference status as the spouse of a citizen of the United States or the spouse of an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence, by reason of a marriage determined by the Attorney General to have been entered into for the purpose of evading the immigration laws, or (2) the Attorney General has determined that the alien has attempted or conspired to enter into a marriage for the purpose of evading the immigration laws.

The BIA upheld the decision of USCIS determination of marriage fraud.

Note: This is not a legal advice.

What will happen if the Philippines is taken over by China?

If the Philippines become part of China, it will have a far reaching effect on immigration and on overseas workers.  We can no longer petition our relatives because the U.S. will not consider the Philippines as independent country.  Many countries importing Filipino workers will no longer do it because they will think that we are Chinese spies.  Most countries we deal with like Canada, Japan, Australia, and European countries will not hire Filipino workers because we are considered Chinese spies.  We will be slaves in our own country.  We cannot expect other countries to fight for us.  We have to do it because our Military did nothing and our politicians sold us.  Our Malampaya property was sold to Denis Uy of China for a loan from DBP?  Looks like no money was paid by Denis Uy.  This is the same concept that we are buying our own “galunggung” from China.   We lost our dignity and standing among people of the earth.  Let us make a stand. 

Chris Caday Lozano, Esq. is an active member of the State Bar of California, the American Immigration Lawyers Association and San Francisco Trial Lawyers.  He practices immigration law, bankruptcy, personal injury  and income tax problems since June 1999.  His contact phone is 1-877-456-9266, email: info@CCLlaw.net  Website:  www.crispinlozanolaw.com/



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