Read what Imm Dame -- she spelled it out without the typos and the rambling.

It's certainly true that it's a risky proposition, but then it's the LW's business to weigh the factors. I can say that I did what she's considering (way back in the 70's), and didn't regret it. The guy was a good friend of good character, who wanted very much to stay in the States to pursue a law degree. The money actually wasn't all that much, but I needed it at the time, so I went ahead. We didn't have sex because we didn't feel either the inclination or the need. (Like I said, we were just friends.) We did the whole dance for the INS people, and he got his citizenship. He moved away, then a few years later he showed up with divorce papers, which I signed. We went out to dinner along with his new girlfriend, had a nice time, he thanked me very much for helping him, and that was that.

It was for me a favor for a friend who I knew would be an asset to the US, and not a big deal. (I've never been big on marriage, and a later "legitimate" marriage did nothing to change my mind on that score.) Things are very different these days, and I don't think I'd do it again in the present climate. Probably too risky, and if the LW is considering it in order to start a business, it might lead to troubles down the road (if LW doesn't get caught right away).

Another little legal wrinkle is the fact that, if you live in a community property state, your "spouse" could claim half of your new business. If you ever do something like this, even a pre-nup wouldn't hold up if he confessed.

Be a law-abiding citizen.

Work through traditional, legal means to change the system where you find fault: elections, the courts, writing letters to elected officials.

Earn your way, and borrow what you need by establishing good credit.

Should you choose to marry someday, respect both yourself and the institution and marry for love and companionship.

Respect that things don't always go your way, and sometimes it's inconvenient, unfair, and occasionally illegal. That's when we call in police and lawyers.

Call me crazy. I'm not right-wing, I'm a Liberal. And somehow I've managed to make it into middle age living by these few, simple, legal rules.

...PLEASE don't do it.

I'd like to appeal to your decency, LW.

As a U.S. citizen who married an immigrant out of love and is in a real marriage, I had to jump through all the crazy hoops, and I still have to deal with USCIS all the time. My husband and I have to register our address with the federal government within 10 days of moving. We had to explain to our friends that they might have to answer the questions of federal immigration workers. We had to get letters from our employers proving how much we make (to prove I can support him for the requisite 10 years). We had to take days off work to visit our lawyer and file the paperwork on time and correctly (even one mistake can have permanent and terrible consequences). We had to go stand in line at 6 in the morning for our interview, which thankfully went well. And we still have another interview to look forward to in a few years.

It was a giant hassle and it tested our commitment to each other tremendously -- no ordinary couple has to try so hard to stay together. And it would NOT be so hard a process if there weren't people trying to scam it for money. The more people exploit the system, the more strict the law becomes and the number of hoops we have to jump through grows.

So please, think of the people in real marriages -- those people whom you (and like-minded individuals) hurt when you commit immigration fraud. It just makes it harder on all of us who want to marry an immigrant and actually live with them in this country as a real married couple!

Thank you.

you are denying that women EVER shame men who seek out a foreign bride?

repeat: it is OK for women to do for themselves what they need, which includes getting a green card marriage.

but this is NOT OK for men, according to women.

>>you are denying that women EVER shame men who seek out a foreign bride? repeat: it is OK for women to do for themselves what they need, which includes getting a green card marriage. but this is NOT OK for men, according to women.>>brightstar

No one thinks it's OK for one gender, but not the other. The letters show people either support it or don't, but there is no differentiation between genders.

Anyhoo, LW is talking about a sham marriage between 2 people who don't have an intimate relationship, only for the sake of obtaining citizenship for one party. You're talking about trying to find a sincere partner, a real wife to make a sincere marriage. Totally opposite things.

move along, nothing to see there

I knew a women some years back who married an alien so he could help her break into the art business. She was an aspiring artist in a difficult field. It didn't help her much. She was only medicre at her work. She took shortcuts with her art just like with her plan to use him for his art world connections and it showed. I've been in the art field myself for some time and it really isn't about who you now, it is the quality of your work. Knowing the right people might open a door for you but it won't necessarily keep it open. The writer of this article might be able to use his money to open a business but if the business really had legs she wouldn't need to use him for money. The whole thing reminds me of a one-night-stand, a good idea at the moment but later regretted.