I was chatting with a lawyer friend and he was discussing about the I-130 process for a US citizen to apply for a green card for a spouse. I assumed simply presenting a marriage certificate is enough, but actually it is not enough. The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) can deny it, even though a couple is legally married.
Unsurprisingly, there are a large number of marriage frauds since the I-130 process is the fastest way for someone to become a US citizen.
The U.S. government tends to believe, based purely on anecdotal evidence, that a large number of marriage-based immigration applications are fraudulent or fake; in other words, that they’re just an attempt by the would-be immigrant to obtain U.S. residence.
https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/red-flags-that-make-uscis-suspect-marriage-fraud.html
The USCIS have checks to see if a couple is “really” married, not just “legally” married.
When you’re applying for a marriage green card, one of the most important steps of the process is to prove not just that you’re married but also that your marriage is “bona fide.”
https://www.boundless.com/immigration-resources/how-do-we-prove-our-marriage-is-real/
Some red flags of a fake marriage include:
- They don’t speak the same language.
- Difference in religion.
- Living at different addresses.
- Live at same address, but don’t know basic information about each other.
- There is no actual interaction between the couple.
- Nobody else knows about the marriage.
- They have no children.
The USCIS can deny the I-130 if they have any suspician of a fake marraige, even though a couple may be officially married.
The Bible has something similar. People who claim to be a Christian are not automatically eligible to get into heaven. They will also be judged if they are a “bona fide” Christian.
Matthew 7:21-23
7:21 – Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
7:22 – Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
7:23 – And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
https://simple.uniquebibleapp.com/bible/KJV/Matthew/7#v7_21
Some red flags of a fraudulent Christian:
- Does he regularly talk with God and speak the same language with God?
- Is there a difference between how he lives and what the Bible commands?
- Does he attend church and in fellowship with a community of believers?
- Does he know anything intimate about God and Jesus and the Holy Spirit?
- Is there any interaction with God and the church and reaching the lost?
- Does he hide his Christian convictions? Does anybody even know he’s a Christian?
- Is he demonstrating any godly fruit from his life?