Marriage as a Path to American Citizenship

Marriage as a Path to American Citizenship

This article relates to Where Are You Really From

In Elaine Hsieh Chou's short story collection Where Are You Really From, "Mail Order Love" examines certain realities of American "green card marriages" and "mail-order" brides (women seeking long-distance romantic connection and marriage through a service, typically to men from other countries), despite some very fictionalized elements.

Getting a green card through marriage, or a marriage-based green card, allows a spouse of a US citizen or permanent resident to live and work in the US. It's a common path to citizenship. After approval for a marriage-based green card, the spouse becomes a permanent resident and can apply for citizenship following three years of marriage. Marrying solely for a green card is considered a crime and can lead to deportation or prison. However, it's important to understand that green card marriages are not fraudulent by nature, even if people marry with citizenship as a partial reason. Many relationships are transactional in one way or another; we date for what we need. Love is one aspect, but companionship and survival can be equally important. Chou's story shows that a couple with an unusual start, in this case involving a fictional legal loophole that allows for literal mail-order brides, can still find genuine connection and understanding.

Green card marriages are often subject to scrutiny due to their unconventional nature and stereotypes surrounding them. Interest in them has resulted in their depiction in popular media, such as on the reality TV show 90 Day Fiancé, which follows couples who have obtained a K-1 visa—allowing a foreign fiancé(e) to enter the US to marry their American partner within 90 days—and the fictional series Married for Greencard, Stayed For Love, where a woman named Leslie who needs a green card to stay in the US and a man named Simon who needs a bone marrow match for his brother enter into a marriage of convenience that develops into something more genuine.

The legitimacy of marriages that involve one party seeking something practical, like a green card, and whether they can lead to real, loving relationships is often debated. Legally, to prove a "bona fide" green card marriage, you must first submit a marriage certificate with your application. However, that alone is not enough to demonstrate that your marriage is genuine. US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) looks for additional evidence that a couple is building a life together, such as joint health insurance, mortgage documents, and a joint bank account showing both spouses' names. Because of the thorough vetting process, it is actually very difficult to have a fake green card marriage.

I think Chou's story expands and challenges ideas about the purpose and value of marriage itself. The two characters initially struggle to connect and understand each other's needs. However, they learn that their relationship, formed by their traumatic paths (which prompted their desire to marry), may not bring them romantic love, but can still provide what they seek most: companionship with someone who understands hardship. As of 2024, more than 20 couples from across nine seasons of the show 90 Day Fiancé were still together. So while the idea of marrying as a path to citizenship may seem unromantic and transactional, it doesn't mean that real and lasting relationships can't emerge from or lead to this goal.

Two people's hands touching over a bouquet
Photo by Drew Coffman, via Unsplash

Filed under Society and Politics

This article relates to Where Are You Really From. It first ran in the August 27, 2025 issue of BookBrowse Recommends.