Spring Break
Land of the Free, Home of the Businessman
Ashton Inniss, 1L
Issue date: 1/1/01 Section: Politics
January 2008
Some people marry for love. Others marry for money. Amir Kahn’s marriage will earn him the Green Card he needs to work in the United States.
Born in London and raised in Los Angeles, Kahn (a pseudonym) is a Dodger fan, a practicing Muslim, and a Pakistani citizen. After graduating from a University of California school, Kahn received a job offer at a major accounting firm. However, his unfavorable citizenship status prevents him from starting work with this year’s batch of economics graduates.
In order for Kahn to become part of the U.S. workforce, he needs a U.S. Permanent Resident Card, aka a Green Card. He had applied for a Green Card years ago but notes that the system is not very accommodating to people from his region of the world.
To circumvent the typically slow-moving bureaucracy, Kahn’s father, a Green Card-holding Pakistani citizen, arranged for his son to marry a business contact’s daughter. Because the daughter, Maria, is a U.S. citizen, Kahn can “cut the line” and acquire a Green Card faster.
“We had to delay the wedding awhile,” Kahn explains. “She turned eighteen on Wednesday.”
However, signing the marriage license only begins the process required to legitimize their union.
While Kahn has not seen his wife since the wedding, the newlyweds will need to live in the same house, share banking accounts, and file joint income tax returns for their arrangement to work.
The government requires the aforementioned steps in an attempt to prevent fraudulent citizenship marriages.
Additionally, under the Department of Homeland Security, a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services employee will interview Kahn and Maria in three to five months.
To make the marriage appear as conventional as possible, Kahn and Maria will recreate a wedding reception and take copious photographs.
Despite their official relationship, Kahn does not intend to become romantically involved with his new wife.
“I am worried that she might be starting to like me,”
said Kahn.
Maria’s mother was formerly married to a Pakistani citizen and seems to be facilitating the romantic connection
between the couple.
While Maria may not find love in this relationship, there are benefits.
“After [the required] two years, we will divorce and she will get half,” Kahn explains.
Yet, her motivation is more social than economic. After she was kicked out school for fighting she has had little contact with people outside of her family. Maria’s mother thinks Kahn will be a good influence upon her
Some people marry for love. Others marry for money. Amir Kahn’s marriage will earn him the Green Card he needs to work in the United States.
Born in London and raised in Los Angeles, Kahn (a pseudonym) is a Dodger fan, a practicing Muslim, and a Pakistani citizen. After graduating from a University of California school, Kahn received a job offer at a major accounting firm. However, his unfavorable citizenship status prevents him from starting work with this year’s batch of economics graduates.
In order for Kahn to become part of the U.S. workforce, he needs a U.S. Permanent Resident Card, aka a Green Card. He had applied for a Green Card years ago but notes that the system is not very accommodating to people from his region of the world.
To circumvent the typically slow-moving bureaucracy, Kahn’s father, a Green Card-holding Pakistani citizen, arranged for his son to marry a business contact’s daughter. Because the daughter, Maria, is a U.S. citizen, Kahn can “cut the line” and acquire a Green Card faster.
“We had to delay the wedding awhile,” Kahn explains. “She turned eighteen on Wednesday.”
However, signing the marriage license only begins the process required to legitimize their union.
While Kahn has not seen his wife since the wedding, the newlyweds will need to live in the same house, share banking accounts, and file joint income tax returns for their arrangement to work.
The government requires the aforementioned steps in an attempt to prevent fraudulent citizenship marriages.
Additionally, under the Department of Homeland Security, a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services employee will interview Kahn and Maria in three to five months.
To make the marriage appear as conventional as possible, Kahn and Maria will recreate a wedding reception and take copious photographs.
Despite their official relationship, Kahn does not intend to become romantically involved with his new wife.
“I am worried that she might be starting to like me,”
said Kahn.
Maria’s mother was formerly married to a Pakistani citizen and seems to be facilitating the romantic connection
between the couple.
While Maria may not find love in this relationship, there are benefits.
“After [the required] two years, we will divorce and she will get half,” Kahn explains.
Yet, her motivation is more social than economic. After she was kicked out school for fighting she has had little contact with people outside of her family. Maria’s mother thinks Kahn will be a good influence upon her
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