ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Green card marriage

Green card marriage is when two people get married so that one of them can apply for a green card, which allows them to live and work in the United States.

Let's pretend that John is from France, and he wants to live in the United States. However, he doesn't have any family or job opportunities here to help him stay. Luckily, John meets Jane, who is a citizen of the United States. John and Jane fall in love, and they decide to get married so that John can apply for a green card and stay in the United States with Jane.

Getting married just to get a green card is not allowed by law - you have to be in a genuine, loving relationship with your partner. The government will investigate your marriage and ask you questions to make sure that you are not just using this as a way to get around immigration laws.

If John and Jane's marriage is accepted by the government, John will be allowed to apply for a green card and eventually become a permanent resident of the United States. However, if the government believes that their marriage is not genuine, they might deny John's green card application, and John may need to leave the country.

Overall, green card marriage is when someone marries a citizen of the United States in order to be able to live and work here. However, it's important to remember that the marriage has to be real, and you could be investigated to ensure that you're not just trying to get around immigration laws.