CHICAGO: A 35-year-old Indian man has pleaded guilty to committing marriage fraud in order to obtain a green card or permanent residency. US Attorney Trini E Ross recently stated that the charge against Vivek Chauhan carries a possible sentence of five years in prison and a fine of $250,000.
On April 2, 2018, Chauhan married a US citizen in Worcester, Massachusetts, which was not genuine, investigations revealed. They never resided together and entered the “contract marriage” only for the purpose of obtaining a green card, for Chauhan, Assistant US Attorney John D Fabian, who handled the case, stated.
Using his Indian passport, Chauhan applied for permanent residency or status adjustment with the Department of Homeland Security on June 1, 2018, citing his fictitious marriage. In an interview with US Citizenship and Immigration Services conducted in May 2019, his "wife" said that they shared a home in Connecticut with Chauhan.
He was interviewed a second time by the USCIS in November 2021, during which he falsely claimed to continue to reside with his “wife” in Connecticut. In addition, he also falsely claimed that his “wife” was pregnant with his child.
Further investigations showed that the US citizen that Chauhan had married as part of the conspiracy had arranged other bogus marriages in Hamburg and facilitated numerous USCIS interviews in Buffalo. Chauhan’s sentencing is scheduled for January 26, 2024.