Interesting to ponder the possible consequences.
It would seem to me that, with a little clever planning and coordination, it would not be too difficult for a foreign woman who married an American man (who signed an I-864 as part of an AOS), to then file for divorce from her husband, self-file for legal permanent residence as an abused spouse (see other threads on that issue), and then use the couple's (i.e., his) money to get a judgment against him to obtain not only a property settlement, but also now an annual payment of about $20,000 from the spouse (under a private right of action as per the I-864 form and the court decisions cited above), and then, while holding status as a legal permanent resident of the US, actually spend most or all of her time back in Russia or Ukraine, etc -- and live fairly well on that annual sum in the FSU -- and look forward to a possible lifetime of that support (keeping a PO Box in the US to receive the monthly checks and evidence her continued residency). If so, that's not too bad for an investment of perhaps a few months actual time (from first meeting to divorce).
Apart from the fact that all the above would constitute fraud (which wouldn't necessarily stop those who are criminally inclined), I would hope that there are some fatal flaws in that scenario. Anybody?
It would seem to me that, with a little clever planning and coordination, it would not be too difficult for a foreign woman who married an American man (who signed an I-864 as part of an AOS), to then file for divorce from her husband, self-file for legal permanent residence as an abused spouse (see other threads on that issue), and then use the couple's (i.e., his) money to get a judgment against him to obtain not only a property settlement, but also now an annual payment of about $20,000 from the spouse (under a private right of action as per the I-864 form and the court decisions cited above), and then, while holding status as a legal permanent resident of the US, actually spend most or all of her time back in Russia or Ukraine, etc -- and live fairly well on that annual sum in the FSU -- and look forward to a possible lifetime of that support (keeping a PO Box in the US to receive the monthly checks and evidence her continued residency). If so, that's not too bad for an investment of perhaps a few months actual time (from first meeting to divorce).
Apart from the fact that all the above would constitute fraud (which wouldn't necessarily stop those who are criminally inclined), I would hope that there are some fatal flaws in that scenario. Anybody?
