US immigration attorney Brad Bernstein has highlighted seven key red flags that instantly trigger marriage fraud investigations amid a US administration crackdown on visa fraud. Marriage fraud happens when a US citizen marries a non-citizen only to help them get a Green Card. Authorities take this seriously, with punishments of up to five years in jail for such offences. Such fraud often involves rackets where non-US citizens pay US citizens to marry them, creating serial offences. In 2025, 29-year-old Indian national Jai Prakash Makwana pleaded guilty for such a crime. He overstayed his J-1 visa and married US citizen Kalee Ann Huff in West Virginia. Makwana even falsified lease agreements and added Huff's name to bills to appear genuine. Brad Bernstein pointed out these top 7 triggers that catch fraud: - Different answers during immigration interviews - No shared bank account or joint tax returns - Prior immigration denials - Living in different states - Speaking different languages - No shared financial documents - No photos with family or friends USCIS usually acts when it receives tips from ex-spouses, neighbors, employers, or family members. They check all documents like marriage certificates, joint leases, mortgages, and insurance policies. The couple is then interviewed together, with special attention to body language and answer consistency. If suspicion persists, they are questioned separately to uncover the truth.