Marriage Fraud Investigations Surge in Key Illinois Counties

 Posted on November 29, 2025 in Immigration

Perhaps you are expecting a routine green card interview when you are suddenly subjected to a surprise home visit and probing questions about your daily routine. It is an unsettling moment for a genuine Illinois couple to have their relationship questioned by USCIS, even when there has been no wrongdoing. Yet recently, certain Illinois counties, such as DuPage, Lake, Kane, Will, and parts of Cook, have become high-scrutiny zones for USCIS marriage-based green card cases.

This means that a legitimate marriage can end up under the microscope simply because of the Illinois county where the couple lives, or a perfectly innocent paperwork inconsistency. Honest couples can feel blindsided by allegations they never expected to face. This increased scrutiny can lead to additional interviews, site visits, document requests, and the looming fear of a fraud allegation that can derail a couple’s future.

If a small quirk like a mismatched address or a landlord who refuses to add both names to a lease has resulted in USCIS questioning the legitimacy of your marriage, you must speak to a knowledgeable DuPage County, IL family immigration lawyer as quickly as possible to protect your rights.

What is Considered Marriage Fraud Under Immigration Laws?

Under federal law (8 U.S.C. Section 1325(c)), marriage fraud means the marriage was entered into for the sole purpose of evading immigration laws. USCIS looks for signs that a marriage is not legitimate by focusing on whether the couple:

• Has a consistent relationship history
• Holds themselves out as married to friends, family, and co-workers.
• Shares finances
• Lives together

Even the slightest inconsistency can trigger deeper investigations, especially in counties where field officers have flagged patterns or past fraud rings.

Why Would Certain Illinois Counties Face Higher Scrutiny?

Counties with prior marriage fraud prosecutions are likely to scrutinize immigrant marriages more closely. If the U.S. Attorney General has previously prosecuted staged weddings, "pay-for-marriage" broker schemes, or sham documentation providers in a county, then all immigrant marriages are likely to face increased levels of scrutiny. DuPage County has multiple prior prosecutions tied to sham marriage brokers, while Lake County has prior rings involving fake leases and staged "household photos."

Kane County has dealt with document-preparer fraud targeting newly arrived immigrants. Counties with large immigrant communities often have higher volumes of marriage-based filings. In Illinois, these can be seen in the suburbs of Western Cook County, Aurora and Elgin (Kane County), and Waukegan (Lake County). A higher volume means more opportunities for USCIS to detect discrepancies and more officers to probe those discrepancies.

What "Red Flags" Can Trigger Adjustment of Status Interviews?

AOS interviews are often triggered by couples living in different counties or sudden relocations right before filing. Third-party preparers can also be a red flag if those preparers have previously been linked to questionable immigrant marriages. Tax filings are likely to be reviewed by USCIS to determine whether the couple consistently files as a married couple.

If a fraud investigation is instigated, the couple can expect second-level ("Stokes") interviews and will likely be separated and asked questions about household routines, intimate relationship details, pet names, meal habits, and daily schedules. A surprise home visit could result when there are clear inconsistencies, and the couple will likely face requests for documentation.

It is important to build a record of daily life, including joint travel histories, shared pet adoption papers, grocery receipts, and emergency contacts listing each other. Inconsistent addresses should be scrupulously avoided, and consistent financial documentation must be maintained. Joint bank accounts, leases, and insurance remain core types of evidence.

Contact a Bloomingdale, IL Immigration Lawyer

If your marriage-based immigration case is being scrutinized because you live in a "high-flag" Illinois county, you are not without options. An experienced DuPage County, IL family immigration lawyer from Mevorah & Giglio Law Offices can help you gather the right evidence, prepare for detailed interviews, address red flags, and respond effectively to a fraud inquiry before it escalates. Attorney Mevorah has been serving the needs of immigrants throughout Northern Illinois for more than four decades. Call 630-932-9100 to schedule your free consultation.