Marrying for financial aid

[:) Smiley]

Ixnay's thread reminded me of a trend I've noticed, and facilitated, of students getting married to qualify for financial aid.

The mechanism works as such: Financial aid in the United States is based on family income. However, under certain circumstances, students can be classified as independent, in which case only their own income is considered. They are:

1. Age 24 or older
2. Have served in the military
3. Married (in California, same-sex domestic partnerships are also OK)
4. Ward of the state
5. Have dependents (children)

Four of these are rather steep barriers, but marriage is simple and can be done in an hour and around $70 where I live. In California, domestic partnerships are even faster and cheaper, and can be done by mail.

While I have not done this myself (it would mess with tax deductions on my parents' end), I know of more people who have gotten married for financial aid than for love.

Some people here suggest its maybe only a Bay Area thing and people elsewhere take marriage more seriously, so, has anyone else heard of this where they live?

[Pekka]

"but marriage is simple and can be done in an hour and around $70 where I live. In California, domestic partnerships are even faster and cheaper, and can be done by mail."

I thought it was a sacred institution?

[chequita guevara]

My best friend married a lesbian friend of his to qualify for finacial aid in the mid 80s. Her family stopped paying for school when she came out, and his family made too much money for him to qualify for aid, but not enough to actually pay for school.

[Datajack Franit]

I thought it was a sacred institution?

Pssst. It's the USA

[Timexwatch]

I'm not surprised more foreign students are doing this for both a green card and the potential to qualify for federal aid. Federal students, IIRC, don't qualify for a lot of aid that American citizens do.

[:) Smiley]

In the case of foreign students, a lot of them don't know or have misconceptions about it. I've talked to some who thought that this would make getting a green card harder, or that the INS does background checks on foreigners marrying Americans.

[DanS]

I would demand conjugal rights for my signature.

As for the marriage for green card, as I recall, it is difficult to go back to your homeland until INS gives you a green card. And INS takes its time issuing green cards.

[:) Smiley]

Originally posted by Pekka
I thought it was a sacred institution?

speaking of sacred, I am an ordained minister of a homegrown religion.

[chequita guevara]

Sent in your $25 to become a Minister of Bob?

[Mrs. Tuberski]

isnt there a clause in ther like being born before 1984 as of 2004 im not sure but i think there was, not that it matters or anything.

[Shogun Gunner]

Actually it's CIS (Citizenship and Immigration Services) now. And the card is pink, not green.

Yes, it does take a long time to get the card...longer still to naturalize - with or without a marriage.

[Zkribbler]

Originally posted by Pekka
I thought it was a sacred institution?

Some things are even more holy . . .

[:) Smiley]

In Chinese folklore there is a god of wealth. He is very popular.