TV Show- 90 day Fiance - how do they get away with it?

[FOSSLGRL 63]

I don't normally watch TV at all... don't have one at home. But I happen to be house sitting so I decided to see what was on these days, and ended up on the show 90 day fiance.

Basically it's about people who enter the US on a fiance Visa, but then when they get to the US they meet other people and it's clear they were never interested in marrying their partner to begin with. They even have the "choice" after entering the US, whether or not they want to follow through with the marriage???

How is this blatant immigration fraud not only permitted, but being aired and glorified on television???

It's clear that none of these relationships were even genuine. At best, they were one sided.

Not only is it appalling after what some of us have to go through to prove our intentions, but it gives the viewer a false representation of what's involved with immigrating to the US.

I'm completely disgusted. It's a major slap in the face to all of us here at VJ!!!

This is the premise of the show:

Long-distance relationships have challenges that are sometimes difficult to overcome but consider if the distance traveled was halfway around the world and a couple had just 90 days to decide whether the courtship should conclude with marriage. That's the situation facing the men and women profiled in this series, which shares the complexities of international romances. Using a visa that allows foreign fiancees of American citizens to travel to the U.S., the men and women experience life in the States with their prospective mates for the first time. Culture and language barriers must be overcome -- not to mention the stigma of being thought of as mail-order spouses -- but here's the elephant in the room: The couples must marry before the visas expire in 90 days, or else the visitors have to immediately return to their countries. With the clock ticking, these couples discover if their "happily ever after" is meant to be.

Edited October 23, 2016 by FOSSLGRL

[Anitafeliz 1,133]

For one its a show so they play it up for the ratings and to get people to watch.

The rules are the rules for everyone and they had to pay same fees as us and have proof of a relationship.

Now how it plays out on tv or how they edit it to look it another story.

I am yet to see the couple that decided to go home day 90....

[Unlockable 7,314]

Not only has it been discussed here but some of the previous cast were VJ members. In fact, producers of the show recently solicited members on VJ.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/517363-a-reality-tv-series-on-k-1-visa-on-tlc-90-day-fiance/?hl=%2Bday+%2Bfiance

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/607241-90-day-fiance-season-4/page-1?hl=+day%20+fiance

[JFH 12,190]

It's very badly researched by the production staff. It makes better television to say they have 90 days to decide if they want to marry or not when in reality a K-1 visa holder has 90 days to organise a legal wedding to the person they decided to marry before they even filed the paperwork. It's not a "try before you buy" visa.

Interesting that the premise mentions that the alien fiances are seeing the USA for the very first time. Again, it makes better television if the immigrant has never been on a plane before, never left their grandmother's house in an impoverished village in some remote mountains thousands of miles from the USA. When the reality is that many K-1 applicants (and I am assuming you fall into this category) have visited the country numerous times to see their loved one. Some even met when the alien was studying or working in the USA.

It's not meant to be informative of the process. It's meant to be shock TV.

It is frustrating for those who have dealt with immigration procedures to have the ordeal trivialised in this way. But what else do we expect from TLC?

[FOSSLGRL 63]

It's very badly researched by the production staff. It makes better television to say they have 90 days to decide if they want to marry or not when in reality a K-1 visa holder has 90 days to organise a legal wedding to the person they decided to marry before they even filed the paperwork. It's not a "try before you buy" visa.

Interesting that the premise mentions that the alien fiances are seeing the USA for the very first time. Again, it makes better television if the immigrant has never been on a plane before, never left their grandmother's house in an impoverished village in some remote mountains thousands of miles from the USA. When the reality is that many K-1 applicants (and I am assuming you fall into this category) have visited the country numerous times to see their loved one. Some even met when the alien was studying or working in the USA.

It's not meant to be informative of the process. It's meant to be shock TV.

It is frustrating for those who have dealt with immigration procedures to have the ordeal trivialised in this way. But what else do we expect from TLC?

I get the shock value thing.

I just don't understand why the rest of us have to bend over backwards to prove we intend to marry our fiances... and these idiots on the show come to the US and immediately start seeing other people, are busted cheating etc. It makes me wonder why this blatant fraud wouldn't be investigated.

TV sucks and I'm just reminded why I never watch it!!

[LionessDeon 2,060]

It's reality TV. Not meant to be taken so seriously. I would hope most Americans know by now that "reality TV" has very little reality in it.

[FOSSLGRL 63]

It's reality TV. Not meant to be taken so seriously. I would hope most Americans know by now that "reality TV" has very little reality in it.

Reality TV shouldn't be used a free ticket to break the law.

Ugh... some idiot at work the other day told me "HEY YOUR FIANCE IS AMERICAN, YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO JUST MOVE THERE RIGHT AWAY" ... he was questioning my still being in Canada, accusing me of not telling the whole story. Then I see like this on TV and it's no wonder people like that make such assumptions.

[NikLR 13,227]

People make worse assumptions before this show. Even my friends down here still need to be reminded that Im not a citizen just because Im married to one.

[Anitafeliz 1,133]

But those people go through the process its just shortened and edited for shock and ratings.

[JFH 12,190]

Reality TV shouldn't be used a free ticket to break the law.

Ugh... some idiot at work the other day told me "HEY YOUR FIANCE IS AMERICAN, YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO JUST MOVE THERE RIGHT AWAY" ... he was questioning my still being in Canada, accusing me of not telling the whole story. Then I see #### like this on TV and it's no wonder people like that make such assumptions.

I had a similar experience on the flight home after we got married. I had to leave three days after we got married to return to work and I was crying on the plane. Not dramatically. Just quietly to myself. The couple next to me asked if there was anything they could do to help ( they thought I was a nervous flyer) and I told them I had just got married on Saturday and had to leave my husband behind. They said "no, that's not true. You're married to an American. Just go to the office and get your passport stamped." If only it were that easy.

Curious as to which foreignor has been caught cheating before they got married? I watch it here but I don't remember seeing one of them openly cheating. Mohammad left Danielle and cheated but that was after his AOS.

[millefleur 5,046]

As an expat USC, I haven't channel surfed in the US in years. When I first saw people talking about this show on VJ, I thought it was a joke. Is the show a hit? How long has it been on?

And yes, you're absolutely right that most Americans have no clue how visas and immigration works. When my husband's tourist visa was rejected, my entire family just didn't get it. They just assumed getting any kind of visa when being married to a USC is very easy and simple, when in reality it's quite the opposite.

[Anitafeliz 1,133]

As an expat USC, I haven't channel surfed in the US in years. When I first saw people talking about this show on VJ, I thought it was a joke. Is the show a hit? How long has it been on?

And yes, you're absolutely right that most Americans have no clue how visas and immigration works. When my husband's tourist visa was rejected, my entire family just didn't get it. They just assumed getting any kind of visa when being married to a USC is very easy and simple, when in reality it's quite the opposite.

If you wanna see all seasons get the tlc to go app lol

[LionessDeon 2,060]

Whenever anyone asks me about the show or my non citizen husband I take it as an opportunity to educate. I don't let their ignorance upset me. I explain to them how the system really works. Many are very surprised and have a whole different attitude by the time I finish.

I don't take the content of what's aired on TV to heart. I know my relationship is real. People will always have their own opinion and make their own assumptions. I just don't view it that seriously. It's entertainment just like anything else on TV. Remind people it's not a documentary.

[yuna628 9,676]

It's reality TV. Not meant to be taken so seriously. I would hope most Americans know by now that "reality TV" has very little reality in it.

My sister has a friend that is constantly watching the show, especially when she found out I was in the K1 process. Oh boy... you have no idea how infuriating it is to have someone tell you that all the hardship, trouble, and paperwork you're going through can't possibly be correct, because she saw it on reality tv and it must be true......

[N-o-l-a 7,167]

They said "no, that's not true. You're married to an American. Just go to the office and get your passport stamped." If only it were that easy.

It used to be. My father and mother moved back to America, got married and went to the immigration office right after and it was all Kosher. That was the 80s, though.