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Immigration Marriage Fraud Amendments of 1986

Public Law 99-639 · H.R. 3737 · 99th Congress · began in the House

Signed by Ronald Reagan (R) on Nov 10, 1986 · Immigration

Sponsor: Rep. Bill McCollum (R-FL-5)

Cosponsors (3): Rep. Hamilton Fish,

Passage votes

  • HouseVoice vote
  • SenateVoice vote
Data notes

The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.

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Summary

The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.

Immigration Marriage Fraud Amendments of 1986 - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to establish a two-year conditional permanent resident status for alien spouses and their sons and daughters who become permanent residents through marriage or as immediate relatives.

Subjects such aliens to deportation if the Attorney General determines within such two-year period that: (1) the marriage was entered into to evade the immigration laws; (2) the marriage has been judicially annulled or terminated (other than by death); or (3) a fee or other consideration was paid to secure such marriage.

Authorizes the Attorney General to grant a hardship waiver.

Grants aliens the right to contest such status revocation in a deportation hearing.

Requires conditional aliens and spouses, in order to adjust to permanent resident status, to jointly file a petition and appear for an interview with the Attorney General (during the 90-day period before the end of the two-year conditional period) attesting that the marriage: (1) was legal; (2) has not been terminated; (3) was not entered into to evade the immigration laws; and (4) was not entered into for pay or other consideration. Requires additional information regarding residency and employment. Requires the Attorney General to act upon such petition within 90 days.

Prohibits an alien who became a permanent resident through marriage from petitioning for permanent resident status for a subsequent spouse unless such petitioning alien has been a permanent resident for five years or can show that the prior marriage was not entered into to evade the immigration laws.

Increases criminal penalties for marriage fraud.

Requires a couple to have previously met within the past two years in order to receive a "K" (fiance) visa. Permits the Attorney General to waive such requirement.

Bars any alien who has conspired or attempted to enter into a fraudulent marriage from entering the United States.

Prohibits status adjustment during such conditional permanent resident period. Permits such an alien spouse to acquire immediate relative status or preference status by reason of such marriage only if he or she has resided outside the United States for a two-year period after the date of the marriage.

Directs the Attorney General to report to the Congress within six months concerning the application of the two-year marriage fraud presumption.

Amends the provision of such Act relating to exclusion for fraud or misrepresentation to preclude an alien from seeking any other benefit (under such Act) based upon such fraud or misrepresentation.

Committees

The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.

  • Judiciary Committee · House · markup by, referred to, reported bySubcommittee: Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement Subcommittee
Data notes

A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.

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Timeline

From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 12 actions.

  1. Nov 10, 1986Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 99-639.
  2. Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
  3. Oct 30, 1986PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
  4. Oct 18, 1986FloorFloor · Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote.
  5. Sep 29, 1986FloorFloor · Passed House (Amended) by Voice Vote.
  6. Sep 26, 1986CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Judiciary Committee
  7. Sep 25, 1986CommitteeCommittee · Markup by House Judiciary Committee
  8. Sep 12, 1986CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement Subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee
  9. CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement Subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee
  10. Nov 18, 1985CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement Subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee
  11. Nov 12, 1985CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Judiciary Committee
  12. IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the House
Data notes

Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.

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Official record

The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.