“Do you need a green card or something?” Romantic relationships, citizenship, and stigmatizing communication

ABSTRACT Citizen/Non-citizen (CN) romantic relationships are common in American society and media. However, few studies have explored the experiences of individuals in such relationships. This study examines CN partners’ social experiences relating to stigma and citizenship status. Through 15 semi-structured interviews, findings revealed that many CN partners experience “green card marriage” stigma, in which foreign partners are thought to be with the citizen for the sole purpose of immigration benefits. Many participants were aware of this stigma and attempted to debunk it. Lastly, political rhetoric and policy changes put many CN couples in a vulnerable position, which induced fear and uncertainty. This study integrates relational turbulence theory and stigma management communication theory and provides initial understanding of this under-researched community.