Not All 90 Day Fiance Cast Members Get Their Green Card

In a reality TV landscape that rewards outlandish formulas for romance, "90 Day Fiancé" has all the goods. Sure, the concept may be simple: Foreigners with American K-1 visas must marry their partners within 90 days to secure their future together — and get green cards. But that doesn't take into account the many nuances and annoyances that arise from such arrangements. In short, this show is often bonkers. Despite that, "90 Day Fiancé" couples really do get married and stay together in the long term, in direct contrast to shows like "The Bachelor."

But not everyone gets their green card in the end. In a few cases, "90 Day Fiancé" participants have even failed to secure their initial K-1 visas. In some cases, this was because of their criminal background; in other cases, it was simply because of bureaucratic indifference. But in the worst of cases, some couples got their K-1 visas and subsequent green cards, only to risk losing them in divorce.

Compared to other reality dating shows, "90 Day Fiancé" has a fairly good reputation for producing long-lasting happy couples. The series' executive producer, Matt Sharp, has even boasted about it in the past. But other couples, like Colt Johnson and Larissa Dos Santos Lima, have almost put their green card arrangements in jeopardy after becoming embroiled in legal dust-ups. In Lima's case, she nearly lost her right to remain in the U.S. after being arrested for alleged domestic battery. Thankfully for her, the Mexican mother of two met a new man outside of "90 Day Fiancé" and eventually embarked upon a new life in America.

But other couples haven't been so lucky. For instance, in Michael Ilesanmi's case, he wasn't even able to enter the United States due to not having his K-1 visa accepted. Despite dating Angela Deem on the show, he never got his happy ending. And as for the Moroccan Azan Tefou, he not only couldn't enter America but he also saw his K-1 visa denial turn into an entire plot point in his season.

On a positive note, there are generally more happy endings than tragic ones on "90 Day Fiancé." But when things turn sour and bureaucracy rears its ugly head, the show inadvertently reminds viewers that it's, well, reality. And reality hurts.