Jeffrey Epstein Helped Girlfriend Karyna Shuliak Obtain Green Card Through Same-S*x Marriage: Report

Newly released records reviewed by The New York Times have shed fresh light on the relationship between convicted s*x offender Jeffrey Epstein and Belarus-born dentist Dr Karyna Shuliak, alleging that Epstein arranged a same-s*x marriage to help her obtain permanent residency in the United States. The report states that the marriage, organised in 2013, enabled Shuliak to secure a green card before she later became a US citizen.

The records, made public after the US Justice Department released millions of pages of investigative material earlier this year, include emails, text messages and photographs documenting Shuliak's nearly eight-year relationship with Epstein. The documents also indicate that she remains one of the beneficiaries of his estate, although the final amount she may inherit remains uncertain. Who Is Dr Karyna Shuliak? Meet the Dentist Set To Inherit Diamond Ring and Millions From Jeffrey Epstein's Will.

Who is Karyna Shuliak?

According to The New York Times, Shuliak moved from Belarus to New York in 2010 on a temporary student visa while pursuing opportunities to continue her dental education. She met Epstein in 2011 through another woman and, despite initially declining his offers of financial assistance, eventually entered into a long-term relationship with him.

The report says Epstein funded her education, paid her tuition, covered travel expenses, provided financial support to her parents and later entrusted her with managing several of his properties. Bill Gates Confirms 3 Extramarital Affairs; Tells US Congress Jeffrey Epstein Tried To Blackmail Him.

The released correspondence also suggests that their relationship involved financial dependence and significant control by Epstein, while indicating that Shuliak benefited professionally and financially from the arrangement.

Report Claims Epstein Arranged Same-S*x Marriage

According to The New York Times, Shuliak had overstayed her student visa by the time she applied to Columbia University's College of Dental Medicine in 2012. The report states that Epstein devised a plan to secure her immigration status by arranging a same-s*x marriage with one of his assistants, who was also identified as one of his victims.

Emails reviewed by the newspaper reportedly show that Epstein instructed the woman to meet Shuliak at the New York City Marriage Bureau in September 2013. The two women later married, after which an immigration lawyer working for Epstein filed paperwork naming Shuliak as the spouse and beneficiary.

The application was approved, leading to the dismissal of Shuliak's pending deportation case. She subsequently received a green card and became a US citizen in May 2018.

A report released this year by Democrats on the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform said Shuliak's former wife later claimed she had been forced into the marriage and did not know it had been arranged until shortly before the ceremony.

The files also describe Epstein's efforts to help Shuliak gain admission to Columbia University's College of Dental Medicine after her initial application was unsuccessful.

According to the report, Epstein contacted a prominent Columbia alumnus and discussed making a substantial donation to the university. Records cited by the newspaper state that he later donated approximately USD 210,000.

The documents further allege that two university administrators provided Shuliak with advance notice of practical examination topics before her transfer assessment in 2012.

Shuliak completed dental school in 2015 and later became licensed to practise in the US Virgin Islands, Florida and New Mexico.

By 2023, she had returned to Columbia for a postdoctoral programme before receiving her New York dental licence in 2025. The New York Times reported that after the files became public, Columbia demoted the two administrators who had assisted her admission.

According to the report, Shuliak remained closely associated with Epstein until his arrest in July 2019. She was reportedly the last person Epstein spoke to before he was found dead in his Manhattan jail cell on 10 August 2019. During a phone call from prison, he allegedly advised her to "be strong" and suggested she find another place to stay while his legal case continued.

Shortly before his death, Epstein amended his will to leave Shuliak a significant share of his estate, including a 33-carat diamond ring described in handwritten notes as being given "in contemplation of marriage."

Although Epstein's estate was once valued at around USD 600 million, the report says payouts to victims have reduced its value to an estimated USD 120 million to USD 200 million, with multiple beneficiaries expected to receive distributions.

Jeffrey Epstein was arrested in July 2019 on federal s*x trafficking charges involving underage girls. On 10 August 2019, he was found dead in his jail cell in Manhattan. Authorities ruled his death a suicide. His criminal case ended with his death, while civil litigation involving victims and his estate has continued for years.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 27, 2026 06:30 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).