totally hate this! Kasi kahit sa ibang bansa dinadala natin ang ganitong ugali, yung dinadaya ang sistema. This has severe consequences, and there are a lot of people who are more than willing at hindi magdadalawang isip to rat you out to the USCIS. Ang alam ko may reward pa ata sila sa informant kapag naprove nila that the marriage is really fraudulent.
Nakakaawa lang yung mga taong totoong mag-asawa who are going thru the process and they are suffering the consequences - the goverment is coming up with all these additional requirements, tighter rules and higher fees to prevent fraud.
pag may nakaalam both of them are probably going to end up in jail, and for sure the petitionee will be deported and banned for good. And of course, there will always be the Karma that will haunt them.
so far, wala pa akong nakikilala na umunlad ang buhay nila dito sa US after doing this. Kasi after ng marriage, magddivorce kagad sila and this raises lots of questions, paperwork, fees, and all in a purely complicated life.
to answer your post (sorry, nakakainis lang kasi talga e) yes, it is very rampant. the price varies, [textspeak!] iba nga libre if they are doing it as a family favor.