The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has introduced sweeping updates to marriage-based green card policies—effective August 1, 2025—mandating in-person interviews in nearly all spousal visa cases and sharply increasing evidentiary requirements to detect fraudulent petitions.
What’s Changed?
1. Mandatory In-Person Interviews for Nearly All Cases
USCIS now requires face-to-face interviews in essentially all marriage-based adjustment of status cases. Virtual interviews or waivers are being phased out except under extraordinary circumstances.
2. Tougher Documentation Rules
Applicants must now provide robust evidence of a legitimate marital relationship. Typical documents requested include:
– Joint bank or financial statements
– Shared utility bills and lease agreements
– Photographic history together
– Affidavits from friends or family confirming the relationship
– Evidence of joint insurance or shared assets
3. More Discretion and Deportation Risk
USCIS has ramped up officers’ discretionary authority to deny petitions—even without prior warning. A petition’s approval no longer guarantees lawful status: beneficiaries found ineligible may be issued Notices to Appear in deportation proceedings.
4. Broader Scope: Applies to Pending and New Cases
Importantly, the new rules apply not only to applications filed after August 1 but also to those already pending. USCIS will apply heightened scrutiny retroactively as part of its updated adjudication guidelines.
Why Is USCIS Making This Change?
These updates aim to:
– Combat fraudulent marriages and restore integrity to the immigration system
– Manage the over 11.3 million pending USCIS cases more efficiently by filtering out fraudulent petitions
Legal and Practical Implications
– Increased Risk for Applicants: More thorough evidence required or face potential denial/deportation
– Longer Processing Times: Delays expected across field offices
– Heightened Burden of Preparation: Legal representation is increasingly crucial
What Should Couples Do Now?
- Update Your Forms: Use the most recent editions of Form I-130 and Form I-485.
2. Prepare Thoroughly for Interviews: Know your relationship history in detail.
3. Document Carefully: Organize all shared evidence of the marriage.
4. Expect Additional Scrutiny: USCIS will examine prior immigration history and any prior petitions.
Bottom Line
USCIS’s August 1 policy updates mark a clear shift toward a security-first model in family-based immigration, replacing previous flexibility with mandatory scrutiny. For couples seeking green cards based on marriage, the process has become more rigorous—and more legally complex. Proper documentation and legal counsel are now essential to navigate the heightened risk of denials or deportation.