USCIS Enacts Stricter Marriage-Based Green Card Rules, Makes Interviews Mandatory

USCIS Enacts Stricter Marriage-Based Green Card Rules, Makes Interviews Mandatory

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 […]

USCIS Issues Guidance Regarding Family-Based Immigration Policy

USCIS Issues Guidance Regarding Family-Based Immigration Policy

Editorial credit: Lyonstock / Shutterstock.com U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is issuing policy guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual that will enhance our capability to screen and vet family-based immigrant visa petitions. This update explains requirements and adjudication of these petitions, including eligibility criteria, filing, interviews, and decisions.     Fraudulent, frivolous, or otherwise non-meritorious family-based immigrant visa petitions erode confidence in family-based pathways to lawful permanent resident (LPR) status […]

Enhanced Scrutiny in Family-Based Immigration Petitions: An Analytical Overview

Enhanced Scrutiny in Family-Based Immigration Petitions: An Analytical Overview

By Brian Figeroux, Esq. | Editorial credit: Ryan Rodrick Beiler / shutterstock.com In recent years, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has intensified its scrutiny of family-based immigration petitions. This heightened examination focuses on identifying factual inconsistencies, omissions, mistakes, or intentional misrepresentations within applications. Such rigorous evaluations can lead to petition denials, revocation […]

The Supreme Court Cuts Off Judicial Review of USCIS Decisions Again

The Supreme Court Cuts Off Judicial Review of USCIS Decisions Again

By Leslie Dellon, IMMIGRATION IMPACT The American Immigration Council does not endorse or oppose candidates for elected office. We aim to provide analysis regarding the implications of the election on the U.S. immigration system. The Supreme Court recently cut off another path for judicial review of decisions by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) adjudicators. […]