US Marriage‑Based Green Cards Face Heightened Scrutiny Under Trump Policies

The Trump administration has overhauled the process for spouses of U.S. citizens seeking green cards. New rules require mandatory in‑person interviews for all marriage‑based applicants, eliminate previous interview waivers, and subject petitions to expanded background checks that cross‑reference government databases. USCIS officials say the changes restore the statute’s original intent and aim to strengthen national security.

Advocates warn the tighter vetting is causing significant delays and uncertainty. Ashley DeAzevedo of American Families United said, “Life has become much harder for Americans married to someone who wasn’t born in the United States.” The American Immigration Lawyers Association’s Shev Dalal‑Dheini warned the policy “is trying to upend decades of processing.” Families are reporting prolonged separations, increased denials, and some are leaving the country out of concern for detention or deportation.

The revisions also limit adjustment‑of‑status filings to “extraordinary circumstances,” further restricting the ability of spouses already in the United States to obtain permanent residency without leaving the country. Thousands of couples nationwide are navigating this more demanding and unpredictable immigration pathway.