U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has issued updated policy guidance that impacts how family-based immigrant visa petitions are evaluated. The new rules aim to curb fraudulent petitions, which officials say undermine trust in the immigration system.
New policy guidance statement
In an official press release, USCIS stated, “Fraudulent, frivolous, or otherwise non-meritorious family-based immigrant visa petitions erode confidence in family-based pathways to lawful permanent resident (LPR) status and undermine family unity in the United States.” The guidance takes effect immediately and applies to pending and new petitions. This update comes as USCIS faces a backlog of 11.3 million immigration applications.
The warning
The updated policy emphasizes that approval of a family-based petition does not automatically grant legal immigration status. USCIS warned that beneficiaries could be issued a Notice to Appear in removal proceedings if they are deemed removable under U.S. immigration law. The agency explained that the update is designed to clarify existing procedures and strengthen their ability to assess the validity of family-related petitions for permanent residency.
Details of the policy update
The new guidance details eligibility criteria, required documentation, interview processes and how USCIS handles cases involving multiple or related petitions. It also explains when petitions might be forwarded to other government agencies for further review.
Special provisions
One notable aspect of the update concerns U.S. citizens serving in the military or stationed abroad on government assignments. Under certain conditions, these individuals may file Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, with the Department of State. USCIS noted that this exception can be used during major disruptive events, making it easier for families of service members to navigate the immigration process.
The post Trump admin tramps down on green card marriages appeared first on Knewz.
Click this link for the original source of this article.
Author: Isabella Torregiani
This content is courtesy of, and owned and copyrighted by, https://knewz.com and its author. This content is made available by use of the public RSS feed offered by the host site and is used for educational purposes only. If you are the author or represent the host site and would like this content removed now and in the future, please contact USSANews.com using the email address in the Contact page found in the website menu.
