USCIS Tightens Family-Based Immigration Rules to Enhance Integrity

Washington, D.C., August 1, 2025 — The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced significant updates to its Policy Manual for family-based immigration petitions. The new update aims to strengthen fraud detection, enhance case review, and safeguard the integrity of the system.

Under the new guidance, petitioners for family-based visas, particularly marriage-based petitions, will face stricter documentation requirements to prove the authenticity of claimed relationships. USCIS officers now have expanded discretion to require in-person interviews where eligibility cannot be clearly established through submitted evidence.

One of the most notable changes is that approval of a family-based petition no longer guarantees protected legal status. USCIS may issue a Notice to Appear in removal proceedings if the beneficiary is found removable, even after petition approval.

TThe guidance also clarifies routing and consular processing procedures. The latter will allow certain petitioners, such as U.S. military members or those facing emergencies, to file directly with the Department of State.

These changes come amid broader immigration updates, including adjustments to the Child Status Protection Act (CSPA) that may impact eligibility for children in green card backlogs, particularly from high-demand countries like India.

Full details of the guidance are available on the official USCIS website at uscis.gov.