The Trump administration introduced some changes to the green card application process for couples, including updated forms, the return of interviews, and more complex financial disclosures.
The president, Donald Trump, campaigned heavily to curb illegal immigration, promising to carry out the largest mass deportation in U.S. history. In the early months of his presidency, his administration had already deported around 100,000 illegal immigrants and detained and deported even some legal residents and individuals with no criminal affiliations or gang ties.
However, the government’s crackdown on immigration seems to also encompass greater scrutiny of legal immigration.
Marriage Immigration
One of the several ways to obtain a green card is through marriage to a U.S. citizen or green card holder. This individual can sponsor their spouse for a green card. The spouse then applies for permanent residency.
The Trump administration made changes to the marriage green card application process. Most of the changes are technical but significant nonetheless.
For example, applicants must now use the updated version of Form I-485, “Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status,” released on January 20, to apply for legal permanent residency.
The language adjustments in the new form include only two gender identity options and the reintroduction of the term “alien.” Other immigration forms have been updated with similar terminology.
The form has a new “public charge” section, which now asks individuals to “disclose all household income, assets, debts or liabilities, as well as whether they have received any public assistance in the U.S.”
Part 9 of the form, regarding “general eligibility and grounds of inadmissibility,” also includes a question about the highest level of education the applicant has attained, as well as a list of certifications, licenses, and skills.
Another “major update” is the return of couple interviews. In 2022, under the Biden administration, many marriage green card interviews were waived, as long as there were no “red flags.” This practice was “really a great way for USCIS to overcome the backlog of cases and not waste an officer’s time.”
Restoring interviews is part of the agency’s new policy. Although there has been no official executive order on the matter, Trump stated in immigration-related directives that the U.S. would seek an “enhanced assessment” of applicants, in which this new rule may fit.
Source: Newsweek