USCIS UPDATES FAMILY-BASED IMMIGRATION POLICY

On August 1, 2025, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued updated policy guidance for family-based immigrant visa petitions, strengthening requirements for eligibility, documentation, vetting, and interviews. The changes apply to both pending and newly filed petitions.

Key Provisions

The updated guidance consolidates and clarifies how USCIS will adjudicate family-based petitions, including:

• Incorporating prior guidance on eligibility standards and documentation requirements for Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative.

• Establishing clearer rules for adjudicating multiple or related petitions.

• Expanding circumstances in which U.S. citizens abroad—including military and government personnel—may file petitions directly with the Department of State, especially during emergencies or disruptive events.

• Outlining when approved petitions are routed to the National Visa Center versus USCIS.

• Clarifying when interviews are required to verify bona fide family relationships.

• Emphasizing that approval of an I-130 petition does not, by itself, confer lawful status; USCIS may still issue a Notice to Appear if a beneficiary is otherwise removable.

Regulatory Context

USCIS stated that these measures are designed to deter fraudulent or frivolous filings and to ensure that only genuine family relationships qualify for permanent residency. The guidance also reflects a broader emphasis on national security and fraud detection in the adjudication of family-based immigration cases.