The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has introduced new, stricter guidelines aimed at cracking down on fraudulent marriages within family-based immigration applications. Effective from August 1, these measures are part of an effort to strengthen and increase transparency in the immigration process, especially focusing on marriage-based petitions.
Under the new regulations, USCIS will intensify the verification process to identify and reject false or baseless family relationship claims. The goal is to ensure that only genuine relationships lead to legal residency, thereby preventing abuse of the immigration system and safeguarding national security.
The agency emphasizes that fraudulent marriages have historically hindered the pathway to permanent residency and have, at times, led to the breakdown of family unity. By implementing these tougher standards, USCIS aims to combat harmful and fake applications more effectively.
Recent high-profile cases, such as the alleged fake marriage involving Indian national Akash Prakash Makwana who admitted in May to submitting false documents after his J-1 visa expired—have accelerated the adoption of these policies.
Key changes in the new rules include:
- Stricter vetting and approval of family petitions.
- Mandatory submission of joint photographs, shared financial documents, and affidavits from friends and relatives.
- Conducting interviews with couples to verify the authenticity of their relationship.
- Reassessing existing applications, especially those with multiple petitions from the same sponsor.
- Increased scrutiny of applicants’ immigration history for other visa categories.
- Initiating deportation proceedings if the relationship’s legitimacy cannot be confirmed, even after approval.
USCIS has made it clear that approval of an application does not guarantee future eligibility to stay in the United States. Applicants will need to provide extensive evidence of their relationship’s authenticity, including joint bank accounts, photographs, and letters from close contacts. During interviews, the depth of the relationship will be carefully examined to prevent fraudulent unions.
These measures aim to eliminate fake marriages and ensure that lawful permanent residence is granted only to those with genuine relationships. From now on, establishing a true, verifiable relationship in the US immigration system will become more straightforward and secure, reinforcing the country’s commitment to national security and integrity.
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