WASHINGTON (Diya TV) — The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced major updates to its family-based immigration policy, aimed at tightening green card marriage rules and cracking down on fraud. The changes, effective August 1, 2025, impact both new and pending green card applications. The agency says the goal is to better verify relationships and improve national security.

In a policy update posted to the USCIS Policy Manual, the agency outlined new procedures for reviewing family-based immigration petitions, especially those based on marriage. The USCIS Policy Manual is the agency’s central source for immigration rules and guidance. Officials say the stricter approach is necessary due to a rise in fraudulent marriage cases used to secure legal status.

The announcement follows recent high-profile fraud cases. In May, Aakash Prakash Makwana, a 29-year-old Indian national, pleaded guilty to a scheme designed to gain permanent residence through a fake marriage. In another case, Samanpreet Kaur, also from India, asked immigration authorities to deport her alleged husband, claiming he entered the U.S. under false asylum claims and planned to marry again for a green card.

“These cases show how some individuals try to misuse our immigration system,” USCIS said in a statement. “Fraudulent, frivolous, or otherwise non-meritorious family-based immigrant visa petitions erode confidence in lawful pathways and threaten family unity in the U.S.”

The updated policy requires couples to provide stronger evidence that their marriage is real and legally valid. This includes shared financial records like joint bank accounts or utility bills, photos of the couple together, and letters or personal statements from family and friends.

USCIS will now look more closely at a petitioner’s immigration history. The agency may review past petitions filed by the same sponsor or applicant to detect suspicious patterns. In-person interviews will become more common. Officers may ask couples detailed questions to confirm the authenticity of their relationship. They will also check if both spouses know key facts about each other’s daily lives.

“The updated guidance strengthens our ability to screen and vet applications,” the agency said. “We want to ensure all qualifying marriages are genuine and meet legal standards.”

The new guidance also explains how USCIS handles duplicate petitions for the same person. It outlines when the agency transfers approved cases to the State Department’s National Visa Center, especially when applicants can’t adjust their status inside the U.S. USCIS clarified that having a petition approved does not protect someone from deportation. If the beneficiary is removable for other reasons, they may still receive a Notice to Appear in immigration court.

“Approval of a family-based visa petition does not grant lawful immigration status,” USCIS said. “Applicants must still be eligible for adjustment of status or consular processing.”

U.S. citizens living abroad may still file a Form I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative) directly with the Department of State in certain situations. This includes military personnel, government workers stationed overseas, or during major emergencies like natural disasters. If someone applies for adjustment of status in the U.S. and is found ineligible, USCIS may forward their petition to the National Visa Center for consular processing in their home country.

The revised green card marriage rules apply to all family-based immigration petitions filed on or after August 1, 2025, and to those still pending. The agency says the updates will protect the immigration system and help keep the country safe by flagging and removing individuals who pose a risk or misuse family visa programs.To read the full policy guidance, visit the official USCIS website – https://www.uscis.gov.