Key Takeaways
• Trump administration enforces stricter marriage fraud rules as of July 16, 2025.
• Legal marriage certification now required; religious/traditional marriages often disqualified.
• Applicants face thorough evidence checks and risk deportation for fraud.
As of July 16, 2025, the Trump administration has taken a much tougher stance on marriage fraud in the United States 🇺🇸. This update brings several important changes that affect anyone seeking a green card or citizenship through marriage. The government now warns that “buying” an American spouse will not help you get U.S. citizenship. This message was made very clear in a recent post by the White House on X (formerly Twitter), which highlighted the case of Jiejun Shen, a Chinese national who was deported after being caught in a fake marriage scheme.
Let’s break down what has changed, who is affected, what actions are needed, and what these changes mean for people with pending or future marriage-based immigration applications.
Summary of What Changed
The Trump administration has increased its efforts to stop marriage fraud, especially cases where someone tries to get a green card or citizenship by pretending to be married to a U.S. citizen. The government is now:
- Warning that paying for a fake marriage will not lead to citizenship
- Making it harder to use religious or traditional marriages that are not legally registered
- Requiring more and better evidence to prove that a marriage is real
- Investigating and punishing marriage fraud more aggressively
These changes are part of a larger plan called Project 2025, which aims to make immigration rules stricter and reduce fraud.
Who Is Affected
These new rules and warnings affect several groups:
- People applying for green cards or citizenship through marriage
- Refugees and asylum seekers who want to sponsor a spouse
- U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents who want to bring their spouse to the United States 🇺🇸
- Anyone with a pending marriage-based immigration application
- Immigration lawyers and advocates helping clients with marriage-based cases
If you are in any of these groups, it’s important to understand what’s changed and what you need to do next.
Effective Dates
- The new policy on legal marriage validity took effect in June 2025.
- The Trump administration’s public warning and increased enforcement began in July 2025.
- These changes apply to all new and pending marriage-based green card and citizenship applications as of these dates.
Required Actions for Applicants
If you are applying for a green card or citizenship through marriage, you must:
- Make sure your marriage is legally valid in the country where it happened.
- If your marriage was only religious or traditional and not registered with the government, it may not count for immigration purposes anymore.
- Gather strong evidence that your marriage is real (bona fide).
- This includes things like:
- Joint bank accounts
- Shared lease or mortgage
- Utility bills with both names
- Birth certificates of children together
- Photos of your life together
- Letters or affidavits from friends and family who know about your relationship
- This includes things like:
- Be ready for more questions and checks from immigration officers.
- Officers are now specially trained to spot fake marriages and will look closely at your application and evidence.
- Consult a qualified immigration lawyer.
- The rules are now stricter and more complicated, so professional help is strongly recommended.
Implications for Pending Applications
If you already filed a marriage-based application and it is still being processed:
- You may be asked for more evidence. USCIS can send a Request for Evidence (RFE) if they think your proof is not strong enough.
- If your marriage is not legally registered, your application could be denied. This is especially important for refugees and asylees who married in countries where government registration is difficult.
- You could face delays or even investigation if your case raises red flags. For example, if your documents look fake or your story does not make sense, you may be called for an interview or investigation.
Recent Cases Highlighting Enforcement
The Trump administration has used real-life cases to show how serious they are about stopping marriage fraud.
- Jiejun Shen (Chinese national): Shen tried to get U.S. citizenship through a fake marriage. He had a criminal record for extortion related to marriage fraud. ICE deported him after finding there was no real wedding ceremony or vows. The White House even posted about his case on social media to warn others.
- Aakash Prakash Makwana (Indian national): In May 2025, Makwana pleaded guilty in federal court to arranging a fake marriage. He came to the United States 🇺🇸 on a J-1 visa in 2019, overstayed, and paid a U.S. citizen $10,000 to marry him in 2021. They faked living together by creating false lease agreements and utility bills. He was charged with aggravated identity theft and marriage fraud.
These cases show that the government is not only denying applications but also bringing criminal charges and deporting people who try to cheat the system.
Policy Context and 2025 Changes
The Trump administration’s Project 2025 has brought several important policy changes:
- Legal Marriage Requirement: As of June 2025, USCIS only accepts marriages that are legally valid in the country where they happened. This means you need a government-issued marriage certificate. Religious or traditional marriages that are not registered with the government no longer count.
- Stricter Evidence Rules: USCIS is now much stricter about the evidence you need to prove your marriage is real. They look for things like joint finances, shared housing, children, and affidavits from people who know you as a couple.
- Universal Interviews: Almost everyone applying for a marriage-based green card must now attend an in-person interview, even if they are already living in the United States 🇺🇸.
- Higher Sponsor Income Requirements: Sponsors must show they have enough income to support their spouse, and the rules for proving this are now tougher.
Why These Changes Matter
The Trump administration says these changes are needed to stop people from using fake marriages to get green cards and citizenship. According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, these new rules make it much harder for people to cheat the system, but they also make it harder for real couples to prove their relationship.
Practical Steps for Applicants
If you are planning to apply for a marriage-based green card or citizenship, here’s what you should do:
- Check your marriage certificate. Make sure it is government-issued and legally valid in the country where you got married.
- Collect as much evidence as possible. The more proof you have that your marriage is real, the better. This includes joint bank statements, tax returns, photos, travel records, and letters from friends and family.
- Be honest and consistent. Make sure all your forms and documents match your story. Any mistakes or differences can cause problems.
- Prepare for your interview. Practice answering questions about your relationship, daily life, and future plans together.
- Get legal help if you have any doubts. Immigration lawyers can help you understand the new rules and avoid mistakes.
What Happens If You Are Accused of Marriage Fraud
If USCIS or ICE suspects your marriage is fake, you could face:
- Denial of your application
- Deportation from the United States 🇺🇸
- Criminal charges, such as identity theft or immigration fraud
- A permanent ban from entering the United States 🇺🇸 in the future
The government is now using more resources to investigate marriage fraud, including checking social media, interviewing friends and family, and looking for signs that couples do not really live together.
Expert and Stakeholder Perspectives
Immigration lawyers say the new rules make it much harder for real couples to prove their relationship, especially if they come from countries where it is hard to get official documents. Advocacy groups warn that refugees and asylum seekers may be hurt the most, as they often cannot get government marriage certificates due to war or instability in their home countries.
At the same time, the government argues that these rules are needed to stop people from abusing the system. They point to cases like Jiejun Shen and Aakash Prakash Makwana as proof that marriage fraud is a real problem.
Official Resources and Contacts
If you need help or more information, you can use these official resources:
- USCIS Contact Center: 1-800-375-5283
- USCIS Online Forms and Policy Manual: uscis.gov/forms and uscis.gov/policy-manual
- American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) Referral Service: ailalawyer.com
- Local immigration nonprofits: Many offer free or low-cost help for marriage-based immigration cases.
If you need to file a marriage-based green card application, you will use Form I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative). You can find the official form and instructions at the USCIS Form I-130 page.
Background and Historical Development
Marriage fraud has been a concern for many years in U.S. immigration policy. Past administrations have tried different ways to stop fake marriages, such as requiring more interviews and raising the income needed to sponsor a spouse. The Trump administration, especially with Project 2025, has made these efforts even stronger by focusing on legal marriage validity and stronger evidence requirements.
Future Outlook
Looking ahead, it is likely that the government will keep focusing on stopping marriage fraud. USCIS and ICE are expected to continue strict investigations and enforcement. There may also be more restrictions on family-based immigration in the future, which could make it even harder for spouses and relatives of U.S. citizens and green card holders to come to the United States 🇺🇸.
Legal and advocacy groups are watching these changes closely and expect more challenges for immigrant families. If you are affected by these new rules, it is important to stay informed and get help if you need it.
Key Takeaways and Next Steps
- Marriage fraud is a serious crime. The Trump administration is making it much harder to use fake marriages to get a green card or citizenship.
- Only legally valid marriages count. Make sure your marriage is registered with the government where it happened.
- You need strong evidence. Collect as much proof as you can that your marriage is real.
- Be ready for more checks and questions. Officers are trained to spot fake marriages and will look closely at your case.
- Get legal help if you are unsure. The rules are stricter and more complex, so professional advice is important.
- Stay updated. Check the USCIS Policy Manual for the latest rules and requirements.
By following these steps and understanding the new rules, you can give yourself the best chance of success in your marriage-based immigration case. Remember, trying to cheat the system can lead to serious consequences, including deportation and criminal charges. If your marriage is real and you have the right documents and evidence, you can still apply, but you must be prepared for a tougher process under the Trump administration’s new policies.
For more detailed updates and expert analysis on marriage fraud and other immigration topics, you can visit VisaVerge.com, which regularly covers the latest changes in U.S. immigration law and policy.
Learn Today
Marriage Fraud → A scheme where someone pretends to be married to obtain immigration benefits illegally.
Green Card → An official document allowing a non-citizen to live and work permanently in the U.S.
USCIS → U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, handles immigration benefit applications and enforcement.
Request for Evidence (RFE) → A letter USCIS sends asking for more proof to support a visa or green card application.
Project 2025 → A Trump administration initiative aiming to tighten immigration rules and reduce fraud.
This Article in a Nutshell
The Trump administration has intensified enforcement against marriage fraud, requiring legal marriage proof and stronger evidence. New rules affect applicants for green cards or citizenship through marriage, increasing scrutiny and penalties, including deportation, under Project 2025’s stricter immigration policies.
— By VisaVerge.com
