Marriage-Based Green Card Applicants Face New Challenges and Arrests

Green card applicants married to U.S. citizens in the United States 🇺🇸 are running into tougher treatment from USCIS in 2025, with longer waits, stricter “complete filing” checks, and a growing fear that an interview meant to finish a family case can instead end in handcuffs. While USCIS has not announced one sweeping policy overhaul, applicants, lawyers, and advocates say marriage-based cases are being tested more aggressively in day-to-day processing, especially when officers suspect fraud or see missing paperwork.

Front-end filing and intake: stricter checks and form editions

Since early 2025, USCIS has pushed newer form editions and stricter intake rules that can cause a rejection before a case is even reviewed. Petitioners are being warned that mixing editions or sending the wrong version can trigger a return of the whole packet, forcing couples to restart the clock.

• One example flagged in recent guidance is the I-130 edition dated 04/01/24 — a reminder that even small version errors can carry big costs when filing windows and work permits depend on a clean receipt notice.
• The family petition itself is filed on Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative.

Couples are also reporting that payment handling has become less forgiving.

• USCIS has required separate payments per form in many filings rather than combining fees.
• Completeness checks have become more rigid, increasing the risk that a marriage-based green card package is rejected at the front door, not denied on merits.
• A rejection can erase weeks or months of waiting and, for some spouses, leave them without proof they have a case pending.

Adjustment of status packages and medical exam changes

For spouses applying inside the United States, the package often includes multiple applications tied together: the family petition, the adjustment application, and supporting evidence.

• Applicants commonly file Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status alongside the I-130 when eligible.
• There is a move toward upfront submission of the medical exam — Form I-693, Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record — rather than waiting for USCIS to request it later.
  • If the medical is missing, a case can be delayed or kicked back into a request cycle that adds months.
  • Note: COVID-19 vaccination is no longer required as of January 22, 2025, which may reduce one barrier when completing the medical exam.

Legality of the marriage under local law

USCIS now emphasizes whether a marriage is legally recognized where it took place. For cases pending or filed on/after March 3, 2025, USCIS requires proof that the marriage is recognized under local law.

• This can be difficult for refugees and others whose relationships were formed through religious or traditional unions that were never formally registered.
• A couple may view their relationship as real and long-standing, but without local legal recognition, USCIS may treat it as not a marriage for immigration purposes.

Fraud screening, interviews, and the rising use of Stokes interviews

Fraud screening has become central in many interviews.

• USCIS is performing enhanced background checks, issuing more Requests for Evidence (RFEs) demanding proof of a “bona fide marriage,” and conducting longer, more probing interviews.
• Evidence requested often paints a full picture of a shared life: joint bank accounts, photos over time, travel records, and affidavits from people who know the couple.
• Cases that trigger “fraud indicators” can face denials or referrals, and more couples are being placed into Stokes interviews, where spouses are questioned separately and later compared for consistency.
• USCIS has highlighted fraud reporting on public-facing webpages, signaling officers may begin from suspicion rather than trust.

“Couples say they feel they must prove not just that they love each other, but that every detail of their daily routines matches across forms, records, and interview answers.”

Delays, nationality-based holds, and downstream impacts

Delays are compounding the pressure.

• I-130 and I-485 processing times are climbing — especially for applicants from 19+ “high-risk” countries who may face nationality-based holds, extra security reviews, or cases bouncing between USCIS, an Atlanta vetting center, and the State Department.
• Even when a marriage is real, a slow case can:
  • Strain families financially
  • Disrupt job plans
  • Extend the time a U.S. citizen spouse must carry health insurance, rent, and other costs alone

Couples who expected a straightforward path are finding that a year can turn into a multi-year wait with little visibility into what is happening behind the scenes.

Enforcement risk at interviews: arrests and “no grace periods”

The sharpest fear described in the source is arrests after interviews in suspected fraud cases.

• Reports in 2025–2026 describe an increase in post-interview arrests, sometimes called a “quiet war on marriage-based green cards.”
• An interview is a required step for many applicants who often arrive believing it is their last hurdle before approval.
• The source notes “no grace periods,” meaning a spouse could come to an interview and face enforcement action immediately if officers believe the case involves fraud or other issues surface.

Undocumented spouses of U.S. citizens are particularly exposed.

• Once a petition is approved, undocumented spouses can lose “automatic status protection,” making them more vulnerable to removal even though they are married to a citizen and trying to follow the rules.
• Applicants with overstays, prior marriages, DACA or TPS histories, or other complicated records face steeper questioning because inconsistencies in dates, addresses, or prior filings can be treated as credibility problems.

Practical filing checklist and suggested steps

To reduce front-end errors and minimize risk of rejection, couples should focus on precision:

1. Verify and use the correct edition of each form.
2. Pay separate fees per form if required and follow the fee instructions exactly.
3. Decide clearly between adjustment of status (I-485) and consular processing and do not mix processes unintentionally.
4. Submit the I-693 medical earlier if possible to prevent later delays.
5. Assemble evidence that shows a consistent, shared life:
   • Joint bank statements and leases
   • Photos spanning time and places
   • Travel records and shared bills
   • Affidavits from friends/family
6. When in doubt, consult an immigration professional to avoid mistakes that can trigger rejections, RFEs, or fraud referrals.

Key links and where to find official guidance

• Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative
• Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status
• Form I-693, Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record
• USCIS guidance on green cards for immediate relatives: Green Card for Immediate Relatives of U.S. Citizens

Final takeaway

USCIS frames many of these shifts as integrity measures, not a formal statutory rewrite. Nonetheless, the day-to-day effect is clear: precision matters more than ever — correct editions, correct fees, clear procedural choices, and a consistent record.

• Couples who can’t afford mistakes are increasingly turning to professional help, because a rejection, an RFE spiral, or a fraud referral can turn a family petition into a crisis.
• Official rules may look stable on paper, but real-world scrutiny has risen significantly in practice.