Overview
- Coverage on Monday and Tuesday, July 13–14, 2026, reported that USCIS is reviewing marriage-based petitions more closely so marrying a U.S. citizen no longer guarantees a green card.
- Applicants must file core forms such as I-130 and, when eligible, I-485 and submit civil records, medical exams, police certificates and vaccination proof as part of admissibility screening.
- USCIS routinely asks for proof a marriage is genuine, including joint leases or mortgages, shared bank accounts, joint tax returns, photos and children’s birth certificates.
- A U.S. citizen sponsor must prove citizenship and sign Form I-864 showing income at least 125% of the federal poverty level, and certain criminal or immigration violations can make an applicant inadmissible.
- The sharper focus on fraud detection means more interviews, requests for extra evidence and investigations that can delay or block applications and increase the need for legal help; this follows a multiyear shift by the agency to protect immigration system integrity.