The U.S. enforcement of family-based green card applications is undergoing a significant transformation. August 1, 2025, marks the end of the family visa petitions as we have known them. That’s right, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is clamping down on family visa screening in an effort to identify fraud and to ensure that only genuine family relationships are granted permanent residence.
What’s New?
Effectively August 1, 2025, USCIS will be imposing tighter restrictions on family-based permanent resident immigrant visa categories. The changes include, but are not limited to the following:
- More required in-person interviews
- Increased scrutiny of supporting documents
- A review of all petitions, including family or related petitions, for any fraudulent activity
These new policies apply to all family sponsorship categories.
Who’s Eligible & What’s Required?
You can still apply for a family-based visa if you are a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident petitioning for a close family member; however, there are new requirements as outlined below:
- You must provide strong evidence of your relationship with the beneficiary
- You must be prepared to participate in an in-person interview, especially if the case is more complex, to show your family ties.
- You must disclose whether you have already petitioned or filed multiple family-based petitions in addition to this petition; all petitions will be viewed as one case.
For Americans Living Abroad
U.S. citizens who live overseas — especially military members or government workers — can now file petitions from abroad under certain conditions. This offers more flexibility but still follows the same strict checks.
What’s Changed from Before?
Previously, USCIS focused mostly on submitted paperwork. Many applicants weren’t called for interviews, especially in clear-cut cases. Now, the default approach is caution, with more in-depth verification and fraud detection.
Also, just because a petition is approved doesn’t mean the person is safe from deportation. USCIS now reminds applicants:
“Approval of a family-based petition does not itself grant any immigration status or protect an individual from removal.”
What Happens After Petition Approval?
If the beneficiary is residing outside of the U.S. or is not otherwise eligible to adjust status within the U.S., the approved petition will be forwarded to the National Visa Center (NVC) for consular processing overseas. This adds one more layer of review to the petition being made by the beneficiary prior to being granted access to their visa approval.
Why This Matters
This update is part of USCIS’s wider effort to protect the integrity of the U.S. immigration system and enhance national security.
If you’re planning to sponsor a family member for a green card, be prepared for more questions, more evidence, and more scrutiny — starting now.
Need help understanding how this affects your case? Speak with a trusted immigration advisor.
