U.S. Tightens Family Reunification Eligibility Requirements

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced this Friday new criteria for migrants seeking to participate in the family reunification program. The updated rules now include more thorough background checks, additional evidence requests related to family ties, and changes to general eligibility requirements within the program.

In a statement shared on Twitter, USCIS clarified that these modifications aim to enhance and clarify "certain family-based immigration requirements in our Policy Manual." This includes adjustments to the acceptance criteria for Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, and the interview requirements for family-based immigrant visa petitions. "These changes support Executive Order 14161, which aims to enhance the integrity and security of our immigration processes," the tweet added.

The revised policies took effect immediately and apply to both "pending petitions and those filed on or after the publication date." USCIS emphasized that this guidance will improve its ability to scrutinize marriages and family relationships that qualify, ensuring they are genuine, verifiable, and compliant with applicable laws. "USCIS is prioritizing rigorous investigations and background checks to protect Americans from potential national security threats," the agency explained.

Changes in Citizenship Examination

This week, it was also reported that USCIS is preparing to implement significant changes to the naturalization process and the H-1B visa system for skilled foreign workers. In a recent interview with The New York Times, Joseph Edlow, the new director of the agency, outlined the Trump administration's vision for the future of the nation's immigration policy, marking a new phase of strict enforcement.

One key issue Edlow addressed was the naturalization test, which he believes lacks rigor. "The test, as it currently stands, isn't very challenging," he stated. "It's too easy to memorize the answers, and I don't think we're truly meeting the intent of the law," he added.

Currently, citizenship applicants must study a list of 100 civic questions, from which they are asked 10 and must correctly answer at least six. This version was adopted after President Joe Biden took office, who in 2021 removed the more demanding version introduced by Trump in 2020, where applicants had to correctly answer 12 out of 20 questions. Edlow explained that the administration intends to revert to this more rigorous format, where immigrants must demonstrate a deeper understanding of U.S. history, political structure, and civic values.

Higher Fees for Immigration Procedures

Since July 17, USCIS also announced a fee increase for certain immigration benefits. This affects foreign nationals applying for Parole In Place (PIP) or conditional freedom in various categories. Consequently, the fee waiver possibility for Form I-131, Application for Travel Document, Parole Documents, and Arrival/Departure Records has been removed for initial arrival/departure registration requests for Parole In Place within the U.S., and parole reinstatement requests for individuals with a previous conditional period under the PIP program.

Applicants in these categories now face a fee of $630 following the update to Form G-1055, which includes a new list of application fees.

Policies Driven by a Tougher Political Vision

These policies are part of a restrictive immigration vision characteristic of the Trump administration. Edlow, confirmed by the Senate to lead USCIS, has clearly aligned himself with this stance. Under his leadership, the agency also plans to strengthen other elements of the immigration system, such as work visa selection and the handling of asylum cases.

During his brief interim tenure in 2020, Edlow participated in decisions that restricted access to legal residency for migrants using public benefits, though he clarified that he has no intention of reinstating that measure. Nonetheless, he made it clear that the current focus remains restrictive, albeit selectively.

"I believe it should absolutely be a positive balance," he said. "And if we look at the people coming here, especially those contributing to specific economic programs we have and benefiting national interest in other ways, that's absolutely what we need to focus on."