The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced this Friday that it is increasing and adding eligibility requirements for migrants applying for the family reunification program.

In summary, the new rules related to family-based immigration policy include an increase in background checks, add requests for additional evidence regarding family ties, and change general eligibility requirements within the program.

In a tweet published this Friday, the agency explains that it aims to consolidate and clarify "certain requirements regarding family-based immigration in our Policy Manual."

This concerns modifications to the criteria for the acceptance of Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, and the interview requirements for immigrant visa petitions based on family relationships.

"These changes support Executive Order 14161 to enhance the integrity and security of our immigration processes," the tweet adds.

The new policies came into effect on the same Friday and apply to both "pending petitions and those submitted on or after the publication date."

"This guide will enhance USCIS's ability to examine marriages and family relationships that qualify to ensure they are genuine, verifiable, and comply with applicable laws. USCIS is prioritizing strong investigations and background checks of foreign nationals to protect Americans from potential national security threats," explains USCIS.

Changes in the citizenship exam

This week it was also announced that USCIS is preparing to implement significant changes in the naturalization process and in the H-1B visa system for skilled foreign workers.

In a recent interview with The New York Times, the new head of the agency, Joseph Edlow, outlined the vision of the Donald Trump administration for the future of the country's immigration policy, marking a new phase in its tightening.

One of the central points addressed by Edlow was the naturalization test, which he believes has lost its rigor.

"The exam, as it is currently structured, is not very difficult," stated the official.

"It is very easy to memorize the answers. I don’t think we are truly fulfilling the spirit of the law," he added.

Currently, citizenship applicants must study a list of 100 civics questions, from which 10 are asked, and they must answer at least six correctly.

This version was adopted following the arrival to power of President Joe Biden, who in 2021 eliminated the more demanding version introduced by Trump in 2020, which required correctly answering 12 out of 20 questions.

Edlow explained that the administration's intention is to return to that more rigorous format, in which immigrants had to demonstrate a deeper understanding of the history, political structure, and civic values of the United States.

Higher fees for immigration procedures

Since July 17, USCIS announced an increase for applicants for certain immigration benefits.

The measure affects foreigners applying for Parole In Place (PIP) or parole in various categories.

This is how the possibility of fee waivers for the Form I-131, Application for Travel Document, Freedom of Information Documents, and Arrival/Departure Records was eliminated in the categories: initial application for arrival/departure records for Parole In Place (PIP) for individuals currently within the United States; and applications to reinstate parole for individuals who previously held a period of parole under the PIP program.

In this way, applicants in these categories will need to pay a fee of 630 dollars following the update of form G-1055, which includes a new list of fees for applications.

Changes driven by a tougher political vision

These policies fall within the framework of a restrictive immigration vision, which has been a hallmark of the Trump administration.

Edlow, confirmed by the Senate to lead USCIS, expressed his clear alignment with this position.

Under her leadership, the agency also plans to strengthen other elements of the immigration system, such as the selection of work visas and the handling of asylum cases.

During his brief interim management in 2020, Edlow participated in decisions that tightened access to legal residency for migrants utilizing public benefits, although he clarified that he does not intend to reinstate that measure.

Nevertheless, he made it clear that the current approach remains restrictive, albeit selective.

"I believe it must be an absolutely positive balance," he said.

"And if we look at the people who come, especially to promote certain economic programs that we have and to benefit the national interest in other ways, that is absolutely what we need to focus on."

Frequently Asked Questions about the Strengthening of Requirements for Family Reunification in the U.S.