The Trump administration has implemented notable changes to the green card application process for married couples, including revised forms, mandatory interviews, and expanded financial disclosures. These updates reflect the administration’s broader approach to tightening immigration enforcement.
President Donald Trump, who had promised sweeping immigration reforms during his campaign, has prioritized tougher policies throughout his presidency. Within the first few months of taking office, his administration deported approximately 100,000 undocumented immigrants. Among those detained and deported were individuals who were legal residents but had no ties to crime or gangs.
The administration has made clear that it is taking a hardline stance on immigration violations, targeting not only those who crossed the U.S.-Mexico border illegally but also others who breach immigration rules in various ways.
Even legal permanent residents have encountered obstacles under the new regime. One such example is Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University graduate student and Palestinian activist, who is currently facing removal proceedings despite holding a green card.
The modifications to the marriage-based green card process suggest that immigration policy may continue to shift in coming weeks, potentially affecting multiple aspects of the immigration system.
According to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), lawful permanent residents have the right to live permanently in the country as long as they refrain from any actions that could render them deportable under immigration law. Such actions include legal violations and failure to file taxes.
Among the pathways to obtaining a green card is marriage to a U.S. citizen or another green card holder. In such cases, the U.S.-based spouse sponsors the foreign-born partner for permanent residency.
Though some of the recent changes may appear technical, they carry significant implications for applicants. One of the primary revisions is the introduction of a new version of Form I-485, known as the “Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status,” which became mandatory as of January 20. This updated form must now be used by all individuals seeking lawful permanent residency.
The revised form introduces several updates, including new gender identity options and the return of the word “alien.” These linguistic adjustments mirror similar terminology updates made to other immigration forms.
Immigration attorney Rachel Einbund told Newsweek during a phone conversation that a major addition to the updated form is a “public charge” section. This section requires applicants to “disclose their entire household income, their assets, their debts or liabilities, as well as if they have received any public assistance in the U.S.”
Another significant addition is found in Part 9 of the form, which pertains to general eligibility and inadmissibility. It now includes questions regarding the highest educational degree the applicant has earned, along with any certifications, licenses, or skills.
Einbund criticized these additions, saying they could dissuade lower-income applicants from applying. She described it as “more of a scare tactic to try and scare people who maybe don’t have a lot of income or don’t have continued education into not applying.”
An equally important change is the reimplementation of mandatory interviews for marriage-based green card applicants. Under President Biden’s administration in 2022, many of these interviews were waived if no warning signs were present in the application. According to Einbund, this was an effective method for the USCIS to reduce case backlogs and optimize the use of immigration officers’ time.
Einbund stated she had spoken with a USCIS officer who confirmed that interviews are once again required as part of a new internal policy. While no executive order has been issued, Trump has advocated for “enhanced vetting” in immigration matters, which this initiative likely aligns with.
Her advice to applicants is to “disclose everything,” emphasizing the importance of providing varied and substantial proof of a genuine relationship. “Proving that your marriage is real is the foundation of these cases,” she told Newsweek.
Newsweek also contacted USCIS via email on Thursday to confirm these changes and for additional comments.
In response, a USCIS spokesperson said in an email to Newsweek: “U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is committed to implementing policies and procedures that strengthen fraud detection, prevent identity theft, and support the enforcement of rigorous screening and vetting measures to the fullest extent possible. These efforts ensure that those seeking immigration benefits to live and work in the United States do not threaten public safety, undermine national security, or promote harmful anti-American ideologies.”
Amol Sinha, executive director of the ACLU of New Jersey, commented outside a courthouse on Friday about Khalil’s legal situation. “As we await the court’s ruling, what I am reminded of is the egregious nature of what the government has done. It is anti-democratic, un-American, illegal and unconstitutional to suppress speech, censor somebody, detain them and attempt to deport them and revoke their green card for speaking their mind.”
Attorney Colleen Kerwick, speaking to Newsweek in March, offered a different view. “A green card is a privilege, not a right. That privilege can be revoked if Mahmoud Khalil perpetrated a crime or wrong,” she said. Kerwick explained that Khalil had been accused of organizing an event that glorified Hamas’ October 7 attack. The United States classifies Hamas as a terrorist organization. She added, “The gravamen [most serious part] of his alleged wrong was social media posts, not yet traced to him.”
As of April 3, applicants must now use the newly revised Form I-485 for green card applications. Khalil, the Palestinian student and green card holder, is scheduled to appear before an immigration judge on April 8 for his removal hearing.
Einbund pointed out that immigration attorneys are bracing for further developments in policy. Many in the legal community anticipate that upcoming immigration forms will likely require applicants to disclose their social media handles, reflecting a growing emphasis on background scrutiny.
These ongoing changes reinforce the Trump administration’s determination to reshape the immigration process, not only through increased enforcement but also via procedural modifications designed to intensify scrutiny and discourage fraudulent or incomplete applications.