06/02/2026
🚨 Important Green Card Update for Families and Spouses of U.S. Citizens
Many people have seen recent headlines about USCIS making significant changes to how green card applications filed inside the United States are reviewed.
On May 21, 2026, USCIS issued a new policy memorandum that changes how officers evaluate many Adjustment of Status (Form I-485) applications. Under this policy, meeting the basic eligibility requirements may no longer be enough on its own. USCIS officers are now instructed to weigh both positive and negative discretionary factors when deciding whether to approve an application.
Many news reports have focused on employment-based applicants. However, the policy appears to apply more broadly to most Adjustment of Status cases, including many family-based applications filed inside the United States.
What does this mean for spouses of U.S. citizens?
The good news is that spouses of U.S. citizens remain "immediate relatives" under immigration law. The law governing eligibility for marriage-based green cards has not changed, and spouses of U.S. citizens are still exempt from annual visa quotas and visa bulletin backlogs.
However, individuals seeking Adjustment of Status inside the United States may now face additional scrutiny regarding factors such as immigration history, family ties, lawful residence, community involvement, and other discretionary considerations.
For spouses living abroad and pursuing a CR-1 or IR-1 immigrant visa through consular processing, these changes may have less direct impact because the policy specifically addresses Adjustment of Status applications filed within the United States.
The bottom line: don't assume the latest immigration headlines automatically apply to your case—but don't ignore them either. The rules, policies, and enforcement priorities continue to evolve, and immigration strategy matters more than ever.
📞 If you're planning to sponsor your spouse, have a pending Adjustment of Status application, or want to understand how these changes may affect your family, speak with an experienced immigration attorney before making important decisions.
👇 In the first comment, I've included:
✅ The policy memo summary
✅ A news article discussing the changes
✅ A link to request a FREE immigration case evaluation with our office
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services today announced a new policy memo reiterating the fact that, consistent with long-standing immigration law and immigration court decisions, aliens seeking adjustment of status must do so through consular processing via the Department of State outside of the....
