If you are married to a US citizen and thinking a Green Card is guaranteed, think again. A new push by US immigration authorities means that just being married is no longer enough, officials are now taking a much closer look at whether the marriage is real and genuine before granting permanent residency.
Under the updated practices, officials from the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) are placing greater emphasis on whether couples actually live together and share a life, not just whether they have a marriage certificate.
What’s changed?
- Marriage by itself won’t guarantee approval, couples must show the relationship is genuine
- Living apart, even for work or study, can raise doubts about marriage.
- Immigration officers focus on whether the couple actually lives together as husband and wife.
- If the relationship doesn’t look real, officers can flag the case, question the couple further, or even deny the application
Why this matters?
Previously, simply showing a legal marriage and paperwork was often enough to start the Green Card process. Now, officials may look for additional evidence such as:
- A shared home address
- Joint tax returns or joint bank accounts
- Photos together over time
- Daily life proof as husband and wife
What couples should do?
Immigration experts advise:
- Couples planning to apply should try to live together before filing
- Gather evidence showing they share a life: shared bills, photos with family and friends, and joint accounts
- Seek legal advice before filing if living arrangements are complicated.
US immigration officers are cracking down on marriage-based fraud, where some people marry mainly for immigration benefits. This step is meant to strengthen border security and ensure that the marriage is sincere, not just a path to residency.
Conclusion:
As US immigration rules tighten, couples seeking a marriage-based Green Card must now prove their relationship is real and ongoing, not just legal on paper. This change makes cohabitation and documentation more important than ever for those hoping to build a life together in the United States.
