With the start of the second Trump administration, many immigrants and their families are wondering: Will it become harder to get a green card for my spouse? Unfortunately, the answer appears to be yes.
Immigration policies are shifting, and both spouses inside and outside the United States are expected to face longer processing times and additional hurdles when applying for green cards.
Why Is This Happening?
Even during President Biden’s term, marriage-based green card applications experienced significant delays. The backlog caused by COVID-19, combined with inefficiencies at USCIS and the State Department, meant that processing times stretched to 14–16 months for green cards and over two years for immigrant visas.
Now, under the Trump administration, additional bureaucratic hurdles are expected to make things even slower.
Key Changes That Will Affect Processing Times
- Mandatory Interviews for All Green Card Cases
- USCIS will now require an interview for every single adjustment of status case.
- This adds extra steps and increases the workload for immigration officers, further delaying approvals.
- Hiring Freeze at USCIS and the State Department
- A government-wide hiring freeze will prevent USCIS and embassies from hiring additional officers.
- With no new staff to process cases, backlogs will continue to grow.
- Slower Embassy Processing
- U.S. embassies overseas already struggle with delays.
- If the State Department can’t hire more staff, visa interviews will take even longer to schedule.
- Overall Strategy to Slow Legal Immigration
- The administration is not just focused on stopping illegal immigration.
- Policies are being put in place to reduce the number of legal immigrants, including family-based immigration.
What Can You Expect?
- Marriage-based green card cases in the U.S. may take two years or longer.
- Immigrant visas for spouses abroad could take three years or more due to embassy backlogs.
- Family separations will become more common, creating emotional and financial hardships for many immigrants.
What Can You Do?
If you're planning to apply for a marriage-based green card, don’t wait. The longer you delay, the worse the backlog may become.
Options for Faster Processing
- File Your Case ASAP – Get ahead of future delays.
- Explore Legal Options for Delays – If your case is stuck, a lawsuit (mandamus action) can force the government to act.