Foreign nationals hoping to obtain U.S. citizenship by marrying an American citizen are encountering increased scrutiny and lengthier processing times under immigration policies adopted by the Trump administration, according to NPR. Although marriage remains one of the most common avenues to permanent residency and eventual citizenship, attorneys say the process has become significantly more demanding.

Current U.S. immigration law continues to permit American citizens to sponsor their foreign-born spouses for green cards and, ultimately, naturalization. However, immigration lawyers and advocates say recent policy changes have expanded background investigations, increased the number of required interviews, and, in some cases, left applicants vulnerable to deportation proceedings while their applications are still pending.

Administration officials insist the changes are designed to improve enforcement and combat immigration fraud, not to change the legal standards governing marriage-based immigration.

“Our enhanced screening and vetting processes help identify fraud, public safety and national security concerns before immigration benefits are granted,” U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services spokesman Zach Kahler said.

He added that “the filing or approval of an immigrant petition does not confer any immigration status or protect an alien from removal.”

The agency also emphasized that submitting or even receiving approval for a family-sponsored immigration petition does not shield an individual from immigration enforcement if that person is otherwise violating U.S. immigration laws.

For decades, marriage to a U.S. citizen has offered one of the quickest paths to lawful permanent residency because spouses are categorized as “immediate relatives,” allowing them to bypass the annual visa quotas that apply to many other family-sponsored immigration categories.

Once a green card is obtained, eligible spouses generally may seek U.S. citizenship after three years, provided they continue living with and remain married to their American spouse while also satisfying other legal requirements, including continuous residence, physical presence in the United States, English proficiency, and successfully completing the civics examination.

The process typically begins when the American citizen files the necessary paperwork to sponsor his or her spouse for lawful permanent resident status.

Applicants must also prove that their marriage is genuine and was not entered into solely for immigration benefits, often by providing documentation demonstrating a shared household, combined finances, and other evidence of a bona fide marital relationship.

Federal statistics indicate that approximately 343,000 individuals received lawful permanent resident status through marriage in 2024, representing roughly one-quarter of all green cards issued during that year.

Immigration attorneys say those applications now undergo more rigorous examination, including additional interviews, expanded background screenings, and more frequent requests for supporting documentation.

“Marriage used to be a glide path to citizenship. Now there are more speed bumps,” immigration attorney Charles Kuck said.

Another immigration attorney, Rosina Stambaugh, said the stricter enforcement environment has caused growing anxiety among many families considering the legal immigration process.

“People are afraid,” she said, adding that some couples have postponed or chosen not to file immigration applications because they fear the immigrant spouse could be detained before a decision is reached on the case.

{Matzav.com}