The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has introduced a major change to its policy regarding marriage recognition for asylum seekers and refugees.
New Rule Effective July 3, 2025
Beginning July 3, 2025, USCIS will only acknowledge civil marriages that are legally registered when assessing derivative applications for immigration benefits tied to asylum or refugee status. This change could notably affect applicants from countries where marriages are frequently conducted through traditional or religious customs without civil registration.
What the Policy Entails
In its revised Policy Manual, USCIS now mandates that, to qualify for immigration benefits, a marriage must be legally valid in the place it was performed.
“We are revising guidance in Volume 4 of the USCIS Policy Manual concerning valid marriages involving a principal refugee or asylee and their spouse,” the agency stated. “From now on, only marriages that are legally recognized by the jurisdiction in which they were performed will be accepted for immigration purposes.”
This means that customary or religious marriages not formally recorded under civil law will no longer meet the standard required for spousal immigration through asylum or refugee status.
The new requirement will apply to all applications filed on or after July 3, 2025, including those that are already submitted but still under review.
Who Is Most Affected?
The policy change is expected to significantly impact the following groups:
Rationale Behind the Update
USCIS said the revision brings its policies in line with existing legal interpretations and aims to uphold the integrity of the immigration system by minimizing fraudulent marriage claims.
The agency also pointed to broader administrative goals, noting alignment with directives under the Trump administration, such as Executive Order 14148, which revoked earlier immigration policies, and Executive Order 14163, which outlines a new approach to refugee admissions.
Guidance for Applicants
USCIS encourages individuals planning to file spousal-based asylum or refugee applications to take the following steps:
By complying with these updated requirements, applicants can improve their chances of successful immigration processing under the new rules.
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