The tougher rules will affect applications that rely on officer discretion, such as requests for extensions of stay, work permits and green cards. Highly regulated visas like H-1B and L-1 are less likely to be impacted, although investor and national interest cases may come under additional review.
In a separate ruling, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals cleared the way for the United States to end Temporary Protected Status for thousands of people from Honduras, Nepal and Nicaragua. Nepali holders already lost their legal protection and work permits on August 5, while Honduran and Nicaraguan recipients are expected to lose theirs in early September unless a higher court steps in. The decision has thrown many families into uncertainty as they wait for further legal battles to unfold.
The Trump administration has also ordered a sweeping review of more than 55 million people who currently hold valid U.S. visas. Officials say they are checking law enforcement records, immigration histories and social media posts for signs of overstays, criminal activity or ties to extremist groups. Already, more than 6,000 student visas have been revoked this year, a sharp increase from previous years.
Another major change concerns U.S. citizenship applications. Immigration officers will now make a broader judgment on “good moral character,” looking beyond criminal records to examine things like volunteer work, family responsibilities, tax compliance and driving history. Critics warn that the wide criteria could make the process unpredictable and harder to challenge in court.
Finally, immigration officials have updated their fraud policy, making it clear that anyone who lies about being a U.S. citizen or uses false documents could face permanent bans and possible deportation. The agency said the move is meant to protect the integrity of the immigration system.
