Overview

• Effective August 1, USCIS’s updated Volume 6 guidance applies to all pending and new family-based visa petitions.
• Mandatory in-person interviews and robust evidence packages, including photos and financial records, aim to verify genuine relationships and screen for national security risks.
• USCIS can issue Notices to Appear for removal proceedings against beneficiaries deemed otherwise removable even after petition approval.
• The overhaul reorganizes multiple chapters in Part B of the Policy Manual to clarify eligibility, filing, documentation and adjudication procedures.
• The guidance defines criteria for when the State Department may directly accept overseas I-130 petitions, including submissions by military personnel and during large-scale disruptions.