US Citizen Spouses Face Visa Delays and Separation Risks

Spouses of U.S. citizens, traditionally a protected category in immigration law, are now experiencing visa delays, separations, and heightened green-card scrutiny under the Trump administration's broader slowdown of legal migration, according to immigration attorneys and affected families.

The administration has paused visa processing for applicants from 75 countries, and citizen spouses are not exempt from these suspensions. This has left many couples stranded apart, with some waiting months or years for approvals that previously took weeks.

Green-card applications for citizen spouses are also facing increased scrutiny, with longer processing times and more requests for evidence. Attorneys say this marks a significant shift from past policies that prioritized family reunification for U.S. citizens.

The changes underscore how the administration's legal migration restrictions have widened beyond initial targets, affecting even groups long considered low-risk. Advocates warn that the delays could force some couples to live apart indefinitely or consider leaving the United States.