US Citizen Spouses Face Visa Delays and Separation Risks

The administration's 75-country visa pause has hit U.S. citizens' foreign-born spouses, a group previously shielded from most restrictions. Consular officers now require additional vetting for these applicants, adding months to standard processing times.

In some cases, couples have been separated for over a year as visa interviews are repeatedly rescheduled or canceled. One spouse, a U.S. citizen in Texas, said her husband's interview in India was postponed three times without explanation, leaving him unable to join her.

Green-card applications from citizen spouses are also facing heightened scrutiny. Officers are asking for more evidence of the bona fide nature of the marriage, including joint financial records, photos, and affidavits from friends and family, according to immigration attorneys.

The slowdown reflects a broader policy shift that treats all immigration categories with suspicion, even those with clear statutory preference. Advocates warn that the delays are pushing some couples to consider relocating abroad or abandoning the U.S. altogether.

The administration has not issued a formal statement on the impact on citizen spouses, but the policy has drawn criticism from immigration rights groups who argue it undermines family unity and violates the spirit of the Immigration and Nationality Act.