Trump's Immigration-Related Executive Orders What you should know

1. New Immigration Policies 2025: What has changed with immigration under Trump and what is still playing out?

Most Important Changes in Trump’s 2025 Orders on Immigration

1. Green Card Eligibility Requirements Have Become More Stringent 

• The new policies have a significant focus on self-sufficiency, making it almost impossible for immigrants who have previously used public benefits to qualify for a Green Card.
• The public charge rule means that applicants will now have to prove that they won’t be financially dependent on the government.
• Sponsors of Family based Green Card applicants will need to meet stricter income thresholds if they wish to sponsor.

2. More Stringent Vetting and Background Checks

• Greater scrutiny of social media and travel history may become mandatory parts of the vetting procedure.
• Along with longer application processing times, both employment-based and social media based Green Card applicants, particularly those on H1-B visas will be subjected to more detailed security checks.
• Deeper security checks by USCIS will now become common practice.

3. Work Visa Restrictions Affecting Green Card Opportunities

• The H1-B visa program, which is one of the most popular options for skilled workers hoping to get a Green Card, may have reduced approvals and stricter renewal terms.
• The employer sponsorship criteria may become more difficult to meet, which will impact thousands of healthcare and information technology professionals.

4. Possible Cancellation of the Diversity Visa Lottery

• Trump has been anti the Diversity Visa Lottery which annually rewards 55,000 Green Cards. This program could be cut back or completely eliminated by 2025.
• If this is canceled, immigrants from underrepresented nations will stand no chance of obtaining residency in the United States of America.

5. Decreased Immigration Based On Family Relations

• The count of family-based green cards may go down, as U.S. citizens will find it more difficult to petition for their spouses, children, and parents, who wish to immigrate to the United States.
• The family reunification process may entail tougher monetary constraints and longer waiting times.

6. Stricter Policies Regarding Asylum Seekers and Refugees

• Trump is expected to cut back on the number of refugees allowed and will most likely have stricter criteria for granting asylum.

What These Changes Mean for Green Card Applicants

2.Green Card Eligibility 2025: Stricter Requirements and New Challenges

Increased Burden of Affidavit of Support in Green Card Application and Sponsorship

• The most striking problems regarding changes in policies have emerged in the form of additional economic burden on the applicants and their sponsors.
• Independent of sponsored immigrant status, charges and enforcement of rules for using government assistance such as ‘Public Charge’ through the means of various aid programs such as Medicaid, food stamps, and housing assistance is reinforced.
• Family sponsors must have stronger income levels set under the Affidavit of Support in order to be deemed eligible for sponsoring immigrants.
• The benchmark income target has risen too. Previous requirements had sponsors earning at least 125 percent of the poverty line. Now, under Trump’s rule, this figure is expected to rise.

Increased Scrutiny of Background, Education, and Employment History

• A much deeper risk assessment combined with background checks will be executed on all applicants under the new set of policies.
• An examination of an applicant's social media and travel history will be conducted which may include reviewing social media posts and recorded travel documents by the USCIS.

Criminal Record Policies

• Under overzealous vetting protocols, even minimal infractions could result in an application being denied.
• Applicants are required to demonstrate proof of steady employment and financial independence.

More Difficult Tests on English and Civic Knowledge

• The Trump administration plans to implement stricter language and civic knowledge skills tests to guarantee integration into American society.
• There may be a need for stronger proficiency in English than was historically required of applicants.
• Questions concerning U.S. history and civics might be made more difficult.

Less Flexibility with Waivers and Greater Denial of Applications

• Applicants no longer have the option to appeal because certain eligibility requirements are not met.
• Under the current legislation, circumvention of legal or financial obligations will be made more difficult.
• There is an increase in the number of applications that will be denied without the possibility of being reviewed.

Other Difficulties with Employment-Based Green Cards

• H1-B visa holders and other highly-skilled professionals are now more tightly controlled in terms of employer sponsorships.
• There is now a greater emphasis on the employment of American citizens compared to foreign nationals which has made the issuance of employment-based green cards more restrictive.

How to Overcome These Challenges?

1. Improve Your Financials - Make sure you or your sponsor has enough income to satisfy the higher threshold requirements.
2. Have No Criminal Record - Stay away from offenses, as even minor infractions may impact your chances.
3. Be Ready for More Interrogatory Questions - Prepare to respond to questions regarding your financials, employment, and social media activity.
4. Get Expert Help -  An immigration professional can aid in dealing with the stricter rules.

3.Green Card Processing Delays and Backlogs in 2025: What to Expect

Promised Longer Waiting Times for Green Card Applications

Policies that focus on immigration put much more emphasis on scrutinizing an individual’s background, which eventually elongates the timelines for receiving approvals.

• Family-sponsored Green Cards could take over 36 months rather than the promised 12 to 24 mark.
• Employment-sponsored Green Cards are anticipated to be delayed further because of the increased employer sponsorship scrutiny.
• Applicants already within the USA will face increased interviewing authorizations making their timeline longer.

Higher Case Review Times and Backlogs with USCIS

Most systems are bound to experience backlog issues, which will extend waiting time with the increase of Green Card applications because of tighter scrutiny.

• There will be an increase in RFEs (Requests for Evidence) that need to be completed in order to verify employment history, stability, or even the background of a person.
• With more screening in place, interviews scheduled will increase, resulting in delays.
• Changes discussed above will result in higher denial rates leading to prolonged waiting periods for the appeals and resubmissions to be reviewed.

Waiting Times for Family-Based and Employment-Based Categories Are Increasing in the Visa Bulletin

Further retrogressions seem inevitable for the Green Card processes divided by visa types and the country of origin owing to The Visa Bulletin’s policies.

• Longer wait times for certain priority dates are bound to happen for India, China, and Mexico.
• Higher demand categories will have longer queues for applicants due to reduced visa numbers under Trump’s policies.

Increasing Interview Prerequisites and Delays

Delays are occurring as a result of Trump’s policies that state face-to-face interviews will be mandatory for more applicants.

• Even applicants with employment-based petitions will not be exempt from the in-person interviews with USCIS.
• More time and complexity will be required for the interviews due to increased scrutiny on financial and travel history.

4.Employment-Based Green Cards and Work Visa Challenges Under Trump’s 2025 Policies

Green Card Challenges as A Result Of H-1B Visa Policy Changes

• Much lower number of H-1B approvals – Due to new restrictions in qualifications and employer expectations, most of the new applications are bound to get rejected.
• Much lower validity periods for the visa – Instead of 3-year approvals, H-1B holders are likely to receive shorter-term visas with limited options for renewal.
• Higher wage expectations from employers – With H-1B employees earning higher salaries, companies become less interested in offering sponsorships.

Enhanced Focus on the PERM Labor Certification Process

• Increased audits and denials – The Department of Labor (DOL) is auditing U.S. worker hiring opportunities, ensuring fair chances are provided before allowing a foreign worker’s Green Card application.
• Delays in processing – Due to additional scrutiny, the review time for PERM applications, which generally took 6-8 months, could now exceed a year.

Increase in Restrictions on Multinational Transfers’ L-1 Visas

• Stricter eligibility conditions – Companies need to demonstrate the employee’s position is critical and that no qualified American is competent to fill the position.
• Greater compliance site visits and checks – There is expected to be an increase in random inspections by USCIS to ascertain that businesses are complying with the visa regulations.

Decreased Emphasis on Foreign Applicants for Green Card Allocation

• Increased market accessibility tests – Businesses are required to show attempts to search for American workers who can perform the tasks before employing a foreign national.
• Delayed procedures for employment-based Green Cards – Skills-based professionals will have to wait longer due to policy changes and visa limitations.

5.Family-Based Green Cards Under Trump’s 2025 Policies: Stricter Rules & Longer Wait Times

Expansion of Family-Based Green Card Sponsorship Limitations

• Financial established requirements will be more stringent – Applicants for sponsorship will be expected to provide documents showing their financials prove they have the financial capability.
• Supports under affidavit of support will become more demanding – Financial documentation is going to be more demanding, positioned around sponsors having a sustained long-term income.
• Significantly increased scrutiny for the sponsors and the applicants – Almost any insignificant past offense is more than likely going to postpone or even cancel sponsor applications.

Substantial Increases in Delay Periods for Family Preference Categories

1. More stringent frameworks set in place toward caps for the limit of annual-issued visas – There is being a cut down on the number of Green Cards issued for family unification.
2. Limited charge impact – It’s made compulsory to show extensive documents as proof to establish that indeed the person wouldn’t serve as a financial liability to the American government.
3. Increased interrogation – The head of the office will now complete a thorough check of the relationships and issue them to prevent fraud.

Immediate Relatives Vs Family Preference: Who Takes the Brunt Of The Impact?

Immediate relatives (spouses, parents, unmarried children under 21 of U.S. citizens):

• Definitely less focused but still need to be processed.
• Relationship proof documents are difficult to gather.

Family preference categories (siblings, adult children, relatives of Green Card holders):

• More than 10+ years of waiting for approval, backlogs have gotten worse for everyone.
• Applications are easier to reject than they were in the past.

New Marriage Visa Challenges: Proving Genuine Relationships

Fraud prevention checks with Marriage-based Green Cards have always been strict, but now under Trump, they are:

• Marriage requires extensive evidence now through more interview questions proving the relationship needs to be legit.
• Immigration officers could show up unannounced – USCIS can check if certain residents really live together, just to confirm marriages.
• Spousal visa denial rate has increased – Not meeting basic evidence supply leads to more cases being denied.

How Can You Improve Your Chances of Family Sponsorship?

Here are some ways you can improve your chances:

• Apply For Applications Early – Applying even further in advance is better as you might get approved before added restrictions.
• Build Stronger Documentation – Your birth certificate, proof of marriages, finances, and even the relationship documents will be critical.
• Watch Out For Changes In The Visa Bulletin – There's a possibility that certain days are tracked where processing times might shift.
• Look into Different Sponsorship Options – If family reunification is taking longer than expected, consider investment or employment options.
• Get Professional Assistance: Immigration Attorneys – To avoid application errors and complex steps, use a competent attorney to help with the process.

6.Asylum and Refugee Policies in 2025: Stricter Rules, More Denials, and Fewer Approvals

What Changed with Other Policies Regarding Asylum and Refugees

• There have been numerous policy changes in Trump's administration which have made it increasingly difficult for refugees to enter or stay in the U.S.

• Reduction in yearly admissible refugees - There is a cap that has been put on the number of refugees that are allowed each year. This severely limits the ability to seek refuge in America.
• Restriction in “credible fear” interviews - The bar for claim proof that needs to be provided by asylum seekers is set extremely high.
• “Safe Third Country” expansion - In this agreement, some other countries are designated as safe, which means that some refugees have to apply to those countries first before America.
• Speedy deportation process - Under this, many applicants face expedited removal which gives them very little time to seek legal help and defend themselves.

Why Are Asylum Applications Being Denied More Frequently Now?

• Increasing prerequisites for proof - One of the major requirements for application acceptance is that the person needs to provide clear evidence of facing a life-threatening situation.
• There is reduced court protection available – Most cases for asylum are handled with little or no legal help in what is called a 'cursory' form of triage.
• There are now stricter work permit restrictions – Asylum seekers will now have to wait longer prior to being issued work permits, putting them in a financially challenging position.
• Increased rejection rates for specific nationalities – Certain countries have borders closed to some applicants without even looking at their applications.

Refugees are the Most Affected with These Changes

• With an already low quota, fewer refugees will be approved – The cap on refugees permitted to enter the U.S. in 2025 has been drastically reduced, which will make it even more difficult for displaced persons to be rehabilitated.

• Stricter checks on who is eligible – A refugee will have to go through several stages of vetting as part of the procedure, which makes the waiting period for entering the country longer.
• More deportations on denied asylum cases – A common form of deportation is to send someone to a country if they are denied asylum, and do so with little opportunity to appeal.

What Can Be Done by Asylum Seekers and Refugees to Face These Issues?

• Submit Your Application At The Earliest Possible Time – In a system where there are fewer spaces, early applicants will have a higher success rate.
•  Build a Strong Record – Get police reports, medical files, and legally sworn statements that validate your assertion of victimization.
• Get Legal Aid – With carefully drafted petitions, immigration lawyers greatly boost chances of approval.

7.Undocumented Immigrants in 2025: Stricter Laws, Increased Deportations, and Limited Pathways to Legalization

Key Changes for Undocumented Immigrants in 2025

• More ICE Raids and Arrests – ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) has greatly increased their scope of target for deportations. They now go into more workplaces, schools, and even homes.
• Stronger Collaboration With Local Law Enforcement – Police at the local and state level are now more involved in immigration enforcement, resulting in a greater danger for undocumented people to deal with authorities.
• Limited DACA Protections – The DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) program that was designed to help “Dreamers” has been amended and now prevents a good number of them from renewing their work permits.
• Fewer Court Hearings and Quicker Deportations – Many undocumented immigrants are at risk of being removed and deported at an accelerated pace. They can be out of the country within days or weeks, and without the need to go through the court hearings.

Who Is Most at Risk of Deportation?

• Undocumented people that previously had deportation orders – Those that have prior removal orders are the ones being prioritized for deportations.
• Immigrants with small legal misdemeanors – Even the most trivial legal infractions such as driving without a valid license can be enough to initiate a deportation process now.

Legal Avenues to the Undocumented People

• No pardon programs to assist recently undocumented immigrants in adjusting their status, or granting any citizenship benefits have been rescinded. Unlike previous administrations, Trump’s 2025 policies seem to make it harder for non-citizens, permanent residents, or unauthorized immigrants to remain in the USA.
• Green-card applicants married to American citizens and permanent residents in America have faced many hurdles in the legalization of their status.
• End of Humanitarian Programs – Asylum or suspected abuse applications are among the most denied in the U.S.

Policy Suggestion for the Undocumented

• Legal Right Known Silence – Undocumented immigrants should understand their legal rights and have access to basic human rights, including legal representation at any point.
• Government Buildings and ICE Detention – Aggravated cruising for ICE detention and civilian protests have become fragile, and the threat has increased now more than ever. Efforts to minimize danger are necessary.
• Find Legal Assistance – Sponsorship, waiver lawyers, and even asylum can help undocumented immigrants. Legal aid holds the potential to grant relief for undocumented individuals.2

8.Work Visas and Employment-Based Green Cards: Is It Still Possible to Work in the U.S. Under Trump’s 2025 Policies?

Changes to Work Visas Issuance in 2025

• H-1B Visa Restrictions – The H-1B visa program is facing severe contraction with even fewer approvals, and employers are receiving more audits when hiring foreign employees.
• Higher Salary Requirements – To add to the burden, sponsoring foreign employees for H-1B is becoming more difficult as companies are required to pay higher wages.
• More Denials For L-1 and O-1 Visas – L-1 intracompany transfer visas are facing increased rejection rates, along with O-1 visas granted to individuals with exceptional abilities.
• Tougher Work Permit Rules for Spouses – H4 visa holders will face tougher restrictions. Spouses of H-1B holders are no longer eligible for work permits, leading to reduced family income.

The Impact on Employment-Based Green Cards

• Lower Green Card Quotas – The allocated employment-based green cards have been reduced sharply, making waiting periods longer as green cards issued with employment for skilled workers have been drastically restricted.
• U.S. Workers Are Prioritized – Employers must demonstrate that there was no suitable American worker before engaging a foreign applicant, which makes deportation more strenuous.
• Encrypted Perm Labor Certification – Networked employer-sponsored Green Cards have turned out to be more vetting and documentation heavy.
• Cessation of Fast-Track Processes – Employment-based green card premium processes have been put on hold, prolonging the timeline for the attainment of the Green Card for years.

Steps a Foreign National Can Take

• Others might qualify for some other options – Some professionals will be eligible for EB-2 National Interest Waivers or investment-based Green Cards which are easier to come by.
• Enable DECREASE of competition or BYOB for foreign employees – Hosted competent Illinois degree holders: A proverbial hotshot with an IQ bordering a genius (specialized skill sets) whose visa gets approved with a snap of the fingers.
• Act before it’s too late – With the introduction of strict policy changes, one needs to be assured that they will find an employer willing to do the sponsorship early on.
• Talk to a Legal Specialist – The appointment adds instruction amid the cloud of confusion regarding the work visa and Green Card application process.

What’s Next for Immigrants in 2025?

As of now, immigrants hoping to get a Green Card through employment, asylum, family sponsorship, or investment will be struggling under Trump's policies for 2025. The rules have grown stricter, with longer processing times and higher rejection rates, leaving many feeling anxious about their status in the United States.

These obstacles can be overcome with proper planning and guidance. Whether you're seeking a visa, status adjustment, or other options, legal immigration is possible. Staying well-informed is highly recommended.

What Should You Do Next?

• Stay Up to Pace with Policy Updates – Being informed is the most important part of the immigration process, so make sure to always stay updated.
• Look for Professional Guidance – An immigration consultant can greatly assist in improving your chances for an appeal while making the rest of the process remarkably less convoluted.
• Prepare Completely – All documents, finances, and application details must be organized seamlessly.
• Look Around for Other Choices – Consider getting a work/study visa or even investment-based immigration.

Immigration legislation is always changing, and at Phoenix Immigration Consulting Services, get expert advice to navigate these changes. Get in touch with us now to discuss your immigration plans and to secure a steady future for yourself in the United States.

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