With the U.S. travel-ban list expanding to 39 countries on January 1, immigration attorneys report a spike in questions from foreign nationals exploring marriage-based green-card options. A Business Standard immigration explainer published December 30 reminds would-be applicants that marrying on a B-1/B-2 visitor visa is legal, but timing and intent remain critical under the so-called “90-day rule.”
Under U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) guidance, marrying and applying for adjustment of status within 90 days of entry can be viewed as visa fraud unless the applicant proves a genuine change of plans. Lawyers warn that stricter adjudication trends—illustrated by USCIS’s December memo placing adjudicative holds on applicants from 19 travel-ban countries—mean that inconsistent documentation or poor explanations can derail cases.
The article points out that citizens of fully banned countries will not even obtain visitor visas, removing marriage-in-the-U.S. as a workaround. For nationals of partially restricted states, the process is technically open but likely to attract elevated scrutiny and extended security checks.
![Visitor-Visa Marriages Under Spotlight as Travel Ban Shrinks Green-Card Pathways]()
Before initiating any trip to the United States—whether for a wedding, a business meeting, or a preliminary visit to meet future in-laws—prospective travelers can also lean on VisaHQ’s online platform for up-to-date visa requirements, document checklists, and application support. The service’s U.S. visa page (https://www.visahq.com/united-states/) consolidates embassy forms, fee information, and processing times, helping applicants avoid common mistakes that can later complicate adjustment-of-status filings.
Corporate mobility teams should note that dependents who plan to marry U.S. citizens during short-term assignments must follow compliance best practices: enter with a genuine intent to depart, avoid filing green-card paperwork until after 90 days, and maintain meticulous evidence of bona-fide relationships. Failure to do so can trigger misrepresentation findings, multi-year bars or removal proceedings.
The takeaway is that marriage is not a silver bullet for those affected by new entry restrictions. Early legal counsel and disciplined document gathering are more important than ever as USCIS tightens fraud-detection protocols.
Under U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) guidance, marrying and applying for adjustment of status within 90 days of entry can be viewed as visa fraud unless the applicant proves a genuine change of plans. Lawyers warn that stricter adjudication trends—illustrated by USCIS’s December memo placing adjudicative holds on applicants from 19 travel-ban countries—mean that inconsistent documentation or poor explanations can derail cases.
The article points out that citizens of fully banned countries will not even obtain visitor visas, removing marriage-in-the-U.S. as a workaround. For nationals of partially restricted states, the process is technically open but likely to attract elevated scrutiny and extended security checks.
Before initiating any trip to the United States—whether for a wedding, a business meeting, or a preliminary visit to meet future in-laws—prospective travelers can also lean on VisaHQ’s online platform for up-to-date visa requirements, document checklists, and application support. The service’s U.S. visa page (https://www.visahq.com/united-states/) consolidates embassy forms, fee information, and processing times, helping applicants avoid common mistakes that can later complicate adjustment-of-status filings.
Corporate mobility teams should note that dependents who plan to marry U.S. citizens during short-term assignments must follow compliance best practices: enter with a genuine intent to depart, avoid filing green-card paperwork until after 90 days, and maintain meticulous evidence of bona-fide relationships. Failure to do so can trigger misrepresentation findings, multi-year bars or removal proceedings.
The takeaway is that marriage is not a silver bullet for those affected by new entry restrictions. Early legal counsel and disciplined document gathering are more important than ever as USCIS tightens fraud-detection protocols.
