Immigration to the USA in 2025: What has changed and what are the paths

The immigration system of the United States of America is always directly dependent on the current political course pursued by the government. In 2025, against the backdrop of Donald Trump’s return to the presidency, significant changes have already become noticeable in the regulation of entry rules into the country, as well as in the procedures for checking the legality of stay on its territory. For anyone planning to move or already in America, it is extremely important to understand in detail how exactly the political line of the new administration has already affected the receipt of visas, green cards and consular procedures. In this article, I will consider in detail the key risks and opportunities that have emerged in 2025.

Trump’s policies and their impact on immigration

The new administration will focus on cracking down on illegal immigration. The planned measures include active and regular inspections of businesses for illegal workers, mass deportations of foreigners with criminal records, and a significant increase in border controls. The experience of the last presidential term clearly demonstrates that such measures inevitably affect those who try to enter the country legally: checks become more thorough and comprehensive, and the process of obtaining visas is significantly delayed.

Inspections of workplaces and defects

Donald Trump has repeatedly publicly stated his firm intention to crack down on sham marriages conducted solely for the purpose of obtaining a green card. This means that even legal couples in genuine marriages may face additional interviews and more stringent background checks. Employers will also be required to verify the immigration status of their foreign employees much more frequently, and the fines for any violations in this area will increase significantly.

Green Card Interview Through Marriage

During the Biden administration, some marriage applications for green cards were actually approved without an interview, at USCIS’s discretion and with strong evidence of the marriage. For example, in 2023, a New York couple was approved in six months without an interview: they had a joint mortgage, taxes, insurance, and a child, which cleared the officer’s mind.

In 2025, USCIS tightened its approach: interview waivers became rare, interviews were scheduled more often, which increased the time frame. For example, in Chicago, a married couple waited almost nine months and eventually passed an interview, where special attention was paid to financial solvency. Approval came only after providing additional income and insurance certificates.

Couples should prepare not only forms and basic documents, but also a coherent history of their life together. At the same time, USCIS has not announced a formal “mandatory requirement for everyone” – the decision on interviews is still made on a case-by-case basis.

Case.

In Kyiv, the couple completed the CR1 consular process. Because they lived in different countries and rarely met, the consul requested additional evidence at the interview: correspondence and confirmation of joint trips. The case was sent for administrative review, which took four months. Only after that was the visa issued. In such situations, it is important to collect evidence of regular communication and plans for a joint life in the United States in advance.

Impact on visas and consular processes

Experience between 2017 and 2020 has clearly demonstrated that consular procedures have become significantly more complex, with more administrative checks, longer wait times for interviews, and much more stringent screening of applicants. The likelihood of a return to such practices in 2025 remains extremely high. This will affect not only applicants for work and tourist visas, but also applicants applying for family immigration categories.

Top Immigration Paths to the US in 2025

The possibility of obtaining asylum status in 2025 remains determined by the current geopolitical situation and the priorities of the new presidential administration. For individuals arriving from states experiencing armed conflict or from countries with regimes that practice systemic political repression, there is still a chance to maintain this immigration route. However, it should be understood that the system for reviewing such requests is already under enormous strain. In this regard, we can expect further increases in the processing times in 2025, which, in turn, will lead to long and unpredictable delays for those seeking protection.

Labor Migration and Visa Bulletin

Employment-based immigration remains one of the most difficult and lengthy paths. The waiting lists for work-based green cards in some categories have already stretched for years. The likelihood that the new administration will be able to quickly and effectively solve this problem and significantly reduce the waiting times remains extremely low. The only exceptions may be those professional areas where there is an acute and critical shortage of personnel. These include, for example, care for the elderly, medical and social services.

Business Immigration through L-Visas

The L visa, designed for intra-company transfers, is an ideal solution for entrepreneurs, executives, and top managers who plan to relocate part of their business or open a branch in the United States. Historically, this visa category has been one of the least susceptible to sharp political fluctuations. In 2025, it will likely remain stable and important. While no major legislative barriers should be expected, it is possible that overall processing times could increase due to increased scrutiny.

Immigration for Extraordinary Individuals (EB-1 and O-1)

The EB-1 and O-1 visa categories, designed for individuals with exceptional and extraordinary ability and achievements in their field, have traditionally been in high demand under both Republican and Democratic administrations. The United States is constantly interested in attracting the world’s best scientists, artists, athletes, and successful entrepreneurs. In 2025, this immigration route promises to be one of the most reliable and stable.

EB-5 Investment Program

The EB-5 program, which provides the opportunity to obtain a green card by investing at least $800,000 in US projects, will continue to operate. The main risks in this segment are not related to the threat of cancellation of the program, but rather to potential changes in its terms and conditions. In particular, innovations are possible regarding stricter verification of the source of the investor’s capital , as well as adjustments to the minimum investment threshold. Despite these potential changes, the investment path to obtaining a green card is expected to remain accessible and viable.

Family Reunification and Immigration through Marriage

Family reunification remains one of the fundamental and most common legal grounds for immigration to the United States. However, in 2025, we should expect a significant tightening of requirements and increased control by immigration authorities. This will be expressed in more stringent and in-depth interviews, requests for a large amount of additional evidence of the authenticity of family or marital relationships, as well as a thorough check of the financial situation of the sponsor who acts as a guarantor. Special and very close attention will be paid to the “public charge rule” , according to which the immigrant must provide convincing evidence that he will not represent a financial burden for the American state.

Case.

A family from Ukraine applied for asylum in the United States, citing threats and the inability to live safely in their home country. The case was accepted for review, but the interview was delayed for nearly a year and a half due to an overloaded system. During this time, the family was eligible to work, but they were in limbo. The applicants were eventually granted protection after the interview, but the process itself took more than two years. This example illustrates that even with good grounds, the wait can be long and requires a willingness to accept bureaucratic delays.

Potential Changes and Risks in the US Immigration System

One of the most significant changes expected in 2025 is the possible return and strengthening of the “public charge” rule . This means that every applicant for a green card or immigrant visa will be required to provide comprehensive evidence of their financial solvency. Such evidence includes not only sufficient income, but also confirmation of appropriate education, as well as possession of a profession in demand in the American labor market. Those who cannot convincingly demonstrate their ability to provide for themselves and not become a financial burden on the state risk being denied immigration. This rule is intended to reduce the burden on US social services, but at the same time it may significantly complicate the process for many potential immigrants.

Cancellation of mandatory COVID-19 vaccination

One of the most likely actions of the new administration is the waiver of the mandatory COVID-19 vaccination requirement for all immigrant visa applicants. Currently, this requirement is part of the standard medical examination that must be passed to complete the immigration process. For a large number of applicants around the world, the waiver of this requirement will be a significant relief, as it will remove potential barriers related to vaccine availability or personal beliefs. This change will simplify medical procedures and expedite immigration processes for many people.

Possible restriction of citizenship by birthright

Donald Trump has repeatedly publicly stated his intention to revise the fundamental principle of “jus soli ,” or “jus soli,” which automatically grants a child U.S. citizenship by birth. In practice, implementing such an intention would require amending the U.S. Constitution, an extremely complex and lengthy process. Although legally difficult to implement, such rhetoric alone could significantly intensify public and political debates over immigration and create serious legal uncertainty for thousands of families whose children were born in America. This could affect both undocumented immigrants and those in the country on nonimmigrant visas, such as tourist or student visas.

Green Card Lottery 2025: Expected Difficulties and Prospects

The Green Card Lottery program, known as the DV Lottery, technically continued to exist throughout Donald Trump’s previous term. Yet, despite winning the lottery, thousands of entrants faced insurmountable obstacles and were never able to enter the United States. The problem was not the program itself being formally canceled or frozen, but the systematic erection of a multitude of barriers that made it extremely difficult to implement in practice. These barriers included massive administrative delays in processing cases, unjustified denials of mandatory consular interviews, and the imposition of special, targeted entry bans on certain groups. Such measures, while not abolishing the lottery de jure, effectively made it unworkable for many winners.

High risks of bureaucratic delays and refusals

As of 2025, there is a high probability that the Green Card Lottery will face the same challenges as in previous years. Although the program is still formally in operation and holds annual drawings, in practice, it may be very difficult for winners to successfully complete it. Given previous experience, it is extremely important for participants in this program to take into account the critical time factor: visas under the DV Lottery program are issued strictly within the established fiscal year. This means that any, even the most minor, bureaucratic obstacle or delay in the processing of the case can lead to the expiration of the visa and, as a result, to the permanent loss of the legal right to enter the country. Therefore, lottery winners need to be prepared for potential complications and act as quickly as possible.

Case.

In 2025, a Ukrainian citizen won the Green Card lottery and was invited to an interview at the Warsaw Consulate. Due to the high workload of visa services, the interview date has already been postponed twice, and the document verification took longer than expected. The case is still in progress, but there is a risk that a decision will be made too close to the end of the financial year. If the visa is not issued by September 30, the winner will lose the right to enter, despite the win. This case clearly shows that even in 2025, the main threats to Ukrainian DV Lottery participants are bureaucratic delays and lack of time.

What Immigrants Should Do in 2025: Adapting to New Conditions

The immigration landscape of the United States in 2025, despite expected political changes, still retains most of the familiar and long-established pathways. Categories such as business immigration, investment, immigration for talent, and labor migration remain available. However, the number of potential risks increases, especially in areas related to marriage cases, as well as consular processes and rules regarding the verification of financial solvency of applicants.

Key Steps to Prepare for Immigration in 2025

The most important and key principle for any potential immigrant in 2025 is to prepare in advance. This approach includes several critical actions:

1. Systematically collect evidence of family or professional ties. It is necessary to meticulously and in advance collect all possible documents, photographs, correspondence and any other evidence that can confirm the authenticity of your family relationship or professional connection with the American employer. In the context of tightened checks, a thoroughly documented history will become your greatest advantage.
2. Closely monitor changes in the Visa Bulletin. The Visa Bulletin, published by the U.S. Department of State, is the primary source of information on visa availability in various categories. Regularly monitoring this document for changes will help you stay informed about current wait times, which is especially important for those on multi-year waiting lists for work-related or family-based visas.
3. Regular consultations with professional immigration lawyers. To avoid mistakes and not miss critical deadlines, it is essential to establish ongoing cooperation with an experienced immigration lawyer. He will help you navigate the complex maze of rules and promptly respond to any changes in policy.

While the new administration’s policies may lead to tougher immigration conditions and new barriers, opportunities for successful immigration remain for those who are prepared to act systematically, thoughtfully, and early. The key to success is careful preparation and adaptation to the changing environment.