What’s Happening?

On August 19, 2025, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) released updated policy guidance that changes how the agency reviews a range of immigration applications. The updates, which revise Chapter 8 of the USCIS Policy Manual, direct immigration officers to take a broader look at an applicant’s background, including public online activity, ideologies, and associations, when deciding whether to approve a request for certain immigration benefits.

These changes primarily impact applications that involve discretionary review, meaning that, in addition to confirming an applicant meets statutory and regulatory eligibility criteria, officers must also weigh an applicant’s eligibility alongside a broader assessment of their background to determine if approval is warranted.