US To Recognise Only Civil Marriages For Refugee, Asylum Spousal Applications

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced a new policy that will significantly affect refugees and asylum seekers seeking to sponsor their spouses for immigration benefits.

Effective July 3, 2025, USCIS will only recognise legally registered civil marriages between principal refugees or asylees and their spouses when processing derivative immigration applications.

This means that customary, traditional, or religious-only unions that are not formally registered under civil law will no longer qualify for spousal sponsorship in the U.S. asylum and refugee system.

According to the updated USCIS Policy Manual, a marriage must be legally valid under the law of the jurisdiction where it was celebrated in order to be recognised for immigration purposes.

The agency clarified that this change aligns with long-standing legal standards and aims to ensure that all marriages used to obtain immigration benefits are both bonafide and legally recognised.

“This update in the USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 4, ensures that marriages between principal asylees or principal refugees and their claimed spouses must be legally valid under the local laws where the marriage took place,” the agency stated.

The policy will apply to all new applications submitted from July 3, 2025, and will also affect pending applications that have not yet been adjudicated.

Three primary groups are expected to be impacted by this change. First, principal refugees and asylees who are already granted protection in the U.S. and are seeking to reunite with their spouses.

Second are derivative spouses applying for immigration benefits based on marriage to a refugee or asylee.

Third, applicants from countries where non-civil marriage systems are common, including Nigeria, Uganda, India, Afghanistan, and Somalia.

USCIS stated that the new policy is part of broader efforts to reduce fraud in the refugee and asylum process, promote legal consistency, and uphold administrative standards.

The change also supports recent presidential directives, including Executive Order 14148, which rescinds previous immigration policies, and Executive Order 14163, which aims to reshape refugee admissions based on inclusive and humanitarian values.

In light of the new policy, USCIS urged applicants to ensure their marriages meet civil legal standards.

The agency recommended obtaining a government-issued civil marriage certificate, even if a religious or traditional ceremony has already been conducted.

Applicants should also verify the legal validity of the marriage in the jurisdiction where it took place, as some countries allow retroactive civil registration of customary marriages.

To support their application, couples were advised to submit official documentation such as a civil marriage certificate and evidence of a shared life, including joint assets, children, or shared financial responsibilities.