Marrying a U.S. citizen has never automatically triggered a green card, but in 2025, the U.S. government has taken unprecedented steps to make the marriage-based residency process much stricter. If you’re considering this path, it’s critical to understand the significant changes and heightened scrutiny now shaping the journey from “I do” to permanent residency.

Increased Scrutiny on Marriage Fraud

The core reason for these changes is the government’s ongoing battle against immigration fraud. According to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), fake marriages remain one of the most common — and most aggressively prosecuted — forms of immigration fraud. This year, agencies have made clear that only genuine, legally recognized marriages will clear the hurdles for lawful permanent resident (green card) status. Sham marriages, or those arranged for immigration benefits rather than a bona fide relationship, are targeted for detailed investigation and potential deportation.

Step-by-Step: The Marriage-Based Green Card Process in 2025

1. No More “Automatic” Green Cards
   • Marrying a U.S. citizen is only the first step. You must apply for a green card through a legal process that now requires extensive evidence your relationship is real and ongoing.
2. Form and Filing Changes
   • In 2025, USCIS strictly enforces new editions of application forms — for adjustment of status (Form I-485), fiancé visas (Form I-129F), and petitions for relatives (Form I-130). Submitting even a single outdated page can trigger outright rejection, costing precious time and money.
3. Evidence Requirements Have Tightened
   • Officials now demand clear, comprehensive proof of a genuine marital relationship. Examples include:
     • Joint bank accounts and tax returns
     • Shared leases, mortgages, or utility bills
     • Records of travel together
     • Messages, photos, and affidavits from friends/family
   • Simple wedding photos are no longer enough; fraud detection officers receive specialized training to spot faked documents and inconsistencies.

1. Conditional Green Card—Not Permanent Right Away
   • If your marriage is less than 2 years old at the time of approval, you’ll be issued a conditional green card(“CR1”).
   • This allows you to live and work in the U.S. for 2 years, but it is a probationary period. Within the 90 days before the card expires, you and your spouse must jointly petition (Form I-751) to remove the conditions and receive a full, 10-year green card.
   • During this step, you must prove once again that the marriage remains genuine and was not entered into solely for immigration benefits. Failing to file, provide sufficient evidence, missing deadlines, or getting divorced before the end of this period can result in denial, deportation, or a permanent ban on reapplying.
2. More Enforcement, More Risk
   • Immigration officers have increased discretion to deny applications without warning, especially if they detect any red flags: previous suspicious filings, glaring age/cultural differences without supporting evidence, financial inconsistencies, or inconsistent answers during interviews.
   • If your case is flagged as potentially fraudulent, you could be placed in removal proceedings before an immigration judge.

What Happens if the Marriage Ends?

• Waivers are available if the marriage ends due to divorce or abuse, but the applicant must convincingly prove the marriage began in good faith, not to circumvent immigration laws.
• If USCIS determines the relationship was fake or evidence is lacking, the applicant could face deportation and a lifetime ban from reapplying.

Why Are These Changes Happening?

U.S. authorities say these reforms are a response to a real increase in attempted marriage fraud and the proliferation of “sham marriage” schemes. Recent years have seen several high-profile criminal cases and coordinated investigations. Protecting the legitimacy and security of the green card system has become a key national priority.

Key Takeaways for 2025 Applicants

• Double-check all form editions and instructions before filing applications — even minor paperwork errors can now cost you your chance.
• Prepare extensive evidence of a real, ongoing relationship. Start gathering financial records, joint leases, messages, travel documents, and third-party affidavits early.
• Take conditional status seriously. Mark your calendar—with the stricter environment, missing even a procedural step could be disastrous.
• Seek legal guidance if your circumstances are complex or you’ve faced any prior visa or immigration denials.

In short: Marrying a U.S. citizen in 2025 does not guarantee a green card. The process involves a two-year conditional period, multiple rounds of documentation, and close scrutiny to combat fraud. Real relationships, thorough preparation, and meticulous paperwork are essential to success in the new system.

Former Vice President Kamala Harris has officially announced that she will not run for governor of California in 2026, ending months of speculation over her political future and immediately fueling discussions over a possible third bid for the White House in 2028.

In a statement released Wednesday, Harris explained, “Over the past six months, I have spent time reflecting on this moment in our nation’s history and the best way for me to continue fighting for the American people and advancing the values and ideals I hold dear. I have given serious thought to asking the people of California for the privilege to serve as their governor. I love this state, its people and its promise. It is my home. But after deep reflection, I’ve decided that I will not run for Governor in this election.” Harris added that for now her leadership and public service would not take the form of elected office, but she remains committed to helping elect Democrats across the nation and will share more about her future plans in the coming months.

What Led to Her Decision

Harris, who has largely stayed out of the spotlight since her defeat to President Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election, spent several months weighing whether to pursue the governorship, seek a third run for president, or exit electoral politics altogether. Political observers had considered her a frontrunner if she entered the race to succeed term-limited Governor Gavin Newsom. However, Harris showed limited public enthusiasm for the role, rarely attending major political events in the state or engaging with key labor and party leaders over the past year.

Insiders say Harris’s decision reflects her desire to keep her options open for a potential 2028 presidential campaign. “This absolutely keeps the door open for 2028,” one source told NBC News. The timing of her decision—well ahead of the 2026 gubernatorial primary—allows other Democratic contenders to organize their bids for California’s top executive office.

Implications for 2028—and the Democratic Party

Harris’s move immediately shifts the dynamics of the upcoming Democratic presidential primary. As the most recognizable national Democrat not currently holding office, she enters the 2028 conversation with a powerful fundraising network and high profile, but analysts warn that her 2024 loss and the shifting political landscape mean she’s far from a presumptive nominee.

Several prominent Democrats, including California Governor Gavin Newsom, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, and Gov. J.B. Pritzker of Illinois, are already exploring their own presidential ambitions. With no sitting Democratic president in 2028, the field is likely to be crowded and fiercely competitive.

Some party strategists suggest that Democrats are looking for a “new generation” of leadership to help reset after the loss to Trump, while others believe Harris deserves a chance to run on her own terms, feeling she was put in a “tough spot” as Biden’s late replacement in 2024.

Harris’s Next Steps

While she remains out of elected office, Harris has indicated she plans to amplify her voice in public service, possibly through advocacy, supporting Democratic candidates, writing, or activism. Her statement also reflected admiration for those in public life and called for a willingness to pursue change through “new methods and fresh thinking—committed to our same values and principles, but not bound by the same playbook”.

With her decision made, the political world now shifts its attention to Harris’s next move—and whether she will launch a campaign to become the first woman president of the United States in 2028. For now, she remains a key figure in Democratic politics, with all options still on the table.

In a historic turn for global governance, Nairobi, Kenya, is emerging as the newest epicenter for the United Nations, marking a dramatic shift in how—and where—the world’s largest international organization operates.

What’s Really Happening?

The United Nations is in the process of relocating the global headquarters of three major agencies—UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund), UN Women (United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women), and UNFPA (United Nations Population Fund)—from New York to Nairobi. These agencies will join the long-established headquarters for UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and UN-Habitat, making Nairobi one of only four cities worldwide (alongside New York, Geneva, and Vienna) to host multiple UN global headquarters.

The relocation, set for completion by the end of 2026, is not the wholesale move of the UN’s main Secretariat or the Security Council, but these decisions mark Nairobi as the new nerve center for some of the UN’s most critical humanitarian and development functions.

Why Nairobi? The Drivers Behind the Move

• Cost Efficiency: Running large bureaucratic offices in New York and Geneva is increasingly unaffordable, especially with the UN facing severe budget cuts and evolving donor priorities. Relocating to Nairobi will dramatically lower operational expenses for office space, staffing, and logistics.
• Strategic Location: Nairobi’s central position in Africa—next to regional flashpoints like Somalia, South Sudan, and the Horn—makes it an ideal hub for crisis response and humanitarian operations. The city’s airport, digital infrastructure, and diplomatic corps are already well-developed to host global delegations.

• Modern, Expanding Infrastructure: The United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON), with help from both Kenya and international donors, recently completed a $340million upgrade. Additions include a state-of-the-art 9,000-seat assembly hall and expanded conference facilities. New staff housing, international schools, and rec centers are under development.
• Internal Reform: Under the ‘UN@80’ agenda, the organization aims to decentralize decision-making, bring leadership closer to the regions it serves, and make global governance more inclusive and locally responsive.
• Host Country Support: The Kenyan government has provided land, tax breaks, security guarantees, and infrastructure upgrades to support the UN’s growing presence.

What Changes for Kenya (and the World)?

• Increased Global Influence: Nairobi is set to welcome an estimated 800 new direct UN staffers, with thousands more indirect jobs in construction, hospitality, and services. This will boost the Kenyan economy by an estimated $350million per year, already eclipsing Kenya’s famed coffee exports.
• Diplomatic Clout: The move cements Kenya’s status as a diplomatic gateway between the Global South and international centers of power, with major summits and UN events likely to increasingly take place in Nairobi.
• Regional Stability: With more crisis management and humanitarian operations based in Nairobi, the UN will be better positioned to respond rapidly to emergencies across East and Central Africa.
• A Symbolic Shift: Hosting multiple UN agencies in Nairobi signals a deliberate shift of global governance power to the Global South, reflecting Africa’s rising strategic and demographic importance in world affairs.

Not the End of New York—But a New Beginning

The relocation doesn’t mean the UN is abandoning its iconic New York HQ or its functions in Geneva and Vienna. Instead, the move is about sharing global power, decentralizing leadership, and modernizing to remain relevant amid new geopolitical realities and tighter budgets.

As Nairobi steps into its role as the new UN hub, Kenya finds itself at the forefront of international cooperation, diplomacy, and humanitarian action—a pivotal milestone for the continent and for a changing world.