5 ms·

I don't want to minimize your friend's situation. But, a spousal visa is very different from being a permanent resident (maybe I am misunderstanding). If he got

I don't want to minimize your friend's situation. But, a spousal visa is very different from being a permanent resident (maybe I am misunderstanding). If he got it through marrying a US citizen, there's a 3-year wait for naturalization and otherwise it's a 5-year wait. Naturalization never required leaving the country, at least in my experience but things might have changed.

JauntTrooper 22d ago
You're right, I fixed the wording. I don't know all the details, but I do think it's a recent change. They've been married for almost ten years. His wife and child are US born. Trump ended in-country processing and now requires almost all greencard applicants to go to a consulate abroad. My friend and his wife were surprised and nervous when they were told he'd have to leave due to this new requirement (rightfully so, in retrospect).
- freediddy 21d ago
  You said he hasn't seen his daughter in over a year which means he was disallowed from coming into the country since August 2025, before that in-country processing was ended. It ended in May 2026.
  - JauntTrooper 21d ago
    Almost a year. The May 2026 rule ended it for a lot of people, but they ended in-country processing for his situation/country earlier. The new rules are complicated and constantly shifting nowadays.
    - gamblor956 21d ago
      They didn't end in-country processing for any green card applications until November 2025. Your friend could not have been out-of-the country for over a year.
hn_acc1 21d ago
Confused as well - spousal visa gives them a green card, does it not? What is there to wait for? Are they postponing green card renewal as well?
- wildzzz 21d ago
  It's not automatic, you still need to apply and USCIS still has arbitrary discretion. The I-485 can take several months and that's assuming your paperwork is perfect and the agent likes you.

5 ms·

I don't want to minimize your friend's situation. But, a spousal visa is very different from being a permanent resident (maybe I am misunderstanding). If he got

by assemblyman 22d ago

JauntTrooper 22d ago
You're right, I fixed the wording. I don't know all the details, but I do think it's a recent change. They've been married for almost ten years. His wife and child are US born. Trump ended in-country processing and now requires almost all greencard applicants to go to a consulate abroad. My friend and his wife were surprised and nervous when they were told he'd have to leave due to this new requirement (rightfully so, in retrospect).
- freediddy 21d ago
  You said he hasn't seen his daughter in over a year which means he was disallowed from coming into the country since August 2025, before that in-country processing was ended. It ended in May 2026.
  - JauntTrooper 21d ago
    Almost a year. The May 2026 rule ended it for a lot of people, but they ended in-country processing for his situation/country earlier. The new rules are complicated and constantly shifting nowadays.
    - gamblor956 21d ago
      They didn't end in-country processing for any green card applications until November 2025. Your friend could not have been out-of-the country for over a year.
hn_acc1 21d ago
Confused as well - spousal visa gives them a green card, does it not? What is there to wait for? Are they postponing green card renewal as well?
- wildzzz 21d ago
  It's not automatic, you still need to apply and USCIS still has arbitrary discretion. The I-485 can take several months and that's assuming your paperwork is perfect and the agent likes you.