Marriage Green Card Updates
Please visit our YouTube Channel for all UPDATES to USCIS Policies. Then visit our Play List named: USCIS Updates for Marriage Green Cards https://www.youtube.com/@ImmigrationCoursesBotelho
Welcome to our Marriage-Based Green Card Updates page. This section is dedicated to providing important updates, announcements, policy changes, processing trends, and practical guidance related to the marriage-based immigration process in the United States.
NEW Adjustment of Status Memo PM-602-0199 – IF YOU ARE FILING FOR ADJUSTMENT OF STATUS YOU MUST READ AND FOLLOW THESE NEW INSTRUCTIONS!!!!
USCIS changed the rules. Your course just got three new tools.
On May 21, 2026, USCIS issued Policy Memo PM-602-0199. The law didn’t change — the way officers decide your marriage-based green card did. Here’s what happened, and three free handouts that help you respond.
PLEASE WATCH OUR YouTube VIDEO on this Subject!!!!!!!
CLICK ON THE LINK FOR THE VIDEO —> https://youtu.be/DYtoS9GQfEc
Section 1 – What the memo actually does
The law didn’t change. The lens did.
Congress didn’t amend the statute, and USCIS still has to accept your I-485. What PM-602-0199 does is remind officers that adjusting status from inside the United States has always been discretionary — what the courts call “administrative grace.” In practice, that means there are now two gates instead of one.
| Gate 1 — unchanged: Do you qualify?
The same eligibility requirements you already know from the course. |
| Gate 2 — the new emphasis: Do you deserve it?
Officers weigh all your positive and negative factors together and decide whether to grant the green card here, rather than abroad. |
The key takeaway: a clean record alone is no longer enough. You have to affirmatively put your positive equities — family ties, character, contributions, the human stakes of your case — on the scale. That’s exactly what the three new handouts help you do. The full memo is available to download below so you can read it yourself.
Section 2 — How to use the three tools
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One system: gather, write, defend.
Intro
Use them in order. Each one feeds the next — the categories you gather become the sections you write, which become the answers you rehearse.
Step 1 — Gather
Start with the Discretionary Equities Checklist. It organizes everything you need to collect into seven categories, with a checkbox for every document. Work one category at a time.
Step 2 — Write
Move your evidence into the Discretionary Statement Template. Its nine sections line up with the checklist. Replace the bracketed placeholders with your facts, delete the instructions, and sign before a notary.
Step 3 — Defend
Prepare with the Four Interview Questions Worksheet. It walks you through the four discretionary questions we expect officers to ask, with example answers and space to draft your own.
Section 3 — Free downloads
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Click any item to download.
Intro
These are the same materials we provide to our clients — free for every student of The Marriage Green Card System. Download the memo too, so you can read the source for yourself.
| Handout 1 — Discretionary Equities Checklist
Your evidence inventory — seven categories, a checkbox for every document. Start here. |
| Handout 2 — Discretionary Statement Template
A fillable sworn declaration in nine sections — the most powerful document you can add to your filing. |
| Handout 3 — The Four Interview Questions Worksheet
Prepare for the discretionary questions at your interview — with frameworks and practice space. |
| The source — USCIS Policy Memo PM-602-0199
The actual memo, issued May 21, 2026. Read it for yourself alongside the handouts. |
Tip shown on the page: download all four, then watch the walkthrough videos so you can follow along on your own copies.
Section 4 — When it’s past do-it-yourself
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When it’s past do-it-yourself
Body
These handouts are built for straightforward cases. If any of the following apply to you, this is the moment to use your Confidence Credit Guarantee and speak with an attorney:
Applies if you have any of the following
- An overstay longer than 180 days, or any unauthorized work
- A prior visa denial, border issue, or any criminal history
- Any prior misrepresentation, an RFE on discretion, or a denied I-485
Your course tuition credits in full toward representation at Botelho Law Group PLLC — a separate law firm.
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disclaimer
This is educational material, not legal advice. The Marriage Green Card System and these handouts provide general legal education and do not create an attorney-client relationship. USCIS policy, regulations, and adjudication practices change over time — verify current requirements before filing. Botelho Immigration Courses is offered by Botelho Financial Group LLC and is a separate entity from Botelho Law Group PLLC. For advice specific to your situation, schedule a free consultation with Botelho Law Group at 508-500-1551.
The immigration process is constantly changing. USCIS policies, National Visa Center procedures, U.S. Embassy interview requirements, filing fees, processing times, travel rules, and immigration laws can all change with little notice. These changes can directly impact your immigration case, your timeline, and even your eligibility for certain immigration benefits.
This page was created to help individuals and families stay informed about important developments affecting:
- Marriage-Based Green Cards
- Adjustment of Status Cases
- Consular Processing Cases
- Fiancé Visas (K-1)
- Conditional Green Cards
- Removal of Conditions (I-751)
- Work Permits (EAD)
- Advance Parole Travel Documents
- USCIS Interview Procedures
- National Visa Center (NVC) Updates
- U.S. Embassy and Consulate Processing Changes
- Immigration Medical Exam Requirements
- Immigration Policy Changes
- Filing Fee Updates
- Processing Delays and Backlogs
- Immigration Forms and Document Requirements
On this page, we will regularly post updates involving agencies such as:
- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
- National Visa Center (NVC)
- U.S. Department of State
- U.S. Embassies and U.S. Consulates worldwide
- Immigration Courts and related federal immigration agencies
Our goal is to provide clear, practical information to help you better understand the immigration process and avoid common mistakes that can delay or negatively impact your case.
Please remember that immigration law changes frequently, and every case is different. Information provided on this page is intended for general educational purposes only and should not be considered legal advice for any specific case.
We encourage you to check this page regularly for new updates, important announcements, and practical guidance regarding the marriage-based green card process.
Please visit our YouTube Channel for all UPDATES to USCIS Policies. Then visit our Play List named: USCIS Updates for Marriage Green Cards https://www.youtube.com/@ImmigrationCoursesBotelho