US to Tighten Child Green Card Age Rules from August 15, 2025
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will adopt stricter criteria for determining a child’s eligibility under the Child Status Protection Act (CSPA) starting August 15, 2025, aligning its policy with the Department of State.
The CSPA, enacted in 2002, protects children from “aging out” of green card eligibility due to lengthy visa delays by freezing their age under certain conditions. While USCIS has used the more lenient “Dates for Filing” chart since 2023, the State Department relied on the stricter “Final Action Dates” chart, creating inconsistent outcomes between applicants inside and outside the U.S.
From August 15, USCIS will apply the Final Action Dates standard, potentially causing some children to lose eligibility sooner. Applications pending before the February 14, 2023, policy change will still benefit from the older, more flexible rules.
Immigration lawyers warn that families with children nearing 21 should act quickly, filing applications before the deadline to avoid being affected by the tighter standard.
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