Immigration attorney LaToya McBean-Pompy, Esq., founder of McBean Immigration Law, is urging asylum seekers to be strategic about marriage and green card eligibility as USCIS accelerates its processing of asylum cases filed between 2015 and 2017.
In a candid Instagram video (@mcbeanimmigrationlaw), McBean-Pompy addressed a frequently asked question: Should you wait for a decision on your asylum case before getting married to a U.S. citizen or green card holder?
“If you’re in a genuine, bona fide marriage and you don’t have a green card—go for it,” McBean-Pompy encouraged. “Work on a marriage-based case so that you can get your green card.”
USCIS Moving Faster on Older Asylum Applications
McBean-Pompy’s advice comes at a time when U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is reportedly speeding up interviews for affirmative asylum applications filed between 2015 and 2017. She attributes this shift to staffing changes at the U.S.-Mexico border.
“It’s like crickets at the border,” she noted. “So now [USCIS officers] are back in the office and reviewing cases.”
As a result, asylum seekers from that time period should prepare their cases, refresh their memories on the facts, and hire legal counsel to strengthen their claims ahead of upcoming interviews.
Weighing the Marriage Option
While the timing of marriage is ultimately up to the applicant, McBean-Pompy emphasized that if a foreign national is in a real relationship with a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, filing a marriage-based green card application could be a strategic move—especially if the asylum process has dragged on for years with no resolution.
She also stressed the importance of evidence and legal preparation in both asylum and marriage-based applications to increase the likelihood of success.
Why This Matters
With immigration policies evolving rapidly, McBean-Pompy’s advice offers clarity for asylum seekers who may be hesitant to take the next steps in their personal and immigration journeys.
Her message to immigrants navigating these complexities: “Don’t wait if the relationship is real—secure your future.”
