1

How the U.S. Immigration System 

Encourages Child Marriages

Majority Staff Report of the

Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs

United States Senate

Senator Ron Johnson, Chairman

January 11, 2019
2

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

U.S. law and U.S. Department of State policy aim to prevent and reduce the risks of child

marriages occurring around the world, yet major loopholes in U.S. law have allowed thousands

of minors to be subjected to child marriages. Under the Immigration and Nationality Act

(“INA”), a U.S. child may petition for a visa for a spouse or fiancé living in another country, and

a U.S. adult may petition for a visa for a minor spouse or fiancé living abroad.1

Obtaining a visa for a spouse or fiancé involves the approval of two federal government

agencies. A petition is first made to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”). If

a petition is filed by or on behalf of a minor, USCIS does not require parental or judicial consent.

Once USCIS approves a petition, the decision to actually issue a visa is made by the State

Department. The State Department returns or rejects few spousal or fiancé immigrant visa

petitions after they are approved by USCIS. USCIS reported to the Committee: “Between [Fiscal

Year (“FY”)] FY 2007 and FY 2017, approximately 2.6 percent of fiancé and spousal petitions

[were] returned to USCIS. Of that total, approximately 37 percent [were] revoked.”2

Over the last eleven years (FY2007 to FY2017), USCIS approved 3,595,447 petitions3

for spousal or fiancé entry in to the United States.4 Of those, 8,686 involved a minor.5 Two

minors whose petitions were approved were 13 years old6; 38 were 14 years old; 269 were 15

years old; 1,768 were 16 years old; and the remaining 6,609 were 17 years old.7 Girls were the

younger party in 95 percent of the petitions approved by USCIS.8

USCIS did not know how many of the 8,686 petitions involving a minor were approved

by the State Department for a visa. However, based on the 2.6 percent return/reject rate shown

above, it is reasonable to conclude that the United States issued a visa to a significant number of

the spouses and fiancés named on the 8,686 petitions. Additionally, USCIS reported that over the

same time period (FY2007-FY2017), 4,749 minors in the United States on spousal or fiancé

visas received green cards to become lawful permanent residents (“LPR”).9

 

1 Pub. L. No. 82-414. The Immigration and Nationality Act does not establish a minimum age requirement for

petitions for immigration benefits for spouses or fiancés. See Letter from The Honorable L. Francis Cissna,

Director, U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services, to The Honorable Ron Johnson, Chairman, S. Comm. on

Homeland Sec. & Governmental Affairs (Oct. 4, 2018) (on file with Comm. staff) [hereinafter Director Cissna

Letter]; see also William A. Kandel, Memorandum to S. Comm. on Homeland Sec. & Governmental Affairs, Forced

Marriage and Child Marriage in the Context of U.S. Immigration Policy, Cong, Research Serv. (2018) (on file with

Comm. staff) [hereinafter Kandel CRS Report].

2 Director Cissna Letter, supra note 1.

3 The Form I-130 Petition for Alien Relative is used for spouses and the Form I-129F Petition for Alien Fiancé(e) is

used for fiancées. See U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services, I-130, Petition for Alien Relative

https://www.uscis.gov/i-130 (last updated Nov. 6, 2018); U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services, I-129F, Petition

for Alien Fiancé(e), https://www.uscis.gov/i-129f (last updated Sept. 10, 2018).

4 Director Cissna Letter, supra note 1.

5

Id.

6 The two petitions involving 13-year-olds were ultimately refused or terminated by the State Department. Id.

7

Id.

8 Comm. staff briefing with U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (Oct. 9, 2018).

9 Director Cissna Letter, supra note 1.
3

The Committee found that USCIS awarded some petitions to people with significant age

differences. For example, in 2013, USCIS approved a 71-year-old U.S. citizen’s petition for a

17-year-old spouse in Guatemala;10 in 2011, USCIS approved a 14-year-old U.S. citizen’s

petition for a 48-year-old spouse in Jamaica;11 and USCIS approved 149 petitions involving a

minor with an adult spouse or fiancé who was more than 40 years old.12

As part of its oversight work, Committee staff spoke with a U.S. citizen and childmarriage victim who was forced to marry her first cousin during a family vacation to Pakistan.13

 

USCIS approved her petition for a spousal immigration benefit for her cousin when she was 13

years old after she returned to the United States. She is just one of the thousands of U.S. women

and girls forced into a child marriage involving the U.S. immigration system.

Committee Chairman Ron Johnson and former Ranking Member Claire McCaskill 

sought information from USCIS about child marriages and immigration benefits in September 

2017.14 It took USCIS over one year to provide the data in this report. This report explains 

current U.S. law and presents the data and information the Committee obtained. It also details the 

weaknesses the Committee found in USCIS’s management and administration of spousal and 

fiancé immigration petitions that leave minors vulnerable to fraud, child exploitation, trafficking, 

and forced marriages. The Appendix includes the letter Chairman Johnson and former Ranking 

Member McCaskill sent to USCIS and the documents USCIS provided to the Committee in 

response. 

 

10 Id.

11 Id. 

12 Id. 

13 Email and Telephone Interview with Naila Amin and Comm. staff (Aug. 10, 2017).

14 Letter from The Honorable Ron Johnson & The Honorable Claire McCaskill, Chairman and Ranking Member, S. 

Comm. on Homeland Sec. & Governmental Affairs, to James McCament, Acting Director, U.S. Citizenship & 

Immigration Services (Sept. 15, 2017) (on file with Comm. staff).
4

TABLE OF CONTENTS

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ............................................................................................................ 2

TABLE OF CONTENTS................................................................................................................ 4

I. BACKGROUND ON CHILD MARRIAGES AND THE U.S. IMMIGRATION 

SYSTEM......................................................................................................................................... 5

A. Child marriage in the United States.................................................................................... 5

B. The implications of the legality of child marriage in U.S. immigration law...................... 6

II. THE PROCESS TO PETITION FOR IMMIGRATION BENEFITS FOR A SPOUSE OR 

FIANCÉ.......................................................................................................................................... 8

III. DATA AND INFORMATION ABOUT CHILD MARRIAGES AND THE U.S. 

IMMIGRATION SYSTEM.......................................................................................................... 11

A. USCIS approved 8,686 immigration benefit petitions for a spouse or fiancé involving a 

minor between FY2007 and FY2017................................................................................ 11

B. At least 4,749 minor spouses or fiancés adjusted to become LPRs between FY2007 and 

FY2017 ............................................................................................................................. 12

C. Approximately 75 percent of the petitions approved between FY2007 and FY2017 

involved minors who were 17 years old. However, petitions during that time were 

approved involving children as young as 14 years old..................................................... 13

D. Between FY2007 and FY2017, USCIS approved 5,556 petitions by U.S. adults for minor 

beneficiaries overseas and 2,926 petitions by U.S. minor children for adult beneficiaries 

overseas............................................................................................................................. 14

E. Mexican national beneficiaries had the highest number of spouse and fiancé visa petitions 

involving minors approved from FY2007 to FY2017. During that time, Middle Eastern 

national beneficiaries had the highest percent of approved petitions involving a minor as 

compared to their overall number of petitions for spousal or fiancé immigration benefits

........................................................................................................................................... 15

VI. WEAKNESSES IN USCIS’S MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION OF 

SPOUSAL AND FIANCÉ IMMIGRATION PETITIONS.......................................................... 18

V. CONCLUSION................................................................................................................. 20

APPENDIX
5

I. BACKGROUND ON CHILD MARRIAGES AND THE U.S. 

IMMIGRATION SYSTEM

The U.S. government has advocated for preventing and reducing the risk of child

marriages occurring around the world. In 2013, Congress passed the Violence Against Women

Reauthorization Act, which required the Secretary of State to establish and implement a multiyear strategy to “prevent child marriages” and “to promote the empowerment of girls at risk of

child marriage in developing countries.”15 The law requires the Secretary of State to:

establish and implement a multi-year, multi-sectoral strategy—

(1) to prevent child marriage;

(2) to promote the empowerment of girls at risk of child marriage in developing

countries;

(3) that should address the unique needs, vulnerabilities, and potential of girls

younger than 18 years of age in developing countries;

(4) that targets areas in developing countries with high prevalence of child

marriage; and

(5) that includes diplomatic and programmatic initiatives.16

In 2016, the State Department, in concert with other agencies, published the United States

Global Strategy to Empower Adolescent Girls, which established a goal to “reduce the risk of

child, early, and forced marriage (CEFM).”17 It declared that child, early, and forced marriages

“have devastating repercussions for a girl’s life,” and foster “conditions that enable or exacerbate

violence and insecurity, including domestic violence.”18 The policy defined a forced marriage as

“. . . a marriage that takes place without the consent of one or both people in the marriage.”19 The

strategy reported that “[t]here are nearly 700 million women alive today who were married as

children, and 15 million more are married each year.”20 The State Department argued that

“forced marriage [is] a human rights abuse and, in the case of minors, a form of child abuse.”21 

A. Child marriage in the United States

In the United States, children under the age of 18 are allowed to marry in nearly all states,

but often with restrictions that require a showing of consent. The National Conference of State

Legislatures (“NCSL”), a bipartisan non-governmental organization, compiled an analysis of

 

15 Pub. L. No. 113-4.

16 22 U.S.C. § 7104(j) (2013).

17 U.S. Dep’t of State, United States Global Strategy to Empower Adolescent Girls (2016), available at

https://www.state.gov/documents/organization/254904.pdf [hereinafter U.S. Global Strategy].

18 Id.; see also U.S. Agency for Int’l Dev., Ending Child Marriage & Meeting the Needs of Married Children: The

USAID Vision for Action (2012), available at https://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PDACU300.pdf; U.S. Agency for Int’l

Dev., Child, Early, and Forced Marriage Resource Guide (2015), available at

https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1865/USAID_CEFM_Resource-Guide.PDF. 

19 U.S. Dep’t of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs, Forced Marriage,

https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/emergencies/forced.html (last updated July 31, 2018).

20 U.S. Global Strategy, supra note 17.

21 Id.
6

state marriage age laws as of May 2017.22 NCSL summarized that, “[m]ost states require the

parties to a marriage to be at least 18, with exceptions if the parties are between the ages of 16

and 18.”23 NCSL further wrote, “[g]enerally, if under the age of consent as defined by law, the

parties must obtain parental consent and/or judicial consent to be married.”24 The Congressional

Research Service reached a similar conclusion.25

Several states have recently enacted laws to curb marriages involving children. In 2018,

Delaware and New Jersey passed legislation prohibiting marriage before the age of 18.26 Florida

passed a measure banning child marriages under the age of 17.27 Available information on the

number of child marriages occurring within the United States is limited, in part because the

federal government does not collect this data.28

B. The implications of the legality of child marriage in U.S. immigration law

The fact that child marriages are legal in the United States has significant implications for

the U.S. immigration system. The INA does not prohibit minors from petitioning on behalf of a

spouse or fiancé to receive immigration benefits, nor does it prohibit a U.S. adult citizen from

petitioning on behalf of a minor spouse or fiancé.29 USCIS will only consider whether the

petitioner’s age at marriage “violates the laws of the place of celebration or the public policy of

the U.S. state in which the couple plans to reside.”30 However, USCIS does not require the minor

to demonstrate parental or judicial consent, even if the state in which they will reside would have

required it to marry.31

 

22 Nat’l Conference of State Legislatures, Marriage Age Laws, available at

https://comm.ncsl.org/productfiles/94723912/NCSL-Marriage-Age-Requirements.pdf (last updated May 2017).

23 Id.

24 Id.

25 Kandel CRS Report, supra note 1 (“[w]hile most states have established a minimum marrying age of 18, all make

exceptions if parents consent by signing the marriage license applications. Many states also permit children below

age 16 to marry with judicial approval.”).

26 Ayaan Hirsi Ali Foundation, Child Marriage Fact Sheet, available at https://www.theahafoundation.org/childmarriage/ (last visited Dec. 3, 2018).

27 Ellen Wulfhorst, Florida Approves Limit, but not Ban, on Child Marriage, Reuters (Mar. 10, 2018),

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-childmarriage-florida/florida-approves-limit-but-not-ban-on-child-marriageidUSKCN1GM0ET.

28 Kandel CRS Report, supra note 1 (noting that “estimates of the prevalence of forced marriage in the United States

are relatively few and based upon surveys of populations that may not be generalizable to the broader U.S.

population”). In 2018, researchers from the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health determined that “approximately

78,400 children in the U.S. are or have been married” and there are “large prevalence differences between children

of different racial, ethnic and immigrant backgrounds. Children born outside the U.S., particularly those born in

Central America, Mexico and the Middle East, were much more likely to be married than their peers born in the

U.S.” Stephanie Cajigal, Child marriage occurs in the US and threatens the wellbeing of girls and boys nationwide,

UCLA researchers report, UCLA Fielding School of Public Health (Apr. 17, 2018),

https://ph.ucla.edu/uclachildmarriage (citing Alissa Koski and Jody Heymann, Child Marriage in the United States:

How Common Is the Practice, And Which Children Are at Greatest Risk?, UCLA Fielding School of Public Health

(Apr. 17, 2018), available at https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1363/psrh.12055). 

29 Kandel CRS Report, supra note 1.

30 Director Cissna Letter, supra note 1.

31 Kandel CRS Report, supra note 1.
7

Advocacy organizations against child marriages and forced marriages warn that U.S.

policy creates the opportunity for adults to exploit immigration benefits for the purposes of

forcing children into marriage. Fraidy Reiss, founder of the non-profit organization Unchained

At Last, told National Public Radio that “the families of young brides will often promise

American citizenship to a foreign husband in lieu of paying a dowry.”32 Based on her experience

working with victims, Reiss warned that brides brought to the United States may be denied the

opportunity to apply for U.S. citizenship, which may leave them subject to domestic violence.33

Reiss believes that “families use the threat of deportation to keep women from leaving or

reporting abuse.”34

The non-profit Ayaan Hirsi Ali Foundation called the ability for a child in the United

States to sponsor a visa for a spouse or fiancé a “federal loophole” and explained “[t]hese

loopholes leave the most vulnerable children, often girls promised to adult men, defenseless to

families who hope to offer U.S. citizenship in exchange for a marital agreement.”35

Committee majority staff spoke with one victim of a forced marriage who filed a petition

to have her husband immigrate to the United States in 2003 when she was just 13 years old.36

Ms. Naila Amin, who is now an adult, traveled to Pakistan with her family on vacation to attend

her brother’s wedding. During the trip, she was forced to marry her older first cousin. She recalls

her parents taking pictures and saying they were for immigration purposes. In January 2005, her

parents sent her from New York to live with her husband in Pakistan. Throughout her forced

marriage she suffered physical and sexual abuse. She attempted to escape the marriage on

numerous occasions and succeeded in March 2005, returning home to the United States.37

Ms. Amin did not recall whether she had petitioned for a spousal visa for her cousin,

since her recollection from childhood was unclear. She contacted the Committee to request help

to learn if she had petitioned for an immigration benefit as a child or was forced by her family to

do so.38 Committee majority staff learned that USCIS approved her petition for her husband in

2004, though she has no recollection of filing it.

39 The State Department subsequently terminated

the petition in 2008.40

 

32 Jennifer Ludden, Thousands of Young Women in U.S. Forced Into Marriage, NPR (Apr. 14, 2015),

https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2015/04/14/399337562/thousands-of-young-women-in-u-s-forced-intomarriage.

33 Id.

34 Id.

35 Federal Loophole Responsible for Countless Child Marriages in the U.S., The AHA Foundation (Oct. 15, 2018),

https://www.theahafoundation.org/federal-loophole-responsible-for-countless-child-marriages-in-the-u-s/.

36 Email and Telephone Interview with Naila Amin and Comm. staff, supra note 13.

37 Id.

38 Id.

39 Email from USCIS to S. Comm. on Homeland Sec. & Governmental Affairs majority staff (Sept. 19, 2017 12:34

PM) (on file with Comm. majority staff).

40 Email from U.S. Dep’t of State National Visa Center to S. Comm. on Homeland Sec. & Governmental Affairs 

majority staff (Sept. 22, 2017 11:29 PM) (on file with Comm. majority staff).
8

II. THE PROCESS TO PETITION FOR IMMIGRATION BENEFITS 

FOR A SPOUSE OR FIANCÉ

A U.S. citizen or LPR can petition for immigration benefits for a spouse through a twostep process. First, the applicant must file and submit to USCIS a Form I-130, Petition for Alien

Relative, to determine the validity of the relationship.41 Applicants must include evidence

proving a “family relationship” between the petitioner and beneficiary.42 Applicants need not

prove parental or judicial consent. Most Form I-130 petitions are approved without in-person

interviews, but USCIS may schedule an interview on a case-by-case basis.43 Once USCIS

approves an I-130 petition, it sends the petition to the State Department to determine whether to

issue a visa to the spouse.44 The person in the foreign country must then interview with a

Consular Affairs Officer of the State Department.

U.S. citizens follow a similar process to petition on behalf of a non-citizen fiancé by

filing an I-129F, Petition for Alien Fiancé(e).45 The petitioner must provide evidence that he or

she intends to marry within 90 days of entering the country.46 The petitioner and fiancé must also

provide evidence that they met in-person within the last two years, unless doing so violates

religious customs or social practices.47 As with spousal petitions, the petition is then reviewed by

the State Department and applicants need not prove parental or judicial consent.

 

41 U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services, I-130 Petition for Alien Relative, https://www.uscis.gov/i-130. The

purpose of the I-130 form is to bring a spouse, parent, sibling, or a child of a U.S. citizen or LPR to the U.S. See

Dep’t of Homeland Sec., U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services, Instructions for Form I-130 PDF, Petition for

Alien Relative, and Form I-130A, Supplemental Information for Spouse Beneficiary PDF, https://www.uscis.gov/i130.

42 The petitioner must show a marriage certificate and, if applicable, documents demonstrating termination of 

previous marriages for both parties. U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services, I-130 Petition for Alien Relative, 

https://www.uscis.gov/i-130 (last updated Nov. 6, 2018); U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services, Response to 

Follow-up Questions from the Briefing Held on October 9, 2018, at 4 (Nov. 5, 2018) (on file with Comm. staff).

43 Comm. staff briefing with U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (Oct. 26, 2017). 

44 Filing a form I-130 is only the first step in terms of a spouse or fiancé immigrating to the United States. Once the 

petition is approved, they must wait until there is a visa available. Immediate relatives are not subject to numerical 

visa limitations, but spouses of U.S. citizens may wait up to two years for an immigrant visa. Other family members 

approved for I-130 petitions may wait up to four or five years. Comm. staff briefing with U.S. Citizenship & 

Immigration Services (Oct. 9, 2018).

45 U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services, I-129F, Petition for Alien Fiancé(e), https://www.uscis.gov/i-129f (last

updated Sept. 10, 2018). LPRs are not able to petition for fiancés. LPRs may only petition for a spouse, unmarried

child under the age of 21 years old, and unmarried son or daughter 21 years or older. Email from U.S. Citizenship &

Immigration Services to Comm. staff (Oct. 16, 2018).

46 Id. Alien fiancés hold a K-1 nonimmigrant visa. See U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services, Visas for

Fiancé(e)s of U.S. Citizens, https://www.uscis.gov/family/family-us-citizens/visas-fiancees-us-citizens (last updated

Mar. 23, 2018).

47 U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services, I-129F, Petition for Alien Fiancé(e), https://www.uscis.gov/i-129f (last

updated Sept. 10, 2018).
9

Figure 1: Process of petitioning for a spousal visa from start to finish.48

Figure 2: Process of petitioning for a fiancé visa from start to finish.49

 

48 Director Cissna Letter, supra note 1.

49 Id.
10

After the spouse or fiancé has moved to the United States—and in the case of a fiancé,

married—the alien may file an application to adjust immigration status to a LPR, or what is

commonly known as “green card”, status.50 An application for adjustment of status must include

a Form I-864, Affidavit of Support, signed by a sponsor or co-sponsors that agree to accept

financial responsibility for the applicant.51 A sponsor who completes the Affidavit for Support

must be at least 18 years old.52

The Affidavit of Support requirement highlights a difference in the way that U.S.

immigration law sets requirements for petitioning for immigration benefits versus adjustment of

status for spouses and fiancés: although a minor can petition for an adult spouse or fiancé, a

minor cannot legally sponsor his or her spouse to become a LPR. Adjusting to LPR status is an

important step toward naturalization. A person with a green card is eligible to apply for U.S.

citizenship after three years if they are married to a U.S. citizen.53 

 

50 See U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services, Adjustment of Status, https://www.uscis.gov/greencard/adjustmentof-status (last updated Jan. 11, 2018).

51 See U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services, Instructions for Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, and Form

I-130A, Supplemental Information for Spouse Beneficiary (last updated Feb. 27, 2018); U.S. Citizenship &

Immigration Services, I-864, Affidavit of Support under Section 238A of the INA (last updated Sept. 18, 2018),

https://www.uscis.gov/i-864.

52 Id.

53 See U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services, Citizenship through Naturalization (last updated Apr. 11, 2018), 

https://www.uscis.gov/us-citizenship/citizenship-through-naturalization.
11

III. DATA AND INFORMATION ABOUT CHILD MARRIAGES AND 

THE U.S. IMMIGRATION SYSTEM

On September 15, 2017, Chairman Johnson and former Ranking Member McCaskill sent

a letter to then-Acting USCIS Director James McCament requesting a briefing and information

about the application and petitioning process for fiancé and spousal visas when a minor is

involved.54 The letter also requested data about the number of immigration petitions for spouses

and fiancés involving minors from FY2007 to FY2017, and information about the petitioners and

beneficiaries, including age and country of origin.55

Committee staff received a briefing from USCIS on October 26, 2017.56 USCIS officials

confirmed that there is no prohibition on minors petitioning on behalf of spouses or fiancés, nor

is there a prohibition against adults petitioning for these benefits on behalf of minors.57 A USCIS

official said that it is easier for a minor to petition for immigration benefits for a spouse or fiancé

than it is to receive aspirin on a school field trip, as the latter generally requires parental

consent.58 USCIS was not able to provide any of the data requested in the Chairman and former

Ranking Member’s letter at the October 2017 briefing.

On October 4, 2018, USCIS Director Lee Francis Cissna responded to the Chairman and

former Ranking Member’s September 2017 inquiry.59 The following presents a summary of the

data.

A. USCIS approved 8,686 immigration benefit petitions for a spouse or fiancé 

involving a minor60 between FY2007 and FY2017. 

USCIS received 10,261 Form I-130 or I-129F petitions involving a minor as the

beneficiary or petitioner from FY2007 to FY2017. Of those, 8,032 were Form I-130 petitions for

visa eligibility for spouses to immigrate to the U.S., and 2,229 were Form I-129F petitions for

visa eligibility for fiancés to immigrate to the U.S. See Table 1, below.

From FY2007 through FY2017, USCIS approved 7,083 out of the 8,032 petitions (or

approximately 88 percent) for spousal visa eligibility with either a minor as the beneficiary or

 

54 Letter from The Honorable Ron Johnson & The Honorable Claire McCaskill, Chairman and Ranking Member, S. 

Comm. on Homeland Sec. & Governmental Affairs, to James McCament, Acting Director, U.S. Citizenship & 

Immigration Services (Sept. 15, 2017) (on file with Comm. staff).

55 Id.

56 Comm. staff briefing with U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (Oct. 26, 2017). 

57 Id.

58 Id.

59 The Appendix includes the October 4, 2018 response letter and additional information provided by USCIS with 

the letter. All data provided by USCIS is available on the Committee’s website with this report.

60 For the purposes of the data provided by USCIS to the Committee, USCIS provided the following explanation for

the term minor: “The term ‘minor’ as it pertains to marriage is not defined by the INA, and approximately half of all

U.S. states have no minimum age requirement for marriage, but for these purpose “minor” generally means under

the age of 18.” Director Cissna Letter, supra note 1.
12

petitioner.61 From FY2007 through FY2017, USCIS approved 1,603 out of the 2,229 petitions

(or approximately 72 percent) for fiancé immigration benefits with either a minor as the

beneficiary or petitioner.62 USCIS told Committee staff that in 95 percent of the cases, the girl

was the younger spouse or fiancé.63

Table 1: Petitions and Approvals of Form I-130 and I-129F Petitions Involving Minors,

FY2007 to FY201764

 

B. At least 4,749 minor spouses or fiancés adjusted to become LPRs between FY2007 

and FY2017.

USCIS reported that 4,749 minor spouses or fiancés received LPR status from FY2007 to

FY2017.65 Based on the timing of petition approvals, visa awards, and the subsequent application

for LPR status, the universe of people awarded LPR status, or green cards, between FY2007 and

FY2017 is different than the 8,686 petitions granted during that time. USCIS did not have

information about the number of foreign nationals that obtained LPR status after having married

minors in the United States.

Data provided by USCIS show that the State Department returns or rejects few spousal or

fiancé immigrant visa petitions after they are approved by USCIS. USCIS reported to the

Committee: “Between FY 2007 and FY 2017, approximately 2.6 percent of fiancé and spousal

 

61 Comm. staff calculations drawn from the Director Cissna Letter, supra note 1.

62 Id.

63 Comm. staff briefing with U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (Oct. 9, 2018).

64 Comm. staff calculations drawn from the Director Cissna Letter, supra note 1.

65 U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services Response to Follow-up Questions from the Briefing Held on October 9,

2018 (on file with Comm. staff).
13

petitions [were] returned to USCIS. Of that total, approximately 37 percent [were] revoked.”66

This suggests that the State Department likely awarded a visa to the spouse or fiancé of most of

the 8,686 petitions.

C. Approximately 75 percent of the petitions approved between FY2007 and FY2017

involved minors who were 17 years old. However, petitions during that time were 

approved involving children as young as 14 years old. 

Table 2, below, shows a breakdown by age of approved I-130 and I-129F petitions

involving minors between FY2007 and FY2017. Approximately 75 percent involved petitioners

or beneficiaries who were 17 years old. Thirty-eight petitions were awarded for spouses or

fiancés who were 14 years old. USCIS approved 2 petitions involving children who were 13

years old; however, the State Department ultimately rejected those petitions.

USCIS provided data showing the number of approved petitions for I-130s and I-129Fs

broken down by the age of both the petitioner and beneficiary. Table 3, below, shows that 170

petitions were approved for a spousal visa when both the petitioner and beneficiary were

children. Thirty-four petitions were approved for a fiancé visa when both the petitioner and

beneficiary were children. Between FY2007 and FY2017, a total of 204 petitions were approved

where both the petitioner and beneficiary were children.

Table 2: Age of Minor Involved in Spouse or Fiancé Petitions, FY2007- FY201767

 

66 Director Cissna Letter, supra note 1.

67 Director Cissna Letter, supra note 1. **In both cases the Department of State terminated or refused the petition

application.
14

Table 3: Age of Minor Petitioners for Minor Beneficiaries, FY2007-FY201768

D. Between FY2007 and FY2017, USCIS approved 5,556 petitions by U.S. adults for 

minor beneficiaries overseas and 2,926 petitions by U.S. minor children for adult 

beneficiaries overseas. 

USCIS provided data showing the number of approvals for I-130 and I-129F petitions

broken down by the age of both the petitioner and the beneficiary, which helps understand how

U.S. children and adults are trying to sponsor visas for their spouses or fiancés in other countries. 

See Table 4 and Table 5, below. USCIS approved 5,556 petitions for U.S. adults applying for

minor beneficiaries. USCIS approved 2,926 petitions for U.S. children applying for adult

beneficiaries in other countries. USCIS approved 149 petitions involving adult spouse or fiancé

who were more than 40 years old. USCIS approved 28 petitions for U.S. adults who were 50

years old or over applying for a spouse or fiancé petition for a minor.

 

68 Comm. staff calculations drawn from the Director Cissna Letter, supra note 1.
15

Table 4: Age Ranges of Adult Petitioners for Minor Beneficiaries, FY2007-FY201769 

Table 5: Age Ranges of Adult Beneficiaries by Minor Petitioners, FY2007-FY201770 

E. Mexican national beneficiaries had the highest number of spouse and fiancé visa 

petitions involving minors approved from FY2007 to FY2017. During that time, 

Middle Eastern national beneficiaries had the highest percent of approved petitions 

involving a minor as compared to their overall number of petitions for spousal or 

fiancé immigration benefits.

Table 6, below, shows the breakdown of the number of received and approved spousal

and fiancé petitions involving minors broken down by the beneficiary’s country of birth. The

largest number of petitions received and approved involved spouses or fiancés from Mexico.

Table 7, below, shows the percent of spousal and fiancé petitions involving minors approved by

 

69 Id.

70 Id.
16

country of origin as compared to all spousal and fiancé petitions awarded for beneficiaries by

country. Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon, Pakistan and Yemen had the highest rates.

Table 6: I-130 and I-129F Petitions Involving Minors Approved Between FY2007-FY2017,

by Country71

 

71 Id.
17

Table 7: Top Birth Country for Spousal and Fiancé Petition Beneficiaries Involving Minors

as a Percentage of Total, FY2007-FY201772

 

72 Id.
18

IV. WEAKNESSES IN USCIS’S MANAGEMENT AND 

ADMINISTRATION OF SPOUSAL AND FIANCÉ IMMIGRATION 

PETITIONS.

The Committee’s oversight identified weaknesses in USCIS’s management and

administration of spousal and fiancé immigration petitions. First, USCIS’s continued reliance on

a paper-based system for adjudicating immigration benefits hindered the agency’s ability to

conduct an analysis to understand whether the U.S. immigration system encourages child

marriages. In his October 2018 response, Director Cissna explained, “compiling and analyzing

the requested data took longer than expected.”73 Collecting, analyzing, and verifying the

information took more than 1,000 employee hours.74 Factors contributing to the long delay

included: USCIS’s paper-based system for petitions, the absence of an ability to share

information electronically, and extensive work that the agency conducted to address potential

data entry errors in electronic files, which required a manual review to verify the age of

petitioners and beneficiaries.75 

USCIS’s response highlighted the agency’s data management and data integrity

challenges. The DHS Office of Inspector General and Government Accountability Office have

repeatedly warned Congress about USCIS’s data management challenges, including its ongoing

and incomplete information technology transformation.76 Since 2005, USCIS has been

attempting to transition from a paper-based immigration benefits system to the Electronic

Immigration System (ELIS).77 ELIS, however, has been plagued by problems. The original cost

estimate of the program started at $536 million, and as of 2017 has been estimated at $3.1

billion.78 The agency’s continued reliance on paper files limits the ability to analyze data and to

identify, investigate, or analyze potential problems.79 In this case, USCIS’s analysis—to respond

to the Committee’s inquiry—required reviewing electronic data as well as paper files to

determine how many minors received immigration benefits.80 This process took longer than one

year.

 

73 Director Cissna Letter, supra note 1.

74 Comm. staff briefing with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (Oct. 9, 2018).

75 Comm. majority staff phone conference with U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (Sept. 24, 2018) (notes on

file with Comm. majority staff); email from U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services to Comm. majority staff (Sept.

24, 2018) (on file with Comm. majority staff). While collecting the information to respond, USCIS discovered

several years of data entry errors by the petitioner and USCIS employees and contractors. For example, petitions had

the incorrect birth year or requested the incorrect visa category.

76 The Government Accountability Office and the DHS Office of Inspector General have released approximately 14

reports pertaining to U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services’ Transformation Program. See, e.g., U.S. Gov’t

Accountability Office, GAO-17-486T, Immigration Benefits System: Significant Risks in USCIS’s Efforts to

Develop its Adjudication and Case Management System (2017); DHS Office of Inspector General, OIG-17-26-MA,

USCIS Use of the Electronic Immigration System for Naturalization Benefits Processing (Mar. 2017).

77 Immigration Benefits Vetting Examining Critical Weaknesses in USCIS Systems: Hearing Before the House 

Comm. on Homeland Security, Subcommittee on Oversight and Management Efficiency, 115th Cong. (2017) 

(statement of Lori Scialabba, Acting Director of U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services).

78 Id.

79 Id.

80 Comm. staff briefing with U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (Oct. 9, 2018).
19

USCIS’s response to the Committee’s letter also led to the discovery of several data entry

errors and faulty processes. USCIS Director Cissna wrote in his October 4 response letter:

USCIS developed two solutions to prevent manual data entry errors in the future.

The first solution is a flag that sends an alert at the time of filing if a minor spouse

or fiancé is identified. After the initial flag, the case is sent to a special unit that

verifies that the age and relationship listed are correct before the petition is

accepted. If the classification on the petition is incorrect, the petition will be

returned to the petitioner for correction. The second enhancement that USCIS has

implemented is the creation of a flag in the electronic system that requires

verification of the date of birth at the time of adjudication whenever a minor

spouse or fiancé is detected.81

Nevertheless, USCIS’s continued reliance on a paper-based system hinders the agency’s ability

to identify and prevent fraud, trafficking, and other vulnerabilities.

Second, USCIS’s process for reviewing immigration benefit petitions for spouses or

fiancés does not require an in-person meeting or, in the case of a minor, a parent to co-sign the

petition.82 This limits USCIS’s ability to identify and prevent forced marriages, child

exploitation, or fraud. The Committee asked USCIS for information about how often the inperson meeting requirement for I-129F petitions was waived, as well as for information

regarding the number of K-1 visas (for immigrating spouses) that resulted in a marriage after the

beneficiary moved to the United States. The in-person meeting requirement is one way to ensure

that the planned marriage is valid. However, USCIS reported that the percentage of these waivers

is not captured or tracked within USCIS’s data system. USCIS further reported that it “does not

track the percentage of persons who enter the United States with a K-1 fiancé visa and do not get

married.”83 This creates the potential for applicants to fraudulently or inappropriately obtain

immigration benefits, particularly when minors are the applicants or beneficiaries.

 

81 Director Cissna Letter, supra note 1.

82 Comm. staff briefing with U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (Oct. 26, 2017).

83 Director Cissna Letter, supra note 1. 
20

V. CONCLUSION 

The United States advocates for preventing and reducing the risks of child marriages

occurring around the world, but data provided to the Committee reveal that the U.S. government

approved thousands of petitions and visas for spousal or fiancé immigration benefits for

marriages involving minors from FY2007 to FY2017. During this period, 4,749 minors who

entered the country using spousal or fiancé visas obtained green cards. If we are truly serious

about upholding stated U.S. policy to prevent child marriages and protect children from potential

abuse and harm, Congress must reform the INA to prevent individuals from obtaining

immigration benefits that facilitate child marriages.
APPENDIX 





October 2018 Page 1

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Response to

Follow-up Questions from the Briefing Held on October 26, 2017

1. Provide the total number of marriage-based petitions file by Fiscal Year (FY) for 

FY 2007 to FY 2017.

Please see Table 1 below.

Table 1

U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS)

Form I-129F, Petition for Alien Fiancé(e)

Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative (Spousal Petitions)

Receipts by Fiscal Year

FY 2007 – FY 2017

Receipt Total

Fiscal Year Spousal Receipts

2007 403,512

2008 327,423

2009 333,875

2010 343,467

2011 372,386

2012 374,474

2013 414,863

2014 405,677

2015 400,733

2016 455,131

2017 504,302

Grand Total 4,335,843

Note: The report reflects the most up-to-date data available at the time the report is generated. Cases may have 

been adjudicated in a later year than the one in which they were received. 

2. What percentage of K-1s receive a waiver to the in-person meeting requirement?

This level of information is not captured within USCIS data systems.

3. What percentage of K-1s don’t get married after entry?

USCIS does not track the percentage of persons who enter the United States with a K-1 

fiancé visa and do not get married. 
October 2018 Page 2

4. What percentage of spousal immigrant visa petitions get returned by the Department of 

State to USCIS? Of those, what percentage are revoked by USCIS?

Between FY 2007 and FY 2017, approximately 2.6 percent of fiancé and spousal petitions 

are returned to USCIS. Of that total, approximately 37 percent are revoked. 
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

Page 1 of 7

For the tables below, please note:

1) The report reflects the most up-to-date data available at the time the report is generated.

2) Petitions may have been adjudicated in a later year than the one in which they were received.

3) Petitions with erroneous age values removed from the counts.

4) Beneficiary and Petitioner age for pending petitions is calculated from date the database was queried.

5) Not available means the data is not available in the electronic systems.

6) Approved petitions are reported by the fiscal year in which they were received.

Receipt FY Minor Receipts Minor Approvals

All I-130 Petition for Alien 

Spouse Approvals Receipt FY Receipts Approvals All I-129F Approvals 

2007 1,102 950 240,195 2007 495 302 44,135

2008 850 685 222,019 2008 256 191 43,028

2009 927 803 327,861 2009 240 197 45,895

2010 840 745 264,931 2010 235 181 37,320

2011 847 792 255,919 2011 160 122 37,140

2012 718 653 269,131 2012 109 86 33,788

2013 646 591 282,145 2013 114 81 37,557

2014 591 557 366,725 2014 149 110 38,094

2015 598 523 313,547 2015 151 120 45,768

2016 582 528 335,909 2016 208 143 44,015

2017 331 256 280,148 2017 112 70 30,177

Grand Total 8,032 7,083 3,158,530 Grand Total 2,229 1,603 436,917

Top 10 Ben Country of Birth Receipts Approval Top 10 Ben Country of Birth Receipts Approval

Mexico 3,297 3,123 Mexico 444 338

Pakistan 580 554 Pakistan 237 189

Jordan 541 509 Not available 106 71

Dominican Republic 363 293 Yemen 97 51

Yemen 277 233 Dominican Republic 94 62

Iraq 227 207 Iraq 94 72

7) The term “minor” as it pertains to marriage is not defined by the INA, and approximately half of all U.S. states have no minimum age requirement for marriage, but for these 

purposes “minor” generally means under the age of 18

*8) Approved and pending cases were manually reviewed and updated electronically where evidence existed that the beneficiary/petitioner date of birth or the beneficiary class 

of admission was incorrect in the electronic systems. The data for denied petitions is reported as it exists in the electronic systems. USCIS assumes a similar data error rate for 

these petitions.

I-130

U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services

Form I-129F, Petition for Alien Fiancé(e)

Spousal Receipts and Approvals with Either a Minor Beneficiary or Petitioner

By Receipt Fiscal Year

Receipt Fiscal Year 2007 - 2017

I-129F

U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services

Form I-129F, Petition for Alien Fiancé(e)

Spousal Receipts and Approvals with Either a Minor Beneficiary or 

Petitioner

By Top 10 Beneficiary Country of Birth based on Receipts

Receipt Fiscal Year 2007 - 2017

U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services

Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative

Spousal Receipts and Approvals with Either a Minor Beneficiary or 

Petitioner

By Top 10 Beneficiary Country of Birth based on Receipts

Receipt Fiscal Year 2007 - 2017

U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services

Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative

Spousal Receipts and Approvals with Either a Minor Beneficiary or Petitioner

By Receipt Fiscal Year

Receipt Fiscal Year 2007 - 2017
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

Page 2 of 7

Not available 174 144 Jordan 78 63

Guatemala 143 122 Lebanon 69 49

Lebanon 139 126 Syria 67 50

Colombia 131 102 Afghanistan 66 49

Israel 129 118 India 52 41

Rest of World 2,031 1,552 Rest of World 825 568

Grand Total 8,032 7,083 Grand Total 2,229 1,603

Minor Age Receipts Approvals Minor Age Receipts Approvals

0 0 0 0 0 0

1 5 0 1 12 0

2 21 0 2 16 0

3 16 0 3 11 0

4 23 0 4 17 0

5 28 0 5 15 0

6 19 0 6 12 0

7 31 0 7 14 0

8 42 0 8 19 0

9 48 0 9 21 0

10 50 0 10 21 0

11 34 0 11 26 0

12 31 0 12 13 0

13 46 1 13 17 1

14 88 30 14 30 8

15 282 216 15 94 53

16 1,550 1,427 16 436 341

17 5,718 5,409 17 1,455 1,200

Grand Total 8,032 7,083 Grand Total 2,229 1,603

Beneficiary Age Petitioner Age Approvals Beneficiary Age Petitioner Age Receipts

13 55 1 INA 203(g) termination by DOS 13 16 1 Visa Refused by DOS

14 18 1 14 19 1

14 20 4 14 20 1

14 21 2 14 22 1

14 22 5 14 27 1

U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services

Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative

Spousal Approvals with Either a Minor Beneficiary or Petitioner

By Beneficiary and Petitioner Age

Receipt Fiscal Year 2007 - 2017

U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services

Form I-129F, Petition for Alien Fiancé(e)

Spousal Approvals with Either a Minor Beneficiary or Petitioner

By Beneficiary and Petitioner Age

Receipt Fiscal Year 2007 - 2017

U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services

Form I-129F, Petition for Alien Fiancé(e)

Spousal Receipts and Approvals with Either a Minor Beneficiary or 

Petitioner

By Age of Minor

Receipt Fiscal Year 2007 - 2017 *8

U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services

Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative

Spousal Receipts and Approvals with Either a Minor Beneficiary or 

Petitioner

By Age of Minor

Receipt Fiscal Year 2007 - 2017 *8
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

Page 3 of 7

Beneficiary Age Petitioner Age Approvals Beneficiary Age Petitioner Age Receipts

U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services

Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative

Spousal Approvals with Either a Minor Beneficiary or Petitioner

By Beneficiary and Petitioner Age

Receipt Fiscal Year 2007 - 2017

U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services

Form I-129F, Petition for Alien Fiancé(e)

Spousal Approvals with Either a Minor Beneficiary or Petitioner

By Beneficiary and Petitioner Age

Receipt Fiscal Year 2007 - 2017

14 23 2 14 28 1

14 24 2 14 30 1

14 25 1 14 36 1

14 26 1 15 16 1

14 27 1 15 17 1

14 28 1 15 19 3

14 30 2 15 20 3

14 32 1 15 21 2

14 36 1 15 22 5

14 47 1 15 23 1

15 17 4 15 24 5

15 18 3 15 25 4

15 19 15 15 26 1

15 20 18 15 27 2

15 21 16 15 28 3

15 22 22 15 30 1

15 23 10 15 32 3

15 24 18 15 34 1

15 25 11 15 39 1

15 26 9 15 40 1

15 27 17 16 16 2

15 28 3 16 17 9

15 29 6 16 18 11

15 30 4 16 19 14

15 31 3 16 20 18

15 32 5 16 21 14

15 33 1 16 22 20

15 34 1 16 23 26

15 35 1 16 24 21

15 36 1 16 25 17

15 39 2 16 26 14

15 41 1 16 27 11

15 43 1 16 28 6

15 46 1 16 29 4

15 48 1 16 30 5

15 49 1 16 31 5

16 16 12 16 32 3

16 17 21 16 33 4

16 18 44 16 34 2

16 19 93 16 35 1

16 20 102 16 37 1
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

Page 4 of 7

Beneficiary Age Petitioner Age Approvals Beneficiary Age Petitioner Age Receipts

U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services

Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative

Spousal Approvals with Either a Minor Beneficiary or Petitioner

By Beneficiary and Petitioner Age

Receipt Fiscal Year 2007 - 2017

U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services

Form I-129F, Petition for Alien Fiancé(e)

Spousal Approvals with Either a Minor Beneficiary or Petitioner

By Beneficiary and Petitioner Age

Receipt Fiscal Year 2007 - 2017

16 21 105 16 38 1

16 22 82 16 40 2

16 23 100 16 41 2

16 24 75 16 43 1

16 25 64 16 44 2

16 26 57 17 15 1

16 27 54 17 16 4

16 28 40 17 17 15

16 29 38 17 18 42

16 30 24 17 19 48

16 31 7 17 20 60

16 32 16 17 21 71

16 33 6 17 22 60

16 34 9 17 23 58

16 35 7 17 24 57

16 36 8 17 25 41

16 37 2 17 26 67

16 38 5 17 27 50

16 39 1 17 28 35

16 40 2 17 29 37

16 41 3 17 30 31

16 42 1 17 31 30

16 43 1 17 32 17

16 44 2 17 33 14

16 45 3 17 34 10

16 46 1 17 35 11

16 48 1 17 36 8

16 52 1 17 37 7

16 53 1 17 38 5

16 55 1 17 39 3

16 68 1 17 40 3

17 15 2 17 41 1

17 16 24 17 42 4

17 17 107 17 43 8

17 18 238 17 44 4

17 19 331 17 45 3

17 20 396 17 46 5

17 21 378 17 47 2

17 22 335 17 48 1

17 23 295 17 49 1

17 24 209 17 50 2
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

Page 5 of 7

Beneficiary Age Petitioner Age Approvals Beneficiary Age Petitioner Age Receipts

U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services

Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative

Spousal Approvals with Either a Minor Beneficiary or Petitioner

By Beneficiary and Petitioner Age

Receipt Fiscal Year 2007 - 2017

U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services

Form I-129F, Petition for Alien Fiancé(e)

Spousal Approvals with Either a Minor Beneficiary or Petitioner

By Beneficiary and Petitioner Age

Receipt Fiscal Year 2007 - 2017

17 25 198 17 51 1

17 26 188 17 52 1

17 27 164 17 53 1

17 28 111 17 54 1

17 29 99 17 55 1

17 30 86 17 56 1

17 31 49 17 57 1

17 32 42 17 58 1

17 33 34 17 59 1

17 34 38 17 60 1

17 35 24 17 61 1

17 36 19 18 15 2

17 37 16 18 16 13

17 38 15 18 17 31

17 39 14 19 15 4

17 40 12 19 16 12

17 41 14 19 17 43

17 42 5 20 14 1

17 43 5 20 15 1

17 44 1 20 16 18

17 45 10 20 17 60

17 46 2 21 15 1

17 47 6 21 16 15

17 49 3 21 17 49

17 50 2 22 15 1

17 53 2 22 16 9

17 54 2 22 17 35

17 55 2 23 15 2

17 60 1 23 16 12

17 71 1 23 17 52

18 15 2 24 15 2

18 16 38 24 16 12

18 17 198 24 17 28

19 15 2 25 16 11

19 16 65 25 17 24

19 17 224 26 15 1

20 14 1 26 16 7

20 15 9 26 17 18

20 16 48 27 16 4

20 17 276 27 17 12

21 15 6 28 16 6
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

Page 6 of 7

Beneficiary Age Petitioner Age Approvals Beneficiary Age Petitioner Age Receipts

U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services

Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative

Spousal Approvals with Either a Minor Beneficiary or Petitioner

By Beneficiary and Petitioner Age

Receipt Fiscal Year 2007 - 2017

U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services

Form I-129F, Petition for Alien Fiancé(e)

Spousal Approvals with Either a Minor Beneficiary or Petitioner

By Beneficiary and Petitioner Age

Receipt Fiscal Year 2007 - 2017

21 16 61 28 17 9

21 17 261 29 16 1

22 15 3 29 17 6

22 16 52 30 17 5

22 17 214 31 16 1

23 14 1 31 17 2

23 15 5 32 17 1

23 16 42 33 17 2

23 17 187 34 17 1

24 15 3 Grand Total 1,603

24 16 25

24 17 172

25 15 3

25 16 24

25 17 125

26 15 1

26 16 16

26 17 92

27 14 1

27 15 2

27 16 18

27 17 72

28 15 2

28 16 11

28 17 50

29 15 1

29 16 3

29 17 21

30 16 3

30 17 21

31 16 1

31 17 15

32 16 1

32 17 9

33 16 4

33 17 6

34 17 6

35 16 1

35 17 2

36 17 1

38 14 1
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

Page 7 of 7

Beneficiary Age Petitioner Age Approvals Beneficiary Age Petitioner Age Receipts

U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services

Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative

Spousal Approvals with Either a Minor Beneficiary or Petitioner

By Beneficiary and Petitioner Age

Receipt Fiscal Year 2007 - 2017

U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services

Form I-129F, Petition for Alien Fiancé(e)

Spousal Approvals with Either a Minor Beneficiary or Petitioner

By Beneficiary and Petitioner Age

Receipt Fiscal Year 2007 - 2017

38 17 1

40 17 1

44 17 1

48 14 1

Grand Total 7,083
Page 1

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Response to

Follow-up Questions from the Briefing Held on October 9, 2018

Thank you for the opportunity to meet with you to provide data on marriages involving minors. In follow 

up to your questions during the briefing the following responses are provided.

1) Provide rate of minor petition and nationality?

The below chart represents the top 10 nations represented in I-130 spousal petitions involving a 

minor party. A full list of all nationalities is attached.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative

Spousal Receipts and Approvals with Either a Minor Beneficiary or Petitioner

By Top 10 Beneficiary Country of Birth based on Receipts

Receipt Fiscal Year 2007 – 2017

Top 10 Ben Country of 

Birth

Minor 

Receipts

Minor 

Approvals

Total 

Approvals

Minor 

Approvals / 

Total

Jordan 541 509 16,532 3.1%

Iraq 227 207 7,463 2.8%

Yemen 277 233 14,679 1.6%

Lebanon 139 126 9,199 1.4%

Pakistan 580 554 45,887 1.2%

Israel 129 118 18,872 0.6%

Mexico 3,297 3,123 821,212 0.4%

Guatemala 143 122 48,104 0.3%

Dominican Republic 363 293 160,926 0.2%

Colombia 131 102 81,403 0.1%

Not available 174 144

Rest of World 2,031 1,552 1,934,253 0.1%

Grand Total 8,032 7,083 3,158,530 0.2%
Page 2

The below chart represents the top 10 nations represented in I-129F fiancé(e) petitions involving 

a minor party. A full list of all nationalities is attached.

U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services

Form I-129F, Petition for Alien Fiancé(e)

Spousal Receipts and Approvals with Either a Minor Beneficiary or Petitioner

By Top 10 Beneficiary Country of Birth based on Receipts

Receipt Fiscal Year 2007 - 2017

Top 10 Ben Country of 

Birth

Minor 

Receipts

Minor 

Approvals

Total 

Approvals

Minor 

Approvals / 

Total

Yemen 97 51 1,250 4.1%

Jordan 78 63 1,942 3.2%

Iraq 94 72 2,282 3.2%

Pakistan 237 189 7,214 2.6%

Lebanon 69 49 2,231 2.2%

Syria 67 50 2,392 2.1%

Afghanistan 66 49 2,677 1.8%

Mexico 444 338 27,430 1.2%

Dominican Republic 94 62 14,056 0.4%

India 52 41 12,131 0.3%

Not available 106 71

Rest of World 825 568 363,312 0.2%

Grand Total 2,229 1,603 436,917 0.4%

2) Can a parent sign an affidavit of support for a minor petitioner?

Approval of a petition is the first step in the family-based immigration process. There are no legal 

age requirements for someone to petition for or to be the beneficiary of an I-130 petition for a 

spouse or an I-129F petition for a fiancé(e). However, when a foreign national applies to adjust 

status to become a lawful permanent resident, or to consular process from overseas via an 

Immigrant Visa, a Form I-864, Affidavit of Support, is usually required. The petitioner must be 

listed as the sponsor on Form I-864, and by statute the sponsor must be at least 18 years of age to 

legally execute the document. There are no exceptions to this requirement, and a minor sponsor 

cannot add another person as a joint sponsor to overcome this statutory age requirement.
Page 3

3) How many people actually came to the U.S. after approval of an I-130/I-129F?

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

New Arrival and Adjustment of Status

Beneficiary Under 18 years old at time of LPR Status

Spouse and Fiancé Class of Admissions

Fiscal Year 2007 - 2017

Fiscal 

Year

Class of Admission & Relationship Type

Fiancé Spouse of USC Spouse of LPR Grand 

CF1 Total IF1 CR1 CR6 IR1 IR6 F21 F26 FX1 FX6

2007 45 6 90 207 32 66 19 31 4 13 513

2008 41 1 77 141 24 44 25 24 13 22 412

2009 47 7 115 195 16 60 44 8 3 8 503

2010 43 1 133 138 26 37 43 1 26 2 450

2011 52 2 119 127 29 36 41 2 46 2 456

2012 28 2 144 132 20 23 32 1 32 2 416

2013 21 3 129 114 29 15 56 1 131 1 500

2014 28 1 141 71 60 25 61 6 135 3 531

2015 33 3 66 52 34 20 44 1 86 1 340

2016 69 3 91 53 36 18 32 1 61 364

2017 31 6 67 45 31 17 21 1 45 264

Total 438 35 1,172 1,275 337 361 418 77 582 54 4,749

1) The report reflects the most up-to-date data available at the time the report is generated.

2) Beneficiary age is calculated at the date the individual gains LPR status.

3) The term “minor” as it pertains to marriage is not defined by the INA, and approximately half 

of all U.S. states have no minimum age requirement for marriage, but for these purposes 

“minor” generally means under the age of 18

4) Of U/T approvals, which petitions then came to the United States?

To obtain T nonimmigrant status as a principal applicant, the applicant must be physically present 

in the United States, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, or at a port of entry 

thereto, on account of such trafficking, among other requirements. Therefore, principal T 

nonimmigrant status is only granted to applicants physically present in the United States. Certain 

eligible family members can obtain derivative T nonimmigrant status while in the United States, 

or can receive a T visa to travel to the United States. Principal and derivative U nonimmigrants 

status petitioners may petition from the United States or abroad. USCIS does not maintain data 

on aliens who enter the United States after being granted a T or U visa. However, data on the 

number of applications or petitions approved in each category is available on the USCIS web 

page through the following links.

Victims of Human Trafficking: T Nonimmigrant Status

https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/USCIS/Resources/Reports%20and%20Studies/Immig

ration%20Forms%20Data/Victims/I914t_visastatistics_fy2018_qtr2.pdf

Victims of Criminal Activity: U Nonimmigrant Status

https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/USCIS/Resources/Reports%20and%20Studies/Immig

ration%20Forms%20Data/Victims/I918u_visastatistics_fy2018_qtr2.pdf
Page 4

5) List of required evidence for I-130/I-129F petitions

I-130 https://www.uscis.gov/i-130 (the “Checklist of Required Initial Evidence” lists what must 

be submitted)

 Evidence of U.S. citizenship, lawful permanent residence, or U.S. national status:

o A copy of your birth certificate, issued by a civil registrar, vital statistics office, or other 

civil authority showing you were born in the United States;

o A copy of your naturalization or citizenship certificate issued by USCIS or the former 

Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS);

o A copy of Form FS-240, Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA), issued by a U.S. 

Embassy or U.S. Consulate;

o A copy of your unexpired U.S. passport;

o An original statement from a U.S. consular officer verifying you are a U.S. citizen with a 

valid passport; or

o A copy of the front and back of your Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551).

 Evidence of family relationship with one of the following:

o Spouse: A copy of your marriage certificate

 Evidence you or your spouse terminated any prior marriages (if applicable)

o Child: A copy of your child’s birth certificate(s)

o Parent: A copy of your birth certificate 

o Brother/Sister: A copy of the birth certificate for you and your sibling

 Evidence of the bona fides of the marriage, if petitioning for a spouse:

o Documentation showing joint ownership of property

o A lease showing joint tenancy of a common residence, meaning you both live at the same 

address together

o Documentation showing that you and your spouse have combined your financial 

resources

o Birth certificates of children born to you and your spouse together

o Affidavits sworn to or affirmed by third parties having personal knowledge of the bona 

fides of the marital relationship. Each affidavit must contain the full name and address of 

the person making the affidavit; date and place of birth of the person making the 

affidavit; and complete information and details explaining how the person acquired their 

knowledge of your marriage

o Any other relevant documentation to establish that there is an ongoing marital union

 Proof of legal name change (if applicable)

 Two passport-style photographs (if applicable)

If you are filing Form I-130 for your adopted child

 Evidence of U.S. citizenship:

o A copy of your birth certificate, issued by a civil registrar, vital statistics office, or other 

civil authority showing you were born in the United States;

o A copy of your naturalization citizenship certificate issued by USCIS or the former 

Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS);

o A copy of Form FS-240, Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA), issued by a U.S. 

Embassy or U.S. Consulate;

o A copy of your unexpired U.S. passport; or

o An original statement from a U.S. consular officer verifying that you are a U.S. citizen 

with a valid passport.

 Evidence of family relationship, such as a final adoption decree

 Evidence you have had legal custody of the adopted child for two years

 Evidence you have had joint residence with the adopted child for two years
Page 5

I-129F https://www.uscis.gov/i-129f (again, “Checklist of Required Initial Evidence” tab)

 Evidence of your U.S. citizenship:

o A copy of your birth certificate, issued by a civil registrar, vital statistics office, or other 

civil authority showing you were born in the United States;

o A copy of your naturalization or citizenship certificate issued by USCIS or the former 

Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS);

o A copy of Form FS-240, Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA), issued by a U.S. 

Embassy or U.S. Consulate;

o A copy of your unexpired U.S. passport; or

o An original statement from a U.S. consular officer verifying you are a U.S. citizen with a 

valid passport.

 Evidence you or your fiancé legally terminated any previous marriages (if applicable)

o Divorce decree

o Annulment order

o Death certificate for prior spouse

 One color passport-style photograph of yourself and one for your fiancé taken within 30 days 

of you filing this petition

 Evidence of legal name change (if applicable)

 Evidence to support an IMBRA waiver (if applicable)

If you’re petitioning to classify your fiancé(e) as a K-1 nonimmigrant, did you provide the 

following?

 Evidence you and your fiancé(e) intend to marry within 90 days of their admission into 

the United States as a K-1 nonimmigrant.

 Evidence you met your fiancé(e) in-person within two years of you filing your Form I129F. If you haven’t met within two years, submit evidence that meeting in-person would 

violate strict and long-established customs of your fiancé(e)’s foreign culture or social 

practice or would be an extreme hardship on the petitioner.

If you’re petitioning to classify your spouse as a K-3 nonimmigrant, did you provide the

following?

 Evidence that you filed Form I-130 on behalf of your spouse

 Marriage certificate