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Original Date Announced
February 14, 2019The Refugee Affairs Division issued guidance requiring formal, legal marriages for the purposes of including a spouse as an RE-2 derivative spouse in refugee cases. Previous guidance had allowed informal or unregistered marriages in certain cases where spouses faced challenges in marrying formally and could not easily perfect the marriage.
[ID #1246]
2019.02.14 Response to Query: Guidance for the treatment of refugee cases that include an RE-2 derivative spouseEffective Date
February 14, 2019Biden Administration Action: Revoked/Replaced
February 14, 20222022.02.14 Revised Guidance on Informal (“Camp”) Marriages
This Biden administration action revokes in its entirety the Trump-era policy in this entry.
On February 14, 2022, RAIO issued a memorandum rescinding the 2019 guidence on informal ("camp") marriages. The memo states that "RAIO will instead return to the prior interpretation of the place-of-celebration rule, recognizing that, in certain circumstances, a spousal relationship may exist for the purpose of obtaining derivative refugee and/ or asylee status if there is evidence of an informal marriage."
View DocumentCurrent Status
Not in effectMost Recent Action
February 14, 2022 Action: Revoked/Replaced 2022.02.14 Revised Guidance on Informal (“Camp”) MarriagesFebruary 14, 2022Acted on by Biden Administration
Original Trump Policy Status
Status: Final/ActualTrump Administration Actions: Agency Directive Change in PracticeSubject Matter: RefugeesAgencies Affected: USCIS