USCIS Policy Update on Sex Designation for Immigration Benefits

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is updating Volumes 1, 11, and 12 of its Policy Manual to reflect President Trump’s January 20, 2025 executive order “Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government.” Effective April 2, 2025, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will recognize only two biological sexes—male and female—aligning with the Executive Order on women and gender policies. USCIS will consider an individual’s sex as stated on their birth certificate. This policy applies to all benefit requests pending or filed on or after April 2, 2025.

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