As we draw closer to the day when Donald Trump will be sworn in as the 47th president many people in the immigrant community are anxious about what is to come. I thought I'd write this post to explain some possible changes.

It was recently announced that the architect of the so-called "Muslim ban" Stephen Miller will be back as Trump's deputy chief of policy. We already know about Tom Homan and his hard stance on immigration. Both of these men are advocates of 'extreme vetting' when it comes to immigration applications.

To be clear, I’m not here to fear-monger—the courts will serve as a check on what President Trump can do—but based on his previous administration, here’s what we might expect:

1. Longer processing times for visa approvals due to increased scrutiny and reduced staffing.

2. Stricter application reviews, where things that might have been overlooked before could now result in outright denials. For instance, in the past, minor inconsistencies in employment history or gaps in travel dates might have been clarified during the visa interview or through additional documentation. Under stricter scrutiny, these small issues could lead to outright denials without an opportunity to explain.

For example, if you previously overstayed while on a tourist visa—even for a short time—it might not have been flagged or heavily penalized during prior administrations. Under "extreme vetting," this could lead to a denial and possibly even a ban from re-entering the U.S.

1. Reduced consular staff, which means longer times to get an interview at the embassy

2. Most definitely stronger enforcement of the public charge rule

3. The end of co-sponsorships for relationship-based visas, making financial self-sufficiency a bigger hurdle.

That being said that doesn't mean it'll be impossible to enter the United States as a non-citizen. Just make sure ever 'I' is dotted and every 'T' is crossed and be patient.