USCIS Freezes Many Immigration Benefit Processes — What’s Going On? — Visa Lawyer Blog

On December 2, 2025, USCIS issued a policy memorandum placing a hold on numerous immigration benefit requests and ordering the re-examination of previously approved cases.

What the Memo Says: Key Provisions

Pending benefit requests frozen for many nationals. USCIS is pausing processing of all pending immigration benefit requests if the applicant’s country of birth or citizenship is one of the 19 countries listed in the June 2025 travel ban.
Affected Benefit Requests: The pause will affect pending Form I-485 (Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status), Form I-90 (Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card (Green Card)), Form N-470 (Application to Preserve Residence for Naturalization Purposes), Form I-751, (Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence), and Form I-131 (Application for Travel Documents, Parole Documents, and Arrival/Departure Records).
Re-review of approved benefits. Immigration benefits (green cards, status adjustments, travel documents, etc.) already approved may now be subject to re-review if the beneficiary entered the U.S. on or after January 20, 2021.
Asylum applications on pause — for everyone. All pending Forms I-589 (Asylum / Withholding of Removal applications) have been paused, regardless of nationality. The hold will remain in effect until lifted by the USCIS Director
Extensive list of potentially affected benefits. The freeze could impact I-485 adjustment-of-status applications, green-card renewals, travel documents, removal of conditional residence, preservation of residence for naturalization, and more. Employer-sponsored petitions may also face delays or uncertainty.

In short: thousands of pending and even approved immigration benefit cases could now be delayed or re-evaluated. The USCIS policy memorandum states that in light of recent threats to the American people:

“USCIS has determined that a comprehensive re-review, potential interview, and re-interview of all aliens from high-risk countries of concern who entered the United States on or after January 20, 2021, is necessary. USCIS may, when appropriate, extend this review and re-interview process to aliens who entered the United States outside of this timeframe.”

Within 90 days of issuance of the memorandum, USCIS will prioritize a list for review, interview, re-interview, and referral to ICE and other law enforcement agencies for those deemed a threat to national security.

Who Is Affected: The 19 “High-Risk” Countries

The freeze and re-review mainly target foreign nationals whose country of birth or citizenship is among the 19 designated “high-risk” countries listed in the June 2025 travel ban. These include: Afghanistan, Burma (Myanmar), Burundi, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Cuba, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Laos, Libya, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Togo, Turkmenistan, Venezuela and Yemen.

Because the criteria include country of birth or citizenship, the scope of the policy is broader than just individuals still holding passports from those countries — it may also apply to long-term residents, dual citizens, and others who were born in those countries.

Further, the asylum pause applies universally — meaning even asylum-seekers from countries not on the banned list are affected.

What to Expect

Foreign nationals impacted by the new USCIS directives should anticipate increased scrutiny, including supplemental requests for evidence regarding benefit eligibility or security issues, and possible requirements to attend an interview or re-interview.

In addition, reports indicate that the Trump Administration is evaluating whether to extend its existing travel bans to additional, currently unspecified countries. Such an expansion could place more individuals under processing suspensions, re-adjudications, and related limitations.

The Law Offices of Jacob Sapochnick is closely monitoring the situation, and will provide further updates as they become available.

Contact Us. If you would like to schedule a consultation, please text 619-483-4549 or call 619-819-9204.

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