USCIS Pauses Immigration Applications for Some Additional 20 Countries
USCIS Pauses Immigration Applications for Some Additional 20 Countries
The Trump administration first suggested that it would expand the travel restrictions to the U.S. after the arrest of an Afghan national suspect (who has a granted asylum status) in the shooting of two National Guard troops over Thanksgiving weekend. In the meantime, in December 2025, the list of countries was expanded with travel restrictions to the U.S. from 19 to 39, including Syria and Palestine. USCIS oversees processing of immigration applications including variety of visas, naturalizations and asylum application, and announced it would reevaluate the status of everyone who had been admitted into the U.S. as a refugee under the Biden administration, and possible for reopening those cases.
On January 1, 2026, USCIS released a memo stating to hold the immigration benefit applications from an additional 20 countries after an expansion of travel restrictions that will be affected on January 01, 2026. According to USCIS’s memo released 01/01/2026, they would pause the review of all pending applications for visas, green cards, citizenship or asylum from immigrants from the additional countries. The memo also outlines plans to conduct a comprehensive re-review of approved benefit requests that were approved on or after January 20, 2021. The memo emphasizes to prioritize national security and public safety concerns and ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations during the adjudication process.
However, there are some exceptions outlined in the memo, including athletes and members of their teams competing in the World Cup and Olympics. The following are exceptions to the adjudication hold:
1. Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card (Green Card)
2. Form N-565, Application for Replacement Naturalization/Citizenship Document
3. Form N-600, Application for Certificate of Citizenship
4. Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization filed under the (c)(8) (Initial filing case only), limited (c)(11), and limited (c)(14) categories
5. Form I-910, Application for Civil Surgeon Designation (only for physicians that are citizens or nationals of the United States)
6. Benefit requests filed by any alien who is an athlete or member of an athletic team, including the coaches, persons performing a necessary support role, and immediate relatives
for the purpose of participating in the World Cup, Olympics, or other major sporting event as determined by the Secretary of State
7. Benefit requests that are a priority for law enforcement and where ICE has requested USCIS take adjudicative action to uphold public safety or national security
8. Benefit requests filed by aliens whose entry would serve a United States national interest
9. Benefit requests, as well as the associated underlying benefits, for any programs that are terminated or discontinued as a result of an Executive Order, Proclamation, Federal Register Notice, or Directive issued by the President, the Secretary of Homeland Security, or the USCIS Director; and
10. Automatic termination decisions for ancillary or related benefit requests when an alien is granted Legal Permanent Resident status or becomes a naturalized citizen.
Furthermore, USCIS’s memo clearly stated that USCIS will prioritize a list for review, interview, and re-interview within 90 days of this memo issued.
Cited: https://www.uscis.gov
Note: this information provided here is for general information and educational purposes only, and it does not constitute legal advice.
