U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has introduced policy changes that may affect the processing of several immigration benefits, including asylum applications, refugee-based adjustment cases, and applications filed by individuals connected to certain countries identified by the federal government as “high-risk.”
These measures include temporary pauses in adjudications, expanded review of previously approved cases, and increased discretionary review in some immigration matters. The changes may also contribute to longer processing times across multiple USCIS case types.
Who May Be Affected by the New USCIS Policies?
Applicants From Designated “High-Risk” Countries
Under a June 4 Presidential Proclamation, USCIS identified 19 countries whose nationals or individuals born there may face additional review. Those countries include:
Afghanistan, Burma, Burundi, Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Cuba, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Laos, Libya, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Togo, Turkmenistan, Venezuela, and Yemen.
The reported impacts may include:
- A pause in adjudication of certain pending USCIS applications, regardless of when the individual entered the United States;
- Additional review of previously approved petitions or applications;
- Requests for new interviews or updated evidence; and
- Consideration of country of origin as a discretionary factor in some immigration decisions.
Applications potentially affected may include:
- Employment-based nonimmigrant petitions, including H-1B, TN, and O-1 petitions;
- Adjustment of status applications (green card applications); and
- Naturalization applications, including cases that may already have oath ceremonies scheduled.
At this time, USCIS has not released detailed guidance regarding how these reviews will be conducted or how long the process may take.
Asylum Applicants and Withholding of Removal Cases
USCIS has also reportedly paused adjudications for Form I-589 applications, which include asylum and withholding of removal requests, regardless of the applicant’s nationality.
According to current reports:
- USCIS may continue scheduling and conducting interviews;
- No approvals or denials may be issued while the pause remains in effect; and
- Pending cases may remain undecided until adjudications resume.
Individuals may still file asylum applications, but processing timelines could become substantially longer.
Refugees Applying for Permanent Residence
The policy changes may also affect refugees admitted to the United States between January 21, 2021, and February 20, 2025.
USCIS has reportedly:
- Paused processing of certain refugee adjustment of status applications;
- Directed additional review and possible re-interviews in some cases; and
- Extended these procedures to certain derivative family members and follow-to-join refugee applicants admitted during the same period.
How Long Will These Pauses Continue?
As of December 9, 2025, USCIS had not announced a timeline for ending these pauses or completing the expanded review procedures.
Because implementation details remain limited, applicants and employers should anticipate continued delays in affected case types.
What Applicants and Employers Should Consider
Individuals and employers who may be affected should consider taking the following steps:
- Review pending immigration matters with an immigration attorney;
- Monitor USCIS case updates and correspondence carefully;
- Prepare for longer adjudication timelines; and
- Organize supporting documentation in case additional evidence or interviews are requested.
Key Takeaway
These USCIS policy changes reflect a broader shift in the review of certain immigration applications, particularly those involving asylum applicants, refugees, and individuals connected to designated countries. The possibility of delayed adjudications, renewed review of prior approvals, and expanded discretionary analysis may create additional uncertainty for applicants and employers alike.
Applicants with pending cases should remain informed about ongoing policy developments and evaluate how these changes may affect their immigration strategy and timelines.
To discuss your situation, contact the Law Office of Jacqueline Lentini, LLC at 630-262-1435 or by email at jacki@lentinivisas.com.
