News Alert: USCIS Hold All Asylum and Pending Immigration Applications for Nationals of 19 Travel Ban Countries
Image by Anna from Pixabay. New USCIS policy places adjudicative hold and mandatory review on all asylum applications regardless of nationality, and on pending and recently approved benefit requests filed by nationals of 19 high-risk/travel ban countries. Learn about what is happening, who is affected, and implications for your immigration application in our News Alert/FAQ.
More big changes on the immigration front. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has recently issued a new policy memorandum, (PM-602-0192, dated December 2, 2025), with immediate impact on many pending and recently approved immigration applications.
According to the USCIS, this action is being taken to allow them to conduct a comprehensive review focused on national security and public safety concerns, in line with Presidential Proclamation (PP) 10949, Restricting the Entry of Foreign Nationals To Protect the UnitedStates From Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats.
What is Happening?
Effective immediately, USCIS is implementing an adjudicative hold and mandatory review process for:
All pending Asylum Applications (Form I-589), regardless of the applicant's country of nationality.
Pending and recently approved Benefit Requests (such as Green Card applications, Naturalization/N-400, etc.) filed by nationals of certain "high-risk" countries.
Who is Affected?
The new restrictions apply to nationals from countries listed in Presidential Proclamation 10949 (PP 10949) (“19 travel ban countries”):
Afghanistan
Burma/Myanmar
Burundi
Chad
Cuba
Republic of the Congo
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Haiti
Iran
Laos
Libya
Sierra Leone
Somalia
Sudan
Togo
Turkmenistan
Yemen
Venezuela
What Does This Mean for Applicants?
This is a more sweeping change compared to the initial travel restriction policy, which contained exemptions for permanent residents/green card holders, immediate relatives of U.S. citizens, and others in the nation’s interest (such as diplomats, World Cup/Olympic athletes, among others).
It appears that this new policy affects all nationals of the 19 high-risk/travel ban countries who are applying for asylum or have pending (or recently approved) applications for other immigration benefits. If your application is affected, you should be prepared for the following:
Significant Delays: The hold on adjudications and planned comprehensive review will likely cause further delays in processing. Be patient. Immigration is a slow-moving process and delays should be expected. Take this time to make sure your application meets the standards and prepare your documents accordingly. For example, if you are applying for a marriage-based green card, make sure you have documents supporting your bonafide marriage.
Mandatory Review: All affected cases are expected to undergo a thorough, individualized, case-by-case review. Thus, it is even more important to take this time to know the rules relevant to your case, make sure your application meets it and that you have documents to support your case. For example, if you are applying for naturalization/U.S. citizenship based on your marriage to your U.S. citizen spouse, make sure you have proof that you have been living in marital union with your citizen spouse and that you have been physically present in the United States for the required time period.
Expect Interviews: USCIS will most likely conduct interviews or re-interview recently approved applicants, with no interview waivers granted for those who entered the U.S. on or after January 20, 2021. For example, if you are applying for naturalization and arrived by a commercial flight after January 20th, then it is even more important to find out what to expect on your interview/testing day and make sure that you’re adequately prepared.
Within the next 90 days, USCIS will create a list of applicants for review, interview, re-interview, or referral to the U. S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and other law enforcement agencies as appropriate and issue relevant guidance. This policy will remain in place until lifted by the USCIS Director.
The Good News
Although this change means longer wait times and increased scrutiny of immigration applications, there is a silver lining. For one, the the memorandum specifically exempts from this new policy asylum screenings such as credible fear, reasonable fear, safe third country, third country removal, and threshold screenings, which remain available under the Asylum Cooperative Agreements.
Also, affected individuals can use this delay as the time to inform themselves of the new policies and how it affects their case. Check out our blog where we have easy-to-read information/news alerts/faqs, read about new USCIS policies, and seek the help of an experienced immigration attorney. If you can’t afford a private attorney, there is a directory of nonprofit organizations that provide free or low-cost assistance in your area.
This is a summary of the information provided in the Policy Memorandum and should not be taken as legal advice. Remember, each case and situation is different. For the most detailed and official guidance, go to the USCIS website. Stay tuned as we monitor this development. Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Tumblr and TikTok, for up-to-date immigration news.
Torregoza Legal PLLC is the law firm for immigrants, by immigrants. We are founded on the motto of LegalEase: we do away with the legal jargon and make law easy to understand, so you can focus on what’s important to you – going for your American Dream.
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