January 6, 2026 update:
A USCIS policy memo issued on January 1, 2026, expanded the USCIS pause and re-review of previous approvals to include all countries listed in the expanded travel ban. The current list of affected citizens/nationals may be found in our post regarding the expansion of the travel ban from December 2025.
Updated December 12, 2025
On December 2, 2025, USCIS announced a broad pause on all immigration adjudications involving individuals from the travel-ban countries. The pause applies to every form type—not only the categories listed in the memo—and includes naturalization, adjustment of status, asylum, EADs, work visa petitions, extensions, changes of status, travel documents, and more.
Affected Countries include: Afghanistan, Burma (Myanmar), Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen, Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, Venezuela. This list may be expanded in the future.
USCIS is applying this pause based on country of birth or country of citizenship, and it includes dual nationals. This is different from the current visa-issuance travel ban, which does not apply to dual nationals who apply or travel using a non-restricted passport. Separately, the State Department announced a pause on all Afghan visa issuances.
What We’re Seeing So Far:
- USCIS is still issuing receipt notices for new filings.
- There are reports of interviews and naturalization oath ceremonies being cancelled
- Unless notified otherwise by USCIS, applicants must attend all scheduled biometrics or interview appointments and must respond to Requests for Evidence.
- Already-approved cases may be re-reviewed, including a potential (re-)interview. USCIS has not provided timelines or details about the length or scope of these reviews, but within 90 days of USCIS’ announcement, it will prioritize a list of cases.
- Customs & Border Protection (CBP) has not issued public guidance regarding the application of the pause to Port of Entry applications – i.e., applications for admissions generally or applications such as TNs or L-1s that are usually submitted at the border or Pre-Flight Inspection.
- USCIS recently announced a new vetting center; although we do not know if it is connected to this policy, its timing may be related.
What the Memo Says About Vetting:
USCIS will conduct a case-by-case “thorough review.” Officers will assess whether an applicant:
- Appears in the Terrorist Screening Dataset.
- Is connected to terrorist or related activities or organizations.
- Is linked to conduct posing a risk of serious harm to the community, including criminal conduct.
- Cannot establish identity as required under Presidential Proclamation 10949.
Applicants from the listed countries should expect delays in adjudications, and potential re-review of previously approved cases. Anyone affected should consult an immigration lawyer before travel or making time-sensitive plans, and monitor for further USCIS updates.
Claire Pratt © Jewell Stewart Pratt Beckerson & Carr PC 2025
