r/USCIS

If you are from any of the following 39 countries, you may or may not be aware that USCIS has stopped processing applications due to a policy announced in January 2026 (Afghanistan, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burma (Myanmar), Burundi, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Cuba, Dominica, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Gabon, The Gambia, Haiti, Iran, Laos, Libya, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Turkmenistan, Venezuela, Yemen, Zambia and Zimbabwe), please take action.

All immigration categories processing for individuals from these 39 countries were paused indefinitely: EADs, H1B, AOS, naturalization interviews and more. These are people legally in the country who have lived and worked here for decades.

People who are dual citizens from other countries are also impacted due to place of birth. Without public attention, their intent could potentially expand to even more countries based on this administration’s stance.

This post is to raise awareness for those impacted who may not be aware to encourage you to take some action.

There are several ways to help raise awareness about this issue:

1. Follow PressUnpause on instagram https://www.instagram.com/pressunpause

2. Contact your reps and senators, more info on https://uscis-pause-tracker.com/action

USCIS has placed a blanket hold on applications for nationals of 39 countries.

If the stated goal is stricter vetting, a blanket hold is 10000% the wrong mechanism.

1. A hold does not equal stricter review. It just delays adjudication.

If anything, officers are more likely to deprioritize these cases because they can’t be approved anyway.

2. No review is happening during the hold

These cases are not being “more carefully reviewed” - they are being parked.

If stricter vetting were the goal, cases would move forward with additional checks, not sit untouched.

3. It likely increases, not reduces, risk

People stuck in limbo face uncertainty around work authorization and financial stability.

A system that leaves large numbers of individuals unable to work or plan their lives does not reduce risk — it creates instability that can have bad downstream consequences.

4. It contradicts enforcement logic

If someone is a risk, the rational path is to review and deny - allowing them to leave the country and enabling enforcement outcomes.

5. Lawsuits are being misunderstood

Legal challenges are not asking USCIS to approve cases immediately.

They are asking USCIS to do its job — adjudicate cases instead of holding them indefinitely.

Requiring action does not eliminate scrutiny; it forces it.

Bottom line:

If the objective were truly stricter vetting, this policy would look very different.

Instead, it applies a blanket hold disproportionately affecting nationals from African and Asian countries, without adding any meaningful review.

When the mechanism doesn’t match the stated goal, it raises a serious question about intent.

Policies like this don’t hold up well under legal scrutiny - and courts tend to see through them.

McBean’s lawsuit is going to be successful. And several others will follow.

Finally, my immigration journey has ended. Took my oath today at Newark FO and received my certificate of naturalization. Good luck to everyone on their journey.

https://preview.redd.it/0u2gawhteltg1.jpg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=bfa3db4fffe53d107f8b6849ffe3469695567417

I had to file a Writ of Mandamus to move my case along, as I had filed my I-751 in 2023 and N-400 in 2024. I had a reckless driving ticket from 2014, and received a couple of speeding tickets last year and the year prior.

My removal proceedings were terminated without prejudice. DHS has 30 days to appeal the court’s decision. I have an approved I-130 through my USC spouse and everything is ready to file the I-485 except the medical (I-693), which will be done by end of this week. I’m considering filing the I-485 without the medical and waiting for an RFE, since once USCIS receives and accepts the application, they would have jurisdiction over my case. Should I wait for the medical or submit now without it? Has anyone been in a similar situation? Any advice is appreciated.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Hi all, I was naturalized in 2019 and have been legally in the US since 2007. I have been holding onto every single piece of immigration document since 2007 and wondering at what point is it safe enough to get rid of? Or do I really need to hold onto this stuff forever . I’m talking old I-20’s, green card applications , ead cards etc

As a lot of us are aware, USCIS paused the adjudication of 39 countries , including Nigeria, Iran, Venezuela , etc. But I am literally only seeing Iranians speaking up. NIGERIANS SPEAK UP TOO AND BRING AWARENESS . EVERYONE SHOULD !

Perhaps this is too broad a question but I’m curious if there’s any stories of what happens if you encounter ICE after filing a marriage based adjustment of status. Assume no criminal record or deportation order, just a simple overstay that could be cured by marriage.

Anyone have any experience with this? We are filing next week and just nervous about the long wait and what happens if we encounter ICE before it is approved.

Hi, I want to ask if anyone here has gone through a similar experience. I entered the United States illegally through the border in 2024 and I have a court hearing in June 2026. I am married to a U.S. citizen in January 2026, and I have not yet filed the I-130, but I am going to file it tomorrow.

I want to ask what will happen to me in court. My hearing is online, and I am very nervous, which is making it hard for me to think clearly.

I have a work permit and a Social Security Number, and this is my first court hearing, a master hearing.

Add a datapoint here. I485 delivered to Tempe lockbox on March 4th. Fund deducted on April 6th. Family of 3. Was really worried about getting rejected. Seems that Phoenix through USPS is a bit faster than Tempe through UPS/Fedex.

A family member of mine obtained a medical marijuana card and is now stressing about it for their citizenship interview (yes, they should have thought about this previously). They have no criminal history but obviously medical marijuana is not federally legal. They consulted a lawyer in their state and the lawyer recommended they don’t go to the interview last month and to just renew their green card for now and to reapply for citizenship in five years.

However, they just recently received a notice for their rescheduled interview next month. They plan on getting a second opinion from another lawyer but I’m curious what peoples opinions are on this. Without any prior criminal history, would you go to your appointment and hope they don’t ask questions about marijuana, or would you withdraw your application and just renew your green card?

My wife's N400 interview is this Friday. She already has her 10 year green card (so her I-751 is not pending).

Do I need to attend her interview? The only thing the interview invitation said was for her to bring proof of my US citizenship.

Can my friend travel within the US with a pending l-485.

He came here legally, married and applied for his green card before his visa expired. He had his interview last month and will like to travel to New York but does not know if he can or will be arrested by ICE. He said he hasn’t broken any law or have any arrest or charges.

Additional note: he doesn’t have any US ID cos his EAD isn’t approved yet.

I filed my I-485 (AOS based on NIW), and USPS confirmed delivery to the Dallas Lockbox on March 20, 2026.

Since then… complete silence.

Meanwhile, I’m seeing people who filed after this time already getting charged or receiving their receipt numbers, which is making me a bit anxious.

Anyone else in the same boat (especially March filers / Dallas Lockbox)?

Just trying to understand if this is normal delay or if I should start worrying.

TL;DR: I have an expired 2-year green card + valid I-797 extension. Need to travel to Mexico due to a family emergency and return (alone). Looking for very recent experiences—was re-entry smooth?

Hi everyone! I’d really appreciate hearing about your experiences

I’m currently in the process of removing conditions on my green card. My 2-year green card is expired, but I have the I-797C extension notice that extends my status.

Due to a family emergency, I may need to travel internationally (to Mexico from SFO or San Jose). My husband is a USC, but he wouldn’t be able to travel with me because of work.

I understand that, legally, traveling with an expired green card + valid I-797 extension is allowed. However, I’m an anxious person, and I’ve seen concerning stories online that made me a bit nervous about traveling alone and re-entering (bc of ICE situations). Including people with legal status being wrongly detained.

For context, I have:

• No criminal history

• Have maintained legal status the entire time

• All my documentation (expired GC + extension letter)

I’d really appreciate if anyone who has traveled internationally in a similar situation (expired 2-year GC with I-797 extension) could share their experience—especially re-entering the U.S.

Did you have any issues at the airport or with ICE?

Was the process smooth overall?

Thank you so much in advance—just trying to make an informed decision and calm my nerves a bit.

My boyfriend is a Chinese citizen and wants to come visit me here in the states. I visited him first and so now he wants to visit here. We will eventually marry and the plan is to move to China with him because of his job. My question is whether there are any other Chinese citizens here who have been through the process. What was your experience like? Was it super difficult? Is the denial rate very high? I know he has to showered to China to prove he doesn’t have immigrant intent. He has a very good job in china and a child in china that he takes care of. We don’t really plan on living in the US because of his job and my career is remote so I can work anywhere. Do you think he has a chance?

I (US citezen) and my husband (non-US citizen) live outside of the US and got married outside of the US 2 years ago. We are in the process of applying for his greencard. We submitted our marriage certificate but they have asked for further proof of marriage. Should we get married in the US while visiting or will this look suspicious? Our lawyer said it couldn't hurt but I'd love some second opinions.

Hey everyone, my family (Green Card holders) has been outside the US for over 6 months now. They applied for a 2-year re-entry permit (I-131) and finished biometrics back in June, but the application is still pending.

We’re getting worried about the "6-month rule" and how strict CBP might be at the airport. If they fly back to the US now while the permit is still pending, will the application be canceled? We’ve already paid the fees and don't want them to go to waste.

Should they risk coming back now to stay under the 6-month mark, or is it better to wait abroad until the permit is officially approved? Any advice would be great.

My I-130 was approved on October 15th;

Divorce finalized October 21th;

I submitted a VAWA on December 2nd and requested that my I-485 be hold in abeyance under VAWA.

They subsequently approved my I-485 based in the marriage that finished before the approval date, and my Green Card arrived yesterday. What should I do now?

Should I apply for an I-751, file an I-90 to report the error, or file an I-140 to relinquish my Green Card?

I’m lost. Never see a case like mine nowhere.

Location: Ny Field

Hi everyone,

I’m looking for some advice or to hear from anyone who’s been in a similar situation with a marriage-based case.

My wife and I had our interview at the Seattle Field Office back in July 2025, and since then, we haven’t received any decision or update on our case. It’s now been several months, and we’re starting to get really concerned.

For context, I’m a U.S. citizen sponsoring my spouse. A couple of months ago, we reached out to our congressman’s office for help, but the response we got was that our case is still within normal processing times.

At this point, I’m not sure what to do next. Is this kind of delay after an interview normal? How much longer should we realistically expect to wait? Are there any additional steps we can take to help move the case forward?

If anyone has gone through something similar, I’d really appreciate hearing about your experience or any advice you might have.

Thanks in advance!