USCIS Implements Additional Security Review for Certain Pending Applications
Effective December 2, 2025 and January 1, 2026, USCIS has shared two policy memoranda that may affect processing times for certain pending immigration benefit applications.
What USCIS announced
USCIS has directed its officers to place an adjudicative “hold” on final decisions for certain pending immigration benefit requests connected to individuals from designated “high-risk” countries while USCIS conducts additional national security and public safety review. USCIS also indicated that it may re-review certain previously approved benefits for individuals from the covered countries who entered the United States on or after January 20, 2021.
Who may be impacted
You may be impacted if you have a pending (or upcoming) USCIS filing and your country of birth and/or citizenship is included in the covered country list. The policies may affect a wide range of USCIS filings (for example, certain work authorization applications, change/extension of status filings, adjustment of status, and other benefit requests).
What this means in practice
- Some cases may experience longer processing times or pauses in adjudication.
- These memos do not necessarily mean a case will be denied; they indicate additional review and delayed final decisions while USCIS updates its review procedures.
- If you receive a USCIS Request for Evidence (RFE) or other notice, it remains essential to respond by the stated deadline.
What you should do now
- If you have a pending USCIS application (e.g., OPT/STEM OPT EAD, change/extension of status, adjustment of status, or other benefits), please anticipate possible delays and plan accordingly.
- If you are considering filing a new USCIS application soon, submit as usual and ensure your filing is complete and well-documented.
- Keep copies of everything you submit to USCIS and monitor your case status online.
Combined list of countries currently subject to travel ban proclamations (as summarized by NAFSA)
“Full Ban” Countries
- Afghanistan
- Burkina Faso
- Burma (Myanmar)
- Chad
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Haiti
- Iran
- Laos
- Libya
- Mali
- Niger
- Palestinian Authority Travel Documents
- Republic of the Congo
- Sierra Leone
- Somalia
- South Sudan
- Sudan
- Syria
- Yemen
“Partial Ban” Countries
- Angola
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Benin
- Burundi
- Cote d ‘Ivoire
- Cuba
- Dominica
- Gabon
- The Gambia
- Malawi
- Mauritania
- Nigeria
- Senegal
- Tanzania
- Togo
- Tonga
- Turkmenistan
- Venezuela
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
ISSS support
ISSS is closely monitoring USCIS and NAFSA guidance. If you believe you may be impacted, especially if you have a time-sensitive benefit application, please contact ISSS through our normal advising channels so we can help you evaluate options and timelines.
For any urgent questions, you may contact Lily Zhang, ISSS Director of Advising, Compliance, IT and Operations, at lizhang1@upenn.edu .
Thank you for your attention. We recognize policy changes like this can create uncertainty, and our priority is to help you plan with clarity and care.