Immigration Status
Coverage of U.S. immigration statuses and humanitarian protections including DACA, Temporary Protected Status (TPS), and asylum.
Can Humanitarian Parole Replace Asylum for Some Nationals?
Humanitarian parole offers temporary, discretionary entry to the U.S. for urgent needs; USCIS decides requests individually. Approval doesn’t grant immigration status or citizenship. Parole usually lasts one to two years.…
USCIS Expands Biometric Data and Vetting Before Resuming Asylum
USCIS indefinitely paused all asylum adjudications after a November D.C. shooting. The agency will add expanded biometrics and…
Can I Lose My Pending Asylum By Leaving Without Advance Parole?
Departing the U.S. while your I-589 is pending without USCIS-approved Advance Parole usually leads to a presumption of…
Impact of the Asylum Processing Halt on Afghan Nationals’ Work Authorization
Asylum processing limits have disrupted Afghan nationals’ access to work permits. Widespread delays and the end of the…
USCIS Decision Halt: Distinguishing Asylum Seekers from Refugees
Refugees already have formal recognition and protections; asylum seekers await a legal decision. A USCIS pause delays adjudication…
Asylum Decisions Continue in 2025: No Official Halt, Delays Persist
USCIS has not announced a nationwide pause on asylum decisions in 2025, but heavy backlogs and policy changes—especially…
Will Credible Fear Passers Get Final USCIS Decisions During the Pause?
In late November 2025, USCIS halted all final asylum decisions nationwide, including cases in the Asylum Merits Interview…
Affirmative vs Defensive Asylum: Differences in USCIS Processing Halt
Affirmative asylum is filed with USCIS by those not in removal proceedings; defensive asylum is litigated in immigration…
Will the USCIS Asylum Halt Lead to Stricter Criteria and Denials?
After a Washington shooting tied to Rahmanullah Lakanwal, the administration paused asylum processing and tightened USCIS screening. New…
Can You Still Apply for U.S. Asylum After the USCIS Freeze?
USCIS paused all asylum decisions nationwide after a security incident, affecting about 2.5 million pending cases. The agency…