Immigration Status
Explainers on U.S. immigration statuses — lawful permanent resident, conditional resident, asylee, refugee, parolee, TPS holder, DACA recipient, and undocumented. Rights, limitations, and pathways for each.
TPS: Is It Still Available Amid the Asylum Processing Halt?
Temporary Protected Status operates separately from asylum and continues to protect eligible nationals, offering work authorization and deportation relief. Notable updates: Haiti extended through Feb. 3, 2026; Burma’s TPS slated…
Is My EAD Valid With Pending Asylum? Five-Year Validity & Renewals
EADs tied to pending asylum cases issued on/after Sept. 27, 2023 are valid five years. Renew within 120–90…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…