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.
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 I‑485 interview rules, a review of 233,000 refugee approvals, and July 22,…
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…
Roles of FBI, CIA, and DHS in Enhanced Asylum Vetting
After the November 2025 shooting, federal agencies began re‑vetting refugees admitted during 2021–2025. DHS paused green‑card processing for…
Asylum-Based EAD Renewal: What to Do When USCIS Pauses Decisions
An internal USCIS halt on asylum decisions began in late November 2025 and is labeled indefinite. The pause…
Pending Asylum Applications During USCIS Decision Halts: What to Know
USCIS halted all affirmative asylum decisions in November 2025 to implement expanded vetting, freezing pending cases and blocking…
USCIS November 2025 Halt: What It Means for Asylum Families
A November 2025 visa suspension reportedly targets some Afghan nationals, but public records lack clear policy text on…
Work Permit 150 Days After Asylum Filing: Delays, Not a Halt?
No general USCIS halt exists through late 2025. Asylum seekers can apply for EAD after 150 days; approvals…
USCIS Asylum Halt: Iran, Somalia, Yemen Affected; Venezuela Unclear
A nationwide pause on asylum and refugee decisions announced in late November 2025 will affect many applicants; USCIS…
Can CAT Protection Replace Asylum? Key Facts and Limitations
CAT is an essential, mandatory backup when asylum or withholding fail. Applicants must prove a greater-than-50% chance of…
Will the USCIS Asylum Freeze Prevent Working Legally in the U.S.?
Following a fatal shooting, USCIS froze all affirmative asylum decisions in late November 2025, suspending adjudication of EADs…