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.
Top questions about Immigration Status
Answers from VisaVerge guidesWhat changes have affected the processing of asylum applications in 2025?
Asylum officers continue to issue decisions, but heavy backlogs and policy shifts have created delays in interviews and hearings.
Read: Asylum Decisions Continue in 2025: No Official Halt, Delays PersistWhat are some recent changes in U.S. asylum policies as of January 20, 2025?
As of January 20, 2025, new U.S. asylum policies include the reinstated 'Remain in Mexico' policy and expanded expedited removals, which have altered how asylum seekers can apply and proceed with their claims.
Read: Understanding the U.S. Asylum Process Amid Evolving PoliciesWhat is the U.S. policy stance regarding asylum seekers as of January 2026?
The U.S. has implemented a nationwide Asylum Hold and stricter screening protocols.
Read: Border Guards Detain 15 Asylum Seekers at Vilnius Airport Bound for GermanyWhat has USCIS done regarding asylum decisions as of late November 2025?
USCIS has internally paused all asylum decisions since late November 2025, halting approvals, denials, and closures nationwide.
Read: Asylum-Based EAD Renewal: What to Do When USCIS Pauses DecisionsWhat is the current status of asylum decisions after the shooting on November 26, 2025?
Asylum decisions have been halted indefinitely as of November 26, 2025, with no clear timeline for resuming adjudications.
Read: Trump Admin Halts All Asylum Decisions Amid Vetting Push
Afghanistan TPS in 2026 and What Afghans in the U.S. Can Do
The U.S. ended TPS for Afghanistan on July 14, 2025, leaving 11,700 Afghans without work permits and requiring them to seek alternative legal status in 2026.
Asylum Seeker Arrested Outside Portland Court Ordered Released Immediately
Oregon’s federal judge released O-J-M, a trans asylum seeker detained illegally through expedited removal by ICE after court…
Haitian High School Student Released from ICE Amid TPS Battle
Haitian student Alan Junior Pierre was detained despite TPS protections. TPS for Haiti faces shortened protections, risking deportations…
Maine to End Transitional Housing for Asylum Seekers by September 2025
Maine’s transitional housing program for asylum seekers closes in 2025 amid high costs and funding cuts. About 1,000…
Harris Says Asylum Seekers Should Pay Rent, Critics Call It Unfair
Starting late 2025, asylum seekers in government housing may pay rent under Harris’s proposal. The plan intends cost…
Report Highlights Significant Health Inequalities for Hertfordshire Asylum Seekers
Hertfordshire launched the Flourish Mental Health Service in April 2025 for asylum seekers 16 and older, alongside grants…
Migrants Build New Lives in Mexico as U.S. Asylum Doors Close
U.S. asylum restrictions since 2025 block most seekers at the border, while Mexican asylum remains accessible. Migrants face…
US Migrants Seeking Asylum in Canada Surge by 400 Percent
TPS termination in the U.S. has increased asylum claims in Canada by up to 400% in 2025. U.S.…
Migrants Seek Asylum in Mexico Amid US Border Pathway Closures
In 2025, US asylum access at the southern border is closed, forcing migrants to apply in Mexico. Mexico…
Minnesota’s State-Level Support for Refugees and Asylum Seekers in 2025
Minnesota supports refugees admitted before January 27, 2025, with jobs, health care, and legal help. Asylum seekers with…