Green Cards Halted by State Dept: What to Do Now

(UNITED STATES) The Department of State has paused issuing EB-2 employment-based green cards worldwide after confirming that the annual visa cap for fiscal year 2025 has been reached, effective September 5, 2025. Issuance is expected to resume October 1, 2025, when the new fiscal year begins. Consular posts and the National Visa Center have suspended final processing in EB-2 until that date.

The halt adds pressure on already heavy backlogs, especially for Indian professionals whose final action date in the September Visa Bulletin remains stuck at January 1, 2013. At the same time, USCIS has suspended green card processing for refugees and asylees under new security mandates, and the State Department has stopped most visa issuance for nationals of multiple countries under a Presidential Proclamation that took effect June 9, 2025. These steps reflect a broad tightening of legal immigration under President Trump’s directives on enforcement and screening.

What the EB-2 pause means

• The EB-2 stoppage applies through September 30, 2025.
• No immigrant visas in the EB-2 category will be issued by embassies and consulates during this period.
• No immigrant visa interviews will result in new visas until numbers refresh on October 1.
• For applicants inside the U.S., the unavailability of visa numbers blocks case approvals even if interviews or reviews are otherwise complete.

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the pause underscores how annual limits and per-country caps create long waits for high-demand groups, with Indian engineers, scientists, and other skilled workers facing the longest delays.

Country-based suspensions and vetting changes

The Department of State confirmed broad visa issuance suspensions for nationals of multiple countries under the June 9 proclamation, with limited humanitarian and diplomatic exceptions.

• One notice referenced 12 countries, including: Afghanistan, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.
• A separate Department summary states the overall suspensions cover nationals of 19 countries.
• Both measures operate alongside tightened vetting rules that now apply to almost all visa categories, adding time and paperwork.

The combined effect: fewer available interview slots, longer security checks, and more refusals or administrative processing for cases that might have moved more quickly in prior years.

USCIS pause for refugees and asylees

USCIS paused green card processing for refugees and asylees in March 2025, citing enhanced screening requirements ordered by President Trump on January 20, 2025.

• In January 2025 alone, USCIS received 92,424 permanent residence applications, including 12,394 from refugees and asylees.
• Before the pause, average processing times for these groups ran about 14 to 15.5 months.
• With interviews and decisions now on hold for many applicants, delays are expected to grow.

Advocacy groups say tens of thousands are left in limbo after following rules and expecting to complete permanent residence this year.

Practical impacts on applicants, families, and employers

• Visa appointments have been canceled or postponed.
• Case status updates are often silent or delayed.
• Requests for documents and security checks are taking longer.

Specific consequences:

• EB-2 applicants face an extra month without progress and cannot receive approvals while numbers are unavailable.
• Refugees and asylees with scheduled interviews have seen them withdrawn or postponed.
• Nationals of suspended countries often cannot book visa appointments unless they meet narrow exceptions.
• Employers planning fall start dates for skilled hires are scrambling to adjust projects and staffing.

Attorneys report a steady rise in client inquiries about whether to file new cases now or wait for October and see if visa bulletin dates move.

Policy changes enacted January–April 2025

Between January and April 2025, the administration advanced executive orders aimed at limiting unauthorized entry and tightening legal admission channels. Key actions include:

• Suspending refugee admissions for review.
• Expanding vetting to more applicants and visa categories.
• Moving to restrict birthright citizenship.
• Reinstating tougher border policies, including requiring some asylum seekers to wait outside the U.S. while claims proceed.
• Declaring a national emergency at the border and expanding military and surveillance resources.
• Introducing an immigration registration rule (effective April 11, 2025); DHS guidance says many people with green cards, parole, or employment authorization are considered registered.

Within consular posts and USCIS field offices:

• Enhanced screening has slowed daily throughput; more files are sent to additional review.
• Officers spend more time per case; applicants face broader document lists and longer security checks.
• Agencies say these measures are necessary for national security but acknowledge they are resource intensive.

Immediate guidance and next steps for affected applicants

For EB-2 applicants:
1. Wait until October 1 for visa numbers to refresh.
2. Continue checking the monthly Visa Bulletin for updates.
3. Ensure civil documents, job offers, and security clearances are up to date.
4. Prepare for additional document requests and enhanced vetting.

For refugees and asylees:
– Keep copies of entry documents, I-94s, recent medical exams, and any updates to addresses or family composition.
– Respond quickly to any USCIS mail; legal aid groups warn notices may have short response times.
– Avoid international travel unless you have the specific permission required.

For nationals of suspended countries:
– Review embassy guidance for humanitarian exceptions.
– Contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate with detailed evidence if you believe you qualify.
– Consider third-country residence or study options and remote work arrangements where lawful.

Employers:
– Consider shifting hiring timelines or extending current staff coverage.
– Explore other visa categories where feasible, noting many are also affected by vetting and limits.
– Provide clear job letters outlining duties, wages, and business need to assist consular and USCIS reviews.

Enforcement, legal challenges, and political context

• Several executive orders—especially those on birthright citizenship and refugee policy—face legal challenges that could block or narrow measures.
• Congress is debating visa caps and enforcement funding, but no final law has been passed.
• Business and university leaders warn that limits on skilled immigration (EB-2 and EB-3) may hurt U.S. competitiveness in science and technology.

Economic and social effects:
– Delayed green cards can cause turnover, deferred projects, and higher costs for employers.
– Workers facing long backlogs often cannot change jobs easily, limiting career mobility and earnings.
– Families risk children aging out of eligibility, and spouses face work disruptions related to dependent visas.

Systemic causes and likely timeline

• Annual visa caps and per-country limits are statutory and fixed, so when a cap is reached, issuance stops until the next fiscal year.
• Each new security rule adds time to reviews; over months this accumulates into chronic backlogs.
• The Department of State instructs applicants to watch the monthly Visa Bulletin; it will signal when EB-2 becomes available again on or after October 1.
• For those inside the U.S., USCIS can approve pending cases when the bulletin shows current status and security checks are complete.

Refugees and asylees: USCIS has not provided a firm timeline for resuming decisions; advocates continue pressing for a predictable resumption plan.

Nationals of suspended countries: Most categories are limited to narrow exceptions; approvals remain rare and can take months.

Practical checklist while you wait

• Keep copies of passports, birth and marriage certificates, police clearances, and court records.
• Track case numbers and priority dates in a simple file.
• Share updates with employers or school advisors who depend on your start dates.
• Monitor embassy websites for case-specific exception guidance.
• Prepare timelines and document lists for interviews, and be ready to answer questions about travel history and social media.

“Watch the bulletin, gather records, and be ready to answer detailed questions.” Agencies emphasize that extra checks are resource intensive and will limit daily capacity at consulates and USCIS field offices.

Final note and where to follow updates

For official monthly priority dates and availability, follow the Department of State Visa Bulletin:
– https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/legal/visa-law0/visa-bulletin.html

This bulletin is the government’s primary notice on when immigrant visa numbers are available for final action and will indicate when categories like EB-2 reopen after a fiscal year cap closes. In a year shaped by tight caps and stronger screening, the bulletin’s updates can determine timelines for entire households, employers, and institutions.