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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 court after an NTA. Both use Form I-589, but affirmative cases involve…
Can Refugees Arriving Jan 2021–Feb 2025 Still Apply for Green Cards?
The Jan. 27, 2025 USRAP pause halts most new refugee admissions but does not prevent refugees already admitted…
Are Resettled Refugees Facing Deportation After Security Review?
USCIS plans to re‑interview many resettled refugees, alarming advocates who cite retraumatization and disruption. Officials report no confirmed…
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…
Myanmar, Chad, Eritrea, Libya: Can They Still Apply for US Visas?
Effective June 9, 2025 at 12:01 a.m. EDT, the U.S. suspended most visa issuance for nationals of Myanmar,…
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…
What Countries of Concern Mean for Immigration and Visa Processing
In 2025 the U.S. designated 19 Countries of Concern, imposing stricter vetting, entry suspensions, and a USCIS reexamination…
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…
Are All Biden Refugees Subject to Re-Interview and Reopening?
USCIS ordered reopening and re-interviewing of about 233,000 refugees admitted from Jan. 20, 2021 to Feb. 20, 2025,…