USCIS Re-Reviews Green Cards Granted in Past Five Years

(U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services) U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has ordered a sweeping re-review of all approved immigration benefits, including green cards, granted in the last 5 years to nationals of 19 designated “high-risk” countries, in one of the broadest security-driven actions the agency has taken in years. The policy, announced in a memorandum on December 2, 2025, applies to people from those countries who entered the United States on or after January 20, 2021, and could lead to new interviews, fresh evidence requests, or even referrals to law enforcement if officials believe there may be security or public safety concerns. USCIS said plainly, “we will review all existing green cards that were granted in the last 5 years.”

Scope and target countries

The move affects nationals of the following 19 countries — the list USCIS has labeled as high-risk countries for purposes of this policy:

• Afghanistan
• Burma (Myanmar)
• Burundi
• Chad
• Republic of Congo
• Cuba
• Equatorial Guinea
• Eritrea
• Haiti
• Iran
• Laos
• Libya
• Sierra Leone
• Somalia
• Sudan
• Togo
• Turkmenistan
• Venezuela
• Yemen

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the scope of the memo marks a sharp shift from case-by-case checks toward a systematic re-review of entire groups of past approvals — especially green cards issued during the last half decade.

Effective date and timeline

• The policy takes effect immediately as of December 2, 2025.
• USCIS said it will prioritize cases for review within 90 days of the announcement.

This compressed timeline means thousands of families could find their lawful permanent resident status under fresh government scrutiny quickly. While USCIS did not release case counts, the five-year window combined with multiple countries suggests a large pool of people could be affected.

Pause on new adjudications and extensions

USCIS has placed an indefinite pause on adjudication of new immigration benefits and extensions for nationals of the 19 designated countries. The pause covers items such as:

• New applications and filings
• Renewals and extensions (e.g., work authorization extensions)
• Travel document requests
• Status adjustment processing

Potential impacts include:

• Delays in work authorization extensions or travel documents for people already in the U.S.
• Frozen family reunification plans for relatives overseas
• Interruptions in routine immigration processing while security checks and re-review steps are completed

Expanded review criteria

The memo states the re-review is not limited strictly to the original travel ban criteria used in earlier years. It may consider:

• Broader birth or citizenship circumstances
• Cases where individuals entered the U.S. before January 20, 2021 (the memo leaves room to reach back beyond the primary target group)

This language widens the net and signals USCIS officers may look beyond entry dates when deciding which green cards or other benefits to re-check for potential security or public safety risks.

What affected individuals should expect

The most immediate signs of impact will likely be increased scrutiny of files. The memo describes possible actions including:

• Interviews or re-interviews
• Requests for additional evidence (RFE)
• Calls back to local USCIS offices to confirm identity, travel history, or past statements
• Requests to submit new documents showing continued eligibility
• In some cases, referrals to law enforcement for deeper background or security review

Important: The memo does not specify how often referrals to law enforcement will occur.

Risks and uncertainties

Although framed as a national security measure, the policy creates significant uncertainty for green card holders who believed their status was settled. Key concerns include:

• Whether a re-review could lead to cancellation of lawful permanent resident status or the start of removal proceedings
• The memo does not detail how USCIS will handle cases where officers now question past approvals
• Immigration lawyers warn of potential negative outcomes even if no new wrongdoing is alleged

Guidance and resources

USCIS released the policy without detailed public guidance for affected individuals. For general information on case reviews and security checks, USCIS refers people to its official materials:

• Official USCIS website: Official USCIS website

Those materials do not yet include instructions specific to the December 2 memo. As a result, many affected families are relying on private legal advice and close reading of the memo text to gauge how their cases might be treated.

Likely responses and legal challenges

The policy is expected to prompt:

• Legal challenges arguing the blanket re-review of nationals from specific countries may raise fairness and discrimination concerns
• Scrutiny from civil rights groups and immigration advocates over the memo’s reference to high-risk countries and the indefinite pause on new benefits
• Support from security-focused advocates who will point to the agency’s focus on national security and public safety, and to the value of re-checking approvals

Practical advice for affected people

Lawyers and community groups recommend the following steps:

1. Keep contact information current with USCIS.
2. Save copies of all immigration paperwork.
3. Respond promptly and carefully to any official letters (interview notices, RFEs, or other requests).
4. Seek legal advice if you receive a notice or have concerns about your status.

Warning: Failing to answer an interview notice or evidence request during the re-review period could carry serious consequences.

Anticipated impact on communities

• Many green card holders from the 19 countries may not see immediate changes; some will learn of re-review only when they receive a written notice.
• The pause on new adjudications could delay family members abroad from joining relatives in the U.S.
• Communities with large numbers of nationals from these countries may experience heightened fear of interacting with immigration offices, even for routine matters.
• With a 90-day window for priority review but no clear end date for the overall effort, many people may face months or longer of uncertainty about whether past approvals will stand.