Articles Posted in Permanent Residents

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Starting April 27, 2026, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) implemented a new enhanced FBI security screening process that is affecting the adjudication of immigration benefit requests that require finger-print based background checks. The update requires USCIS officers to conduct additional background vetting before approving eligible cases.

Under the new policy, officers must resubmit certain pending applications for expanded FBI fingerprint and criminal history checks and place cases on hold until the updated review is completed. The change is expected to impact a range of immigration filings, including adjustment of status (green card) applications, asylum cases, naturalization applications, employment authorization documents, and some family-based petitions.

Who is Impacted

The temporary delays primarily affect applicants whose fingerprints were submitted before April 27, as USCIS is now reprocessing those records through the updated vetting system. Newly filed applications may also experience longer processing times while the agency works through the increased review requirements.

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USCIS may not be denying your green card case — but it may be quietly putting it on hold.

As of December 2, 2025, USCIS and the State Department began a new “hold and review” process for certain immigration applications filed by individuals from 39 countries – suspending the issuance of visas and green cards for all applicants for an uncertain period of time. Under this policy, officers are expected to pause final decisions while enhanced security vetting processes are established by the government.

For applicants, that means one thing: more delays and uncertainty.

If your case was moving forward, your fingerprints were already taken, or you were expecting an interview soon, this sudden pause could explain why everything has gone silent.

In this update, we break down what USCIS’s “hold and review” policy means, who may be affected, whether you need to take action, and what applicants should watch for next.

Why is there a “hold and review” policy?

In June and December 2025, the President issued various executive orders, imposing immigration restrictions affecting individuals from 39 countries. The ban affects their ability to enter the United States, receive U.S. visas, and obtain immigration benefits through agencies like USCIS and the Department of State via Consular processing.

The affected countries include Afghanistan, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Chad, Cote d’Ivoire, Cuba, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Gabon, Haiti, Iran, Laos, Libya, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Republic of the Congo, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, The Gambia, Togo, Tonga, Turkmenistan, Venezuela, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and individuals holding Palestinian-Authority-issued travel documents.

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Are you applying for an immigrant visa and want to know when your priority date will become current? Then you won’t want to miss our analysis of the May 2026 Visa Bulletin.

In this video, attorney Jacob Sapochnick explains what you can expect to see in terms of the movement of the family-sponsored and employment-based visa categories next month.

            Highlights of the May 2026 Visa Bulletin

At a Glance

What can we expect to see in the month of May?

Employment-Based Categories

Final Action Advancements

EB-3 Other Workers

  • Worldwide and Mexico will advance 3 months to February 1, 2022

EB-5 Unreserved Categories (C5, T5, I5, and R5)

  • EB-5 China will advance 3 weeks to September 22, 2016

Dates for Filing Advancements

EB-5 Unreserved Categories (C5, T5, I5, and R5) 

  • EB-5 China will advance 4 months to March 1, 2017

Family-Sponsored Categories

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If you’ve made it to the green card interview stage, you’re closer than ever to becoming a lawful permanent resident—but it’s also the part that makes many applicants the most nervous. What actually happens in that room? What kinds of questions will they ask?

The green card interview is a chance for immigration officers to verify your application, confirm your eligibility, and ensure everything checks out. Still, the uncertainty can feel overwhelming if you don’t know what to expect.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through exactly what happens during a green card interview, from the moment you arrive to the types of questions you’ll be asked. Whether your application is based on marriage, family, or employment, understanding the process can help you feel more confident, prepared, and in control on the big day.

Importance of the Green Card Interview

The green card interview is one of the most critical steps in the immigration process because it’s where your entire application is reviewed face-to-face by an immigration officer. Up until this point, decisions are largely based on paperwork, but the interview allows the officer to verify your identity, confirm the accuracy of your information, and assess your eligibility in real time.

It’s also an opportunity for them to detect inconsistencies, clarify details, and, in certain cases—such as marriage-based applications—determine whether your relationship is genuine. A successful interview can lead directly to approval, while red flags or incomplete answers may delay your case or even result in denial, making preparation and honesty essential.

Nearly All Green Card Cases Require an Interview in 2026

As of 2026, the vast majority of green card applications now require a mandatory in-person interview as part of the application process. While some categories were previously eligible for interview waivers, changing immigration policies have made in-person review the standard rather than the exception.

This shift allows immigration officers to more thoroughly verify applicant information, assess eligibility, and detect potential inconsistencies or fraud. As a result, applicants across family-based, employment-based, and other categories should plan for an interview and prepare accordingly, treating it as a central step in securing permanent residency.

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Imagine building a life in the United States, paying taxes, buying a home, putting down roots, only to have it all put at risk by a single misstep. One arrest. One extended trip abroad. Suddenly, your green card status is on the line. Sound impossible? For thousands of green card holders during the Trump administration, this has become a very real and unsettling reality. By contrast, those who become U.S. citizens can live in the United States with greater security and peace of mind.

In this blog post, we discuss five key differences between green card holders and U.S. citizens that might make you rethink staying a permanent resident.

#1 Deportation Risk

One of the most important differences between green card holders and U.S. citizens is the risk of deportation. Green card holders have the right to live and work in the United States, but their status is not guaranteed forever.

Certain situations can put a green card at risk, including criminal convictions, immigration violations, or even spending too much time outside the U.S. In these cases, a green card holder may be placed in removal proceedings.

By contrast, U.S. citizens cannot be deported even when convicted of a criminal offense. This key difference means that only U.S. citizenship offers permanent protection from deportation.

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If you are an EB-2 or EB-3 visa holder waiting for your priority date to become current, you have already heard that in April the final action dates will become current for all countries except India and China.

This means that starting April 1st most individuals residing in the United States will be eligible to file their adjustment of status applications for permanent residence. As part of this process, applicants may file an application for temporary work authorization (Form I-765) or travel authorization (Form I-131). Once your green card application is filed with USCIS, you will not be able to travel abroad unless you have a valid, approved travel permit issued by USCIS.

Gathering Important Documents

Before filing, gather these six documents to avoid delays, minimize RFEs, and be ready to submit your green card application in April before your window of opportunity closes.

#1 Birth Documentation

Green card applicants must submit a birth certificate to USCIS or the National Visa Center that includes their full name, date and place of birth, parents’ names, and an official seal. If the document is not in English, a certified translation is required. You must also bring the original or a certified copy to your interview, if scheduled.

If you do not already have your birth certificate, it is important to obtain it as soon as possible.

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If you’re eligible for U.S. citizenship but still holding onto your green card, waiting could cost you more than you think. Backlogs are growing, processing times are stretching, and delays are only expected to get worse. What seems like “waiting for the right time” can quickly turn into years of lost opportunity. In this video, we break down why applying now is the smartest move you can make and what’s at stake.

What’s Causing the Long Wait for U.S. Citizenship?

Becoming a U.S. citizen is taking longer than ever due to limited government resources and heightened scrutiny of an applicant’s good moral character, including extensive background checks.

Biometrics appointments have become a significant bottleneck in the U.S. citizenship application process, often adding weeks or even months of delay to an application. These appointments—handled by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services—are required to collect fingerprints, photos, and signatures for background checks, but limited appointment availability and heightened scrutiny have caused delays.

Since biometrics is a required step before an application can move forward, these delays can stall the entire process, contributing to the growing backlog and extending the timeline for naturalization.

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Immigration policy has been changing quickly in 2026, and many immigrants are understandably worried about what these developments mean for their future in the United States. News headlines about tougher immigration policies have created confusion, and in some cases, unnecessary fear.

In this video, we break down what has actually changed under recent policies, and just as importantly, what has not changed in U.S. immigration law.

#1 Green Card Holders Are Protected

Here are the facts:

  • Individuals who hold a Green Card have the legal right to live and work permanently in the United States.
  • Their status cannot be taken away arbitrarily by immigration authorities.
  • In most cases, a permanent resident can only lose their status through formal removal proceedings before an immigration judge.
  • Loss of permanent resident status typically occurs only under specific circumstances, such as certain criminal convictions, immigration fraud, or abandoning residence by staying outside the U.S. for extended periods.
  • Despite recent immigration policy discussions and media coverage, the core legal protections for Green Card holders remain in place.

#2 Laws Don’t Change Overnight

U.S. immigration laws cannot change instantly. Most changes must be approved by Congress or a formal regulatory process. Even when new policies are announced, they typically take months or years to implement.

Additionally, major immigration changes require public notice and comment periods.  This means members of the public are given advance notice before significant rules take effect, and the government must take their feedback into account before reaching a decision.

Furthermore, not every announcement or headline represents a new law—many are simply policy proposals or enforcement priorities.

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Rising tensions in the Middle East amid the escalating conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran have triggered a collapse in regional air travel. Widespread airspace closures, airport shutdowns, and thousands of canceled flights have stranded travelers across major transit hubs such as Dubai, Doha, and Abu Dhabi.

Among those caught in the disruption are thousands of green card holders and visa holders who left the United States temporarily and are now unable to return as flights remain suspended and regional travel remains restricted.

In this video, we discuss key steps the State Department recommends for permanent residents and other noncitizens currently stranded in the region.

75-Country Ban on Immigrant Visa Issuance

As a reminder, the Trump administration imposed an indefinite pause on immigrant visa issuance for nationals of 75 countries beginning January 21, 2026. Due to the pause, the State Department has suspended the issuance of all immigrant visas while it develops new procedures to assess whether applicants may become financially dependent on the U.S. government under the public charge standard.

  • Impact: While U.S. consulates may continue accepting applications and conducting interviews, they are currently unable to issue or print immigrant visas, including family- and employment-based green cards, for affected applicants until the new policy is implemented. This further complicates travel for immigrants residing in the Middle East, including Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Syria, and Yemen.

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New immigration rules under Donald Trump will soon bar green card holders from receiving certain SBA government loans, while also introducing heightened scrutiny and travel restrictions for both domestic and international travel.

#1 Green Card Holders Banned from Receiving SBA Loans

Under a major policy change by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), green card holders (lawful permanent residents) will no longer be eligible for SBA-backed business loans beginning March 1, 2026.

  • What’s changing: The SBA issued updated guidance requiring that 100% of all direct and indirect owners of a business seeking SBA loans must be U.S. citizens or U.S. nationals with their principal residence in the United States. This eliminates any eligibility for businesses owned by green card holders.
  • Effective date: The rule goes into effect March 1, 2026, meaning any SBA loan applications must have been assigned a loan number before that date to qualify under the old eligibility standards.
  • Programs affected: Major SBA lending programs such as the 7(a) and 504 loan programs will be impacted, cutting off access to federal funding for small businesses owned by green card holders.

#2 New Rules for Green Card Holders Traveling or Planning to Leave the U.S.

A new trend over the past three weeks indicates that green card holders returning from any of the 75 countries listed under President Trump’s visa ban are increasingly being sent to secondary inspection by U.S. Customs and Border Protection for additional questioning. While most are ultimately admitted, the added scrutiny creates yet another hurdle for lawful permanent residents returning to the U.S. after temporary foreign travel.

Social media vetting is also increasing, with green card holders reportedly being asked by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers to display their social media accounts during re-entry inspections. Before traveling, it is important to review social media content that could be misinterpreted, taken out of context, or that is inconsistent with your immigration history.

Finally, if you plan to travel to one of the 75 countries named in President’s Trump’s visa ban, it is important to carry documentation explaining the purpose of your trip and evidence of your strong ties to the United States. Being prepared will help facilitate a smoother re-entry process.

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