Articles Posted in USCIS

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If you’re applying for U.S. citizenship in 2026 or beyond, pay close attention. Every year, hundreds of applicants are denied citizenship because of three common mistakes—and they have nothing to do with failing the civics test.

In this video, I’ll explain exactly what those three mistakes are. These are serious issues that can cause a USCIS officer to stop your interview, close your case, and ultimately deny your citizenship application.

What are the requirements to apply for U.S. citizenship?

Generally, a green-card holder must meet these requirements:

  1. Be at least 18 years old when filing Form N-400.
  2. Have been a lawful permanent resident for at least 5 years. There is a separate 3-year rule for certain applicants who obtained their green card through marriage to a U.S. Citizen
  3. Maintain continuous residence in the United States during the required 5-year or 3-year period. Long trips outside the U.S., especially trips of 6 months or longer, can create problems.
  4. Be physically present in the United States for at least 30 months of the previous 5 years. Under the 3-year marriage rule, the requirement is generally at least 18 months.
  5. Demonstrate good moral character. USCIS generally examines at least the statutory 5-year or 3-year period, although conduct from earlier periods can also be taken into account
  6. Demonstrate basic English ability by speaking, reading, and writing English, unless you qualify for an age/residency or disability exception.
  7. Pass the U.S. civics test, unless an exception applies. For N-400 applications filed on or after October 20, 2025, USCIS uses the 2025 naturalization civics test.

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The new USCIS memo is finally showing its true colors.

Imagine coming to the U.S. legally, spending years doing everything right, and finally applying for your green card—only to be denied at the interview. Not because you are ineligible, but because a USCIS officer used the new USCIS memo to deny your case as a matter of discretion.

That’s exactly what happened in Michael’s case.

Real-Life Example: Green Card Denied Under the New USCIS Memo

Michael came to the United States legally 15 years ago on an F-1 student visa. Like many international students, he had plans to study, build a future, and follow the rules.

But life got difficult. Due to financial hardship and mental health struggles, Michael was unable to finish school. As a result, he fell out of F-1 status. To survive, he worked for a short period without authorization.

Years later, Michael married a U.S. citizen and applied for his green card through marriage.

At his green card interview, USCIS did not question whether their marriage was real. The problem was something else.

The officer told Michael that his green card would be denied under the new USCIS memo—not because he lacked eligibility through marriage, but because of the officer’s discretionary review of his past immigration violations. Continue reading

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Good news for thousands of immigrants whose cases have been stuck in limbo: USCIS has resumed processing green card applications for nationals from 39 countries after a federal court ordered the agency to stop enforcing policies that had frozen thousands of cases.

For months, affected applicants faced uncertainty as green card applications, work permits, naturalization requests, and other immigration benefits remained stalled. Now, those cases are moving forward again.

But before anyone celebrates too soon, there’s a catch.

The federal government has already appealed the court’s ruling, meaning this legal battle is far from over. While USCIS is currently required to process these applications, future court decisions could change the landscape once again.

It’s also important to understand what this ruling does—and does not—do. The court ordered USCIS to resume adjudicating cases, but it did not order the agency to approve them. Applicants must still meet all eligibility requirements under U.S. immigration law.

Additionally, the judge’s order does not affect the separate temporary suspension of immigrant visa processing for nationals of 75 countries, which remains in effect.

For individuals and families who have spent months waiting for updates, this decision offers a long-awaited opportunity to move their cases forward. Employers may also begin seeing progress on petitions and applications that were previously stalled.

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On May 21, 2026, USCIS issued Policy Memorandum PM-602-0199, signaling a major change in how green card applications filed inside the United States (known as Adjustment of Status) may be reviewed. The memo emphasizes that Adjustment of Status (AOS) is not an automatic benefit, even when an applicant meets all legal eligibility requirements.

Instead, USCIS officers are instructed to conduct a broader discretionary review known as a “totality of the circumstances” evaluation to consider whether the applicant should complete the immigrant visa process abroad through a U.S. consulate instead.

The policy effectively shifts AOS from being viewed as a routine pathway for eligible applicants to being treated as an “extraordinary” discretionary form of relief.

What’s changed: USCIS officers are directed to weigh both positive and negative factors on a case-by-case basis when deciding whether to approve a green card application.

The memo will lead to increased scrutiny at green card interviews, and the issuance of more requests for evidence. Certain applicants may even be forced to pursue consular processing abroad rather than adjusting status from within the United States.

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 If you’re in the United States on a temporary visa and hope to become a permanent resident, recent changes in how USCIS reviews green card applications could impact your case.

On May 22, 2026, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that temporary visa holders seeking green cards should leave the United States and complete their immigration process through consular processing in their home countries, instead of applying for adjustment of status.

Does this mean adjustment of status is no longer an option? No. Although the government has emphasized that individuals seeking to immigrate to the United States should generally obtain immigrant visas through consular processing abroad, adjustment of status remains available as a discretionary pathway to lawful permanent residence.

What is Adjustment of Status?

For years, adjustment of status has been one of the most commonly used and reliable pathways for immigrants already living in the United States to apply for a green card. The process typically involves filing Form I-485, remaining in the United States while the application is pending, attending an interview, and ultimately receiving a final decision.

With limited exceptions, adjustment of status is generally not available for those who entered the country illegally.

USCIS’ announcement has not eliminated the ability to apply for adjustment of status, but the agency has created new obstacles for green card holders to obtain approval.

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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services recently announced that it will lift holds on the adjudication of green cards and other immigration-benefit requests for a select group of individuals.

As part of these exemptions, USCIS has lifted holds on some family petitions filed by U.S. citizens, intercountry adoptions, rescheduled naturalization oath ceremonies, asylum applications from lower-risk countries, work authorization requests, special immigrant visas, refugee registrations for South African nationals, applications associated with medical physicians, and cases that completed enhanced security vetting through Operation PARRIS.

This means that nationals who were previously subject to the “75-country pause” are no longer affected by the suspension and may resume normal processing of their immigration applications if they fall within one of the above categories.

Unfortunately, if you do not fall within one of the exempted categories, the adjudication of your green card and immigrant visa application will remain on hold.

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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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