USCIS Forced to Resume Visas & Green Cards for 39 Countries- What It Means NOW!

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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.

How did this start: The 39-country immigration processing pause began in late 2025 when the Trump administration directed USCIS to implement enhanced vetting measures for nationals from designated countries following national security concerns.

USCIS then suspended the processing of certain immigration benefits, including green card applications, work permits, naturalization applications, and some asylum cases, for nationals of 39 countries.

The Bottom Line

Applications are moving again, but uncertainty remains. If you are from one of the affected countries and have a pending case with USCIS, now is the time to monitor your case closely and stay informed as the appeal moves through the courts.

Contact Us. If you would like to schedule a consultation, please text 619-483-4549 or call 619-819-9204.

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