USCIS Just FROZE Thousands of Green Cards & Asylum Cases – What’s Really Happening

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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.

USCIS has stated that the enhanced screening measures are part of broader national security and fraud prevention efforts. The agency is coordinating closely with the FBI to expand background checks and ensure additional review of immigration applicants before final decisions are issued.

While USCIS has indicated the pauses are temporary, expect the additional screening requirements to create processing delays across several immigration categories in the coming months.

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