USCIS Expands Adjudication Hold to Additional High‑Risk Countries

Key Point  

• USCIS issued new guidance directing officers to place adjudication holds on immigration benefit applications filed by nationals of additional high‑risk countries identified in Presidential Proclamation 10998 

Adjudication Hold for High-Risk Countries  

On January 1, 2026, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) released Policy Memorandum PM‑602‑0194, expanding its previously announced adjudication pause to cover additional high‑risk countries. 

This update builds on the December 2025 directive (PM‑602‑0192), which placed holds on asylum applications and benefit requests for nationals of 19 countries listed in Presidential Proclamation (PP) 10949. 

Under the new memorandum, USCIS will: 

• Place a hold on all pending immigration benefit applications filed by nationals of countries listed in PP 10998, regardless of entry date 
• Conduct a comprehensive review of policies, screening procedures and vetting processes for these cases 
• Re‑review previously approved benefit requests for affected nationals whose cases were approved on or after January 20, 2021 

The hold remains in effect until lifted or modified by the USCIS Director 

Background 

PP 10998 expands the list of countries subject to U.S. entry restrictions due to insufficient screening, vetting and information‑sharing capabilities. The proclamation continues the full restrictions of PP 10949 and adds additional high‑risk countries, significantly broadening the population subject to USCIS review. 

USCIS states that the expanded adjudication hold is necessary to ensure that applicants from these countries do not pose national security or public safety risks. Officers must conduct case‑by‑case assessments, including mandatory interviews or re‑interviews where appropriate. 

Exceptions 

USCIS has outlined limited exceptions where adjudications may proceed. These include: 

• Form I‑90 (Green Card replacement) 
• Form N‑565 and Form N‑600 (with exceptions for Yemen and Somalia) 
• Certain Form I‑765 filings, including initial (c)(8) asylum‑based EADs 
• Civil surgeon designation applications 
• Select cases involving athletes participating in major international events 
• Cases prioritized by law enforcement or determined to be in the national interest 
• Automatic terminations of ancillary applications when an applicant becomes a permanent resident or U.S. citizen 

All other benefit requests for nationals of PP 10998 countries are subject to the adjudication hold. 

Don’t Miss an Update 

At Envoy Global, we combine smart, friendly legal teams with smart, friendly technology to facilitate immigration for companies and the global talent they depend on. Our holistic, proactive immigration services are built for accuracy and efficiency, always putting people first. 

Reach out today to learn how we can support your company’s immigration needs and help you navigate this rapidly evolving situation.