The U.S. has paused all pending immigration applications from 19 "countries of concern," meaning that even applicants with pending green card applications are on hold.

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced Tuesday it is placing a hold on all pending asylum applications and will pause all benefit requests by foreign nationals from 19

The Trump administration is pausing all immigration applications such as requests for green cards for people from 19 countries banned from travel earlier this year.

On Tuesday Dec. 2, 2025, USCIS released a policy memorandum titled “Hold and Review of all Pending Asylum Applications and all USCIS

The Trump administration has significantly reduced the validity of work permits for immigrants, including those awaiting green cards, from five years to 18 months. USCIS cites security concerns and the need for more frequent vetting to deter fraud and identify threats.

Experts told Newsweek that the policy may result in extended processing times and additional administrative burdens for affected applicants.

USCIS cut the validity of Employment Authorization Documents from five years to eighteen months to allow more frequent background checks and tighten security. The change affects refugees, people granted asylum and individuals with pending immigration cases,

The new rule, effective December 5, 2025, means more frequent renewals, longer backlogs, and a higher risk that applicants could lose their ability to work while waiting for approvals.