Updated Jan. 8, 2026, 11:15 a.m.

On Jan. 1, USCIS issued an updated policy memo that directs personnel to:

• Place a hold on all pending benefit applications, regardless of entry date, for individuals from the countries** listed in Presidential Proclamation 10998.
• Conduct a review of all policies, procedures, and screening and vetting processes for individuals from the countries** listed in Presidential Proclamation 10998.
• Conduct a re-review of approved benefit requests for individual from the countries** listed in Presidential Proclamation 10998, that were approved on or after Jan. 20, 2021.

This hold and review applies to all form applications submitted to USCIS.

If you receive communication from USCIS about your previously approved benefit, please notify your ISSS adviser so we can advise on your next steps.

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On Tuesday, Dec. 2, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued a policy memo that directs personnel to: 

1. Place a hold on pending benefit requests for individuals from the 19 countries* identified in Presidential Proclamation 10949. 
2. Conduct a review of approved benefit requests for individuals from the 19 countries* identified in Presidential Proclamation 10949 who entered the U.S. on or after Jan. 20, 2021.  
3. Place a hold on all asylum applications regardless of an individual’s country of nationality.

For students and scholars from the 19 affected countries, benefits processed by USCIS are currently on hold. Although not expressly addressed in the policy memo, this may include, but is not limited to, applications for work authorization (e.g., OPT and STEM OPT, J-2 work authorization), change of status, adjustment of status and more.  

For students and scholars from the 19 affected countries who entered the U.S. on or after Jan. 20, 2021, and have an approved benefit, USCIS may conduct a re-review of your case that may include a potential interview. If you receive communication from USCIS about your previously approved benefit, please notify your ISSS adviser so we can advise on your next steps. 

Individuals with pending asylum applications should continue working with their legal counsel for any updates to their case.   

Any additional updates regarding this announcement will be posted on our Insights page. If you have questions or concerns, advising for international students and scholars is available through in-person walk-ins or online appointments. You can also contact your ISSS adviser by email.    

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**The countries identified in Presidential Proclamation 10998 include Afghanistan, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Cote d’Ivoire, Cuba, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Gabon, Gambia, Haiti, Iran, Laos, Libya, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Venezuela, Yemen, Zambia and Zimbabwe, as well as individuals holding travel documents issued by the Palestinian Authority.

*The 19 countries identified in Presidential Proclamation 10949 include Afghanistan, Burma, Burundi, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Cuba, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Laos, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Togo, Turkmenistan, Venezuela and Yemen.