DHS Pauses USCIS Applications for Additional High-Risk Countries: What You Need to Know

Effective January 1, 2026, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has expanded its pause on the adjudication of immigration benefits. Under Policy Memorandum PM-602-0194, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is implementing an immediate “hold and review” for applications from an expanded list of high-risk countries.

This directive follows Presidential Proclamation (PP) 10998, which adds dozens of new countries to the restricted list originally established in June 2025.

Key Update: The “Hold and Review” Policy

The new USCIS policy memorandum mandates three primary actions:

• Adjudicative Hold: A pause on all pending benefit applications for individuals from high-risk countries until a comprehensive security review is completed.
• Mandatory Re-Reviews: A full re-review of immigration benefits already approved on or after January 20, 2021, for individuals from these countries.
• Operational Scrutiny: A complete audit of all screening and vetting procedures for these specific regions.

Which Countries Are Affected? (2026 Updated List)

The pause now impacts two categories of countries: those under Full Restrictions (no entry for most immigrants or nonimmigrants) and those under Partial Restrictions (restrictions on B, F, M, and J visas).

New Full Restriction Countries (Added Jan 1, 2026)

In addition to the original 12 countries (like Afghanistan, Iran, and Somalia), the full ban now includes:

• Burkina Faso
• Mali
• Niger
• South Sudan
• Syria
• Laos (Moved from partial to full)
• Sierra Leone (Moved from partial to full)
• Palestinian Authority Travel Document Holders

New Partial Restriction Countries (Added Jan 1, 2026)

Fifteen additional countries now face partial restrictions:

• Africa: Angola, Benin, Cote d’Ivoire, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
• Caribbean/Pacific: Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Tonga.

Who Does This Policy Impact?

The USCIS hold is not limited to those currently outside the U.S. It specifically targets:

• Anyone listing a high-risk country as their Country of Birth or Country of Citizenship.
• Individuals who obtained Citizenship by Investment (CBI) from a second country to bypass restrictions.
• Family members of individuals in the United States, as broad family-based exemptions have been narrowed.

Are There Exceptions?

While most benefits (including Green Cards and Naturalization) are paused, some specific forms are exempt from the hold:

• Form I-90: Green Card replacements.
• Form N-600: Certificate of Citizenship (except for Yemen and Somalia).
• Specific Work Permits: Initial (c)(8) asylum-based EADs and certain law enforcement-related (c)(11)/(c)(14) categories.
• National Interest Waivers: Cases involving critical medical research, infrastructure, or U.S. national security.

What to Expect Next

Applicants from affected countries should prepare for significant processing delays and the possibility of mandatory re-interviews. USCIS is expected to issue further operational guidance within 90 days of the memorandum’s issuance.