New USCIS Hold Policy: What It Means for Immigrants from High-Risk Countries

In early January 2026, USCIS issued two significant policy memos —

PM-602-0192

and

PM-602-0194

— that have major implications for immigrants from countries designated as “high-risk” under

Presidential Proclamations 10949 and 10998

. Here’s what you need to know — especially if you or your loved ones are from one of the affected countries.

What the Policies Say

USCIS has directed officers to:

• Pause all pending immigration benefit applications (including green cards, work permits, asylum, TPS, etc.) for nationals of 33 countries identified in the proclamations.
• Re-review already approved applications for individuals from these countries who entered the U.S. on or after January 20, 2021.
• Apply enhanced scrutiny and possible re-interviews or security checks before approving any new cases.

Even family-based applications — like

marriage green cards or green cards for parents and children

— are now

no longer broadly exempt

“

“Family-based immigrant visa applications are now subject to the same review, restrictions, or additional scrutiny as other benefit requests.” – USCIS Policy Memo PM-602-0194

Affected Countries (As of January 2026)

The policies apply to nationals of the following

33 countries

Original 19 (Proclamation 10949):

Afghanistan, Belarus, Cuba, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Mali, Nicaragua, North Korea, Russia, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Venezuela, Yemen, China (PRC), Eritrea, Kyrgyzstan

Added 14 (Proclamation 10998):

Bangladesh, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Haiti, Kazakhstan, Laos, Myanmar (Burma), Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Senegal, Tajikistan

Why This Matters

In the past,

family-based petitions

were generally treated separately from security-based travel bans. This new memo

reverses that

, putting

all cases under the same lens

— regardless of whether someone is marrying a U.S. citizen, adjusting status through a child, or renewing DACA or TPS.This could mean

months-long delays

, additional security screening, or even retraction of previously granted approvals.

What You Should Do

If you or your loved one is from one of these countries:

• Monitor your case status closely through your USCIS online account.
• Gather and maintain strong documentation of identity, relationship, and eligibility.
• Prepare for possible delays or follow-up interviews.
• Speak with an immigration attorney — especially if you receive a Request for Evidence (RFE), Notice of Intent to Deny (NOID), or interview notice.

At KAZA Law, we’re tracking this closely and will help our clients respond to any additional screening or delays.

Think your case may be affected?

Book a consultation with us today.

“

My name is Daven Ghandi, and I’m a U.S. immigration lawyer and the founder of KAZA Law. In this article, we discussed the challenges and limited options for obtaining a green card while on a tourist visa. If you’re considering adjusting your status or have questions about family-based sponsorship, employment-based petitions, or other immigration pathways, it’s essential to understand the complexities involved. If you need personalized advice or have any immigration-related concerns, I encourage you to schedule a free consultation by clicking this link.