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Pause on All Decisions for Travel-Ban Countries
Contributor: Van T. Doan
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On November 26, 2025, two members of the National Guard were shot in Washington D.C.. Both were critically injured, and one died from her injuries. When it was determined that the accused shooter had come into the United States through a refugee/asylum program, the administration responded to the shootings with sweeping new restrictions on immigration.
These restrictions will affect a wide range of foreign nationals at various stages of the U.S. immigration process, with the most severe impact being on Afghan nationals. Individuals from the other countries on the travel-ban list will also experience a significant impact on their immigration process, but even if your home country isn’t on the list, you are likely to be affected. Information is coming out piecemeal, much of it over social media, and many questions remain unanswered. If you need help, it is best to contact an experienced, licensed immigration attorney for updates.
What is Happening with Asylum Cases?
At this time, all asylum decisions are on pause for everyone, regardless of where they are in the process or whether they are from one of the travel-ban countries. In short, USCIS is neither approving nor denying asylum cases for the foreseeable future. It’s possible that interviews may still be conducted, but no decisions will be issued.
What are Countries on the Travel-Ban List?
As of December 2, there were 19 countries subject to a full travel ban:
- Afghanistan
- Burma (Myanmar)
- Chad
- Republic of the Congo
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Haiti
- Iran
- Libya
- Somalia
- Sudan
- Yemen
- Burundi
- Cuba
- Laos
- Sierra Leone
- Togo
- Turkmenistan
- Venezuela
As of December 16, the Administration added additional countries to the full travel-ban list:
- Burkina Faso
- Niger
- South Sudan
- Syria
In addition, individuals with travel documents issued by the Palestinian Authority are subject to a full travel ban.
The Administration also added the following countries to the list of those with a partial travel ban:
- Angola
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Benin
- Cote d’Ivoire
- Dominica
- Gabon
- Gambia
- Malawi
- Mauritania
- Nigeria
- Senegal
- Tanzania
- Tonga
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
What Do the Different Levels of Travel Ban Mean?
As a practical matter, Afghanistan is being treated as a category of its own. Past approvals are officially being re-examined, and work permits, status changes, and naturalization are all on pause, as is asylum processing. Visa issuance outside the U.S. has also been completely halted for people with an Afghan passport. For those inside the U.S., the risk of being denied re-entry if they travel outside the country is extremely high.
Countries on the full travel-ban list are also facing a near-total shutdown of immigration processes. Almost no new visas are being issued, and entry to the U.S. is mostly barred. Consular processing of visas has essentially stopped, and travel risk (for individuals traveling outside the U.S. and seeking to return) is very high. Even if you already have a green card, if you are from one of the countries with a full travel ban, USCIS may take a closer look at how your green card was granted.
For countries on the partial ban list, some new visas are still being allowed, but entry to the U.S. is still very limited, with certain paths to entry (like those for tourists and students) effectively closed. In general, it’s still possible for people from partial travel-ban countries to enter the U.S., but the process is slower, more challenging, and less predictable.
What Should I Do if I Have a Pending Immigration Application?
If you have a pending application, even if you are not from a travel-ban country, interviews may still move forward, but you should expect any final decisions to be paused. At this time, little is known about projected processing timelines. The best thing to do is keep complete copies and records of everything you have filed, and avoid traveling outside the U.S. if at all possible. If you must travel, confirm with your immigration attorney that it is safe for you to do so.
What if I am from a Travel-Ban Country?
All approvals and denials of petitions are currently frozen, and even naturalization oath ceremonies have been paused. Depending on your country of origin, your case is likely to be reviewed more strictly. Having an application that is strong and complete is important, as it always has been, but be aware that delays in processing are still a virtual certainty. Even if you have a green card, if you are from a travel-ban country, USCIS may review how your green card was granted.
What Steps Should I Take Because of the New Immigration Restrictions?
In light of the uncertainty around these restrictions, there are certain practical steps you should take:
- Make sure your contact information with USCIS is updated and correct so that you can receive important communications
- Save and organize all notices, receipts, and correspondence that have to do with your immigration process
- Make a financial plan that takes likely processing delays into account
- Pay close attention to any policy updates that come out, including over reliable social media channels
- Work with a licensed immigration attorney
With immigration regulations constantly changing, and the uncertainty that creates, it is more important than ever to work with a licensed immigration attorney. There are many unscrupulous people offering help with immigration matters, but they may not have legal education or a law license. To learn more about the latest pause on decisions for travel-ban countries, or to get help with your immigration needs, contact our law office to schedule a consultation.