Law Office of Young Ah Ri, P.C.

Law Office of Young Ah Ri, P.C. We are devoted exclusively to the practice of US immigration and nationality law since our opening in 2007. Immigration Law Office

Our reputation has been earned through hard work and dedicated service to clients who come from every part of the world.

05/22/2026

[USCIS Issues New Adjustment of Status Guidance]

On May 21, 2026, USCIS issued a new policy memorandum discussing how officers should evaluate Adjustment of Status applications. This memo emphasizes that Adjustment of Status is a discretionary benefit and confirms that officers may continue considering the totality of the circumstances in each case.

Importantly, this memorandum does not appear to create a new statutory basis for denial or eliminate existing eligibility categories for Adjustment of Status. Much of the memo reflects longstanding legal principles and prior case law already recognized in immigration practice.

However, the policy may signal a broader emphasis on discretionary review and could result in increased scrutiny in certain cases, particularly those involving immigration history, status compliance, or credibility complications. Because the practical impact of this guidance will depend heavily on how USCIS officers apply it in adjudications, its full applicability remains unclear at this time.

This is breaking guidance, and we will continue updating this post as more information becomes available.

[USCIS Strengthens Screening and Vetting: What Applicants Need to Know]On March 30, 2026, USCIS announced a series of ex...
05/22/2026

[USCIS Strengthens Screening and Vetting: What Applicants Need to Know]

On March 30, 2026, USCIS announced a series of expanded screening and vetting measures following recent executive actions, including Executive Order 14161 and Presidential Proclamations 10949 and 10998. These changes aim to enhance national security and increase scrutiny in case adjudications.

USCIS has implemented more rigorous and strict review protocols, particularly for individuals from countries subject to heightened security concerns. This shift may affect a range of filings, including asylum applications, certain adjustment of status cases, and matters involving national of designated countries.

USCIS has explained its expanded vetting tools and procedures. In practice, these enhancements may include more frequent background checks, increased use of biometric verification, a greater review of publicly available information, such as social media, and additional interviews as part of the adjudication process.

USCIS has stated that these efforts will continue, with a focus on strengthening the integrity of the immigration system, preventing fraud, and ensuring that all applicants are thoroughly vetted before receiving immigration benefits. However, although these developments may result in longer processing times for certain cases, they do not indicate an automatic denial in any individual case. During this time, USCIS will continue to issue receipt notices, schedule biometrics appointments, and perform background checks.



[Impact of Recent U.S. Immigration Restrictions and Security Review Delays]Recent U.S. immigration policy changes may af...
05/22/2026

[Impact of Recent U.S. Immigration Restrictions and Security Review Delays]

Recent U.S. immigration policy changes may affect processing times for some applicants. Presidential Proclamation 10949 (June 2025) and Presidential Proclamation 10998 (December 2025) introduced expanded security review procedures for nationals of certain countries. These measures were implemented to address national security concerns and may result in longer processing times for some immigration applications.

What Is Happening

The proclamations place restrictions on visa issuance and entry to the United States for nationals of certain countries identified as having limited security-screening cooperation.

In response, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued internal policy guidance directing officers to temporarily hold final decisions on certain applications while additional security reviews are conducted, as outlined in USCIS Policy Memorandum PM-602-0192 and USCIS Policy Memorandum PM-602-0194.

During this time, normal processing steps such as receipt notices, biometrics appointments, and background checks may still occur. However, final adjudication may be delayed until the security review process is completed.
It is important to note that these holds are agency-wide operational measures. They do not mean that an application has been denied or that there is a specific issue with a particular case.

What This Means for Applicants

Nationals of affected countries may experience:
Longer processing times while additional security checks are completed
Delays in certain immigration benefits, including Adjustment of Status (Form I-485), Employment Authorization (Form I-765), and Advance Parole (Form I-131)
Additional background review procedures as part of the government’s screening process

Although delays can be frustrating, they are part of a broader policy affecting many applications and do not necessarily reflect a problem with an individual case.

Countries Affected

The proclamations apply to nationals of a number of countries across Africa, the Middle East, the Caribbean, and parts of Asia. Some countries face broader entry restrictions, while others are subject to more limited visa-related measures. A full list of the affected countries can be found here.

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Immigration policies continue to evolve, and new guidance can affect how applications are processed. While these additional security reviews may create delays for some applicants, they do not determine the outcome of a case.

Our firm continues to monitor policy developments closely. If you have questions about how these changes may affect your immigration application, please contact us.



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