Late on November 27, 2025, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) quietly posted a notice announcing an indefinite suspension of every form of immigration processing that involves Afghan nationals. The freeze applies to asylum, Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs), family reunification, adjustment of status, employment-based petitions and even routine work-permit renewals. The agency offered no public rationale and provided no timeline for resumption.
Although the statement is only a paragraph long, its practical reach is vast. More than 28,000 Afghan parolees and SIV applicants remain in the U.S. system following the 2021 Kabul airlift. Thousands more Afghans are in third countries awaiting immigrant-visa interviews scheduled for early 2026. Attorneys report that EAD renewal filings for Afghan clients are already being rejected, effectively putting legally resident workers at risk of job loss and accrual of unlawful-presence penalties.
![USCIS Suspends All Immigration Processing for Afghan Nationals Effective Immediately]()
The sudden halt arrives amid intense political backlash over the Washington, D.C. shooting incident allegedly perpetrated by an Afghan evacuee. Congressional Republicans had urged a “pause for review,” but most observers expected narrower security checks rather than a blanket stoppage. Refugee advocates warn that the measure will separate families and imperil Afghans who assisted U.S. forces. The International Rescue Committee called the move a "betrayal of wartime allies."
Corporate mobility programs with Afghan talent — particularly defence contractors and linguistics service providers — must now plan for extended work-authorization gaps and consider relocating affected employees to friendlier jurisdictions. Employers should also brace for heightened I-9 scrutiny, as work authorizations tied to Afghan status may lapse.
Practically, until USCIS issues further guidance, stakeholders can do little beyond monitoring the Federal Register and filing expedited humanitarian-parole requests in extreme cases. The episode underscores the fragility of immigration benefits when geopolitical events trigger security concerns.
Although the statement is only a paragraph long, its practical reach is vast. More than 28,000 Afghan parolees and SIV applicants remain in the U.S. system following the 2021 Kabul airlift. Thousands more Afghans are in third countries awaiting immigrant-visa interviews scheduled for early 2026. Attorneys report that EAD renewal filings for Afghan clients are already being rejected, effectively putting legally resident workers at risk of job loss and accrual of unlawful-presence penalties.
The sudden halt arrives amid intense political backlash over the Washington, D.C. shooting incident allegedly perpetrated by an Afghan evacuee. Congressional Republicans had urged a “pause for review,” but most observers expected narrower security checks rather than a blanket stoppage. Refugee advocates warn that the measure will separate families and imperil Afghans who assisted U.S. forces. The International Rescue Committee called the move a "betrayal of wartime allies."
Corporate mobility programs with Afghan talent — particularly defence contractors and linguistics service providers — must now plan for extended work-authorization gaps and consider relocating affected employees to friendlier jurisdictions. Employers should also brace for heightened I-9 scrutiny, as work authorizations tied to Afghan status may lapse.
Practically, until USCIS issues further guidance, stakeholders can do little beyond monitoring the Federal Register and filing expedited humanitarian-parole requests in extreme cases. The episode underscores the fragility of immigration benefits when geopolitical events trigger security concerns.
