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Asylum Processing Pause Partially Lifted: What Applicants Need to Know
- I.S. Law Firm
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
Recent reports indicate that the U.S. government is scaling back a major pause on asylum applications that had previously brought hundreds of thousands of cases to a halt. The pause was originally implemented in November 2025 after a tragic incident involving National Guard members in Washington, D.C. Following this event, immigration officials were instructed to stop processing asylum cases handled by USCIS, effectively freezing many asylum applications.
What Has Changed?
The government has now decided to lift the asylum processing pause for most applicants, allowing many pending cases to move forward again. However, the pause remains in place for individuals from approximately 39 countries that are currently subject to travel bans or heightened immigration restrictions. These countries include:
Somalia
Nigeria
Senegal
Afghanistan
Iran
Laos
Cuba
Hait
Venezuela
Burkina Faso
Mali
Niger
South Sudan
Syria
Sudan
Libya
Eritrea
Chad
Myanmar (Burma)
Republic of the Congo
Equatorial Guinea
Sierra Leone
Tanzania
Zambia
Zimbabwe
Angola
Benin
Côte d’Ivoire
Gabon
The Gambia
Malawi
Mauritania
Tonga, Dominica
Antigua and Barbuda.
Continued Restrictions
For individuals from these countries, asylum cases, and even other immigration benefits, such as work permits, green cards, and citizenship applications, may remain paused or significantly delayed. Government officials have stated that these measures are intended to focus resources on enhanced screening and vetting for higher-risk cases.
What This Means for Applicants
If you are not from a restricted country, your asylum case may begin moving forward after months of delay. If you are from one of the affected countries, delays and additional review may continue, and processing times may remain uncertain. Even for those whose cases resume, overall timelines may still be slower than usual.
Our Firm’s Perspective
The partial lifting of the pause is a welcome development, but it also reflects how quickly immigration policies can shift. Processing may not move at the same pace for everyone, and some applicants may continue to face longer wait times and closer review of their cases. For many, this change may finally allow their applications to move forward. For others, particularly those from affected countries, uncertainty may remain for the time being.
What Should You Do?
If you have a pending asylum case or are planning to apply, it is important to be prepared. In some cases, asylum interviews may be scheduled on short notice, sometimes within weeks of filing or while an application is already pending. Having a complete and well-prepared application can make a significant difference when your case begins to move.
Our office has over 20 years of experience handling asylum matters and has worked with individuals from a wide range of backgrounds. If you have a pending case or are considering applying for asylum, reach out to us for a consultation and review of your case.
Attorney Furkan Bayraktar, Esq. and Senior Paralegal Enara Shukurova
I.S. Law Firm
P.: (703) 527-1779
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