A proposed new rule would make it impossible for asylum seekers to apply for an initial work permit. The rule would also make some work permit renewals more difficult. This proposed rule is NOT final. If you are eligible for a work permit, apply now!
This page was recently updated to include information for asylum seekers about work permits, social security numbers, and TPS.
TPS for Honduras, Nepal, and Nicaragua have ended. TPS for Somalia and Yemen are ending soon. TPS for Burma (Myanmar), Ethiopia, Haiti, South Sudan, and Syria are valid for now. See updates for each country with Temporary Protected Status (TPS).
Courts have temporarily blocked the IRS from sharing taxpayers’ information with immigration agencies. However, we know that the IRS shared data with immigration agencies in 2025, and it is possible that they will do so again in the future.
USCIS and immigration courts can now require an annual asylum fee of $102 if your asylum application has been pending for at least one year. Previously, a judge had paused these fees, but the judge ended that pause on February 2.
Starting on January 21, 2026, the U.S. government is pausing processing of immigrant visas for 75 countries. The 75 countries are: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Burma, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Colombia, Cote d’Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyz Republic, Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Pakistan, Republic of the Congo, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Uruguay, Uzbekistan and Yemen.
There are new travel restrictions for individuals from specific countries. USCIS has stopped approving most immigration benefits for individuals from these countries, including asylum, green cards, and work permit renewals. The countries are Afghanistan, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burma (Myanmar), Burundi, Chad, the Republic of Congo, Cote d’Ivoire, Cuba, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Gabon, the Gambia, Haiti, Iran, Laos, Libya, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Palestine, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Turkmenistan, Venezuela, Yemen, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Work permits issued after December 4, 2025 to asylum seekers will be valid for 18 months, instead of 5 years. However, if you received a 5-year work permit on or before December 4, 2025, it is still valid for 5 years. This change also applies to some other immigrants.
The Supreme Court agreed to hear arguments about whether the birthright citizenship Executive Order is legal, as part of a lawsuit called Barbara v. Trump. The Supreme Court will probably decide this issue by early July 2026. Today, all babies born in the U.S. are U.S. citizens.
At this time, we do not believe immigration court cases should be impacted by the USCIS asylum pause. But the government is still ending many immigration court cases without a full hearing.
USCIS is pausing all asylum decisions for individuals from any country, but they say they will still accept new asylum applications and conduct interviews.
Asylum seekers can apply for commercial drivers licenses again. The U.S. government tried to block asylum seekers and other immigrants from receiving new commercial drivers licenses, but a court prevented this change for now.
The government has stopped issuing new automatic work permit extensions. But if you already received a 540-day extension on or before October 29, your extension is still valid!
USCIS made it harder to submit payments by check or money order. See updated information about how to make payments for new applications.
The Asylum Seeker Advocacy Project (ASAP) aims to provide factual information about current immigration laws. This information is not legal advice.
All legal content is written and legally reviewed by ASAP’s team of expert immigration lawyers. ASAP’s expert lawyers have decades of experience in immigration law and litigation. Collectively, they have won hundreds of cases. Our lawyers are admitted to the Bar in several U.S. states, hold law degrees from universities including Harvard, Yale, and UCLA, and have won multiple awards for their legal work.