Written by ASAP’s expert immigration lawyers · Updated
This page provides time-sensitive updates for asylum seekers about: asylum, work permits, immigration court, detention, ICE, TPS, green cards, driver's licenses, social security numbers, parole, SIJS, birthright citizenship, limits for 40 countries, leaving the U.S., and traveling to the U.S. The most recent changes are marked or below.
Asylum
Transfers from USCIS to immigration court. On July 28, 2026, USCIS announced a new rule that allows asylum officers to transfer some asylum cases to immigration court without an interview first. For example, USCIS says they can transfer cases if you applied for asylum more than 1 year after entering the United States or if an asylum officer decides you are not eligible for asylum. Learn more here. We do not yet know exactly how USCIS will implement this rule, but if you have additional evidence to support your case, try to submit it as soon as possible.
USCIS should resume asylum decisions. In late 2025, USCIS stopped making decisions on all asylum cases. On March 30, 2026, USCIS said it would start making decisions again for asylum seekers, unless they were from one of 40 countries. On June 5, 2026, a court ruled that the remaining 40-country pause was not legal, and told USCIS to start processing applications again. But the government has appealed the court’s ruling, and application processing remains slow.
Security checks could cause longer USCIS delays. Some people could be asked to attend biometrics appointments again and provide fingerprints for additional security checks.
Immigration courts are ending some cases early. Asylum seekers in immigration court are supposed to receive a full asylum hearing, but the government is trying to end some cases before that hearing. If the government asks a judge to end your case early, you can try to convince the judge to keep it open. Learn more.
Pay your annual asylum fee. If your asylum application has been pending for at least one year, you will need to pay an annual asylum fee of $102. Learn how to check if your fee is due and how to pay. ASAP has challenged the implementation of the annual asylum fee in two lawsuits.
It is still possible to apply for asylum. If you are currently in the U.S. and you have not submitted an asylum application, you can still submit one if you are eligible. There is now a $100 initial filing fee to apply. Applying for asylum is a complicated decision that depends on your specific circumstances. Learn more about asylum.
Work permits based on asylum
A proposed rule would limit work permits. A new proposed rule would make it impossible for asylum seekers to apply for an initial work permit in the future. It would also make work permit renewals more difficult. But this proposed rule is NOT final yet.
You can still apply for a work permit before the proposed rule becomes final. You can apply for an initial work permit 150 days after you apply for asylum. You can consider applying for a renewal if your work permit is expiring in one year or less. Learn how to apply.
USCIS has been ordered to process work permit renewals for asylum seekers from 40 countries again. Earlier this year, USCIS stopped processing work permit renewals for asylum seekers from 40 countries. On June 5, 2026, a court ruled that this policy was not legal, and told USCIS to start processing applications again. But the government has appealed the court’s ruling, and application processing remains slow.
Renewal delays are growing. Asylum seekers are experiencing long delays to receive their work permit renewals. Consider applying for a renewal if your work permit is expiring in one year or less.
No new auto-extensions. The government has stopped issuing new automatic work permit extensions for people applying to renew their work permits on or after October 30, 2025. But if you already received a 540-day extension on or before October 29, 2025, your extension is still valid! Learn more.
New work permits are valid for 18 months. Work permits issued after December 4, 2025 are valid for 18 months, instead of 5 years – for asylum seekers and some other immigrants. But if you already received a 5-year work permit, it is still valid for the full 5 years. Learn more.
Fees have increased. It now costs $560 to apply for a first work permit as an asylum seeker. (Before, there was no fee.) The fee to renew an asylum-based work permit increased by $275. If you are renewing your work permit online, it now costs a total of $745. If you are renewing your work permit by mail, it now costs a total of $795. Learn more.
Immigration court hearings
Hearings are being scheduled with short notice. Check your case status. Some immigration courts are scheduling hearings with very short notice, or moving already-scheduled hearings to earlier dates. If you miss your hearing, you will likely receive a deportation order. Check your case status frequently in case there is a new hearing date. Call the court hotline at 1-800-898-7180 or go to this website.
Large master calendar hearings. Some immigration courts are scheduling master calendar hearings for hundreds of immigrants who do not have lawyers, all at the same time. Instead of having a short hearing for each person’s case, one by one, some judges are now speaking to everyone together as a group. Learn more here.
Prepare for court. If you have a case in immigration court, your case is still active until the judge makes a decision. Read tips to know before your first immigration court hearing. If you have an upcoming hearing, it can be helpful to find a lawyer.
Deportation orders for missing a hearing. If you do not attend your immigration court hearing or you are late, you will probably receive a deportation order called an “in absentia” removal order. Learn steps you can take to try to reopen your case.
Annual asylum fee. If your asylum application has been pending for at least one year, you will need to pay an annual asylum fee of $102. Learn how to pay your fee in immigration court. ASAP is challenging the implementation of the annual asylum fee through a lawsuit.
Ending cases early. The government is ending some cases in immigration court before the asylum seeker receives a full hearing. Learn more.
Administrative closure. If your immigration court case was administratively closed (your case is still in court but not scheduled for future hearings), check the status of your case. Call 1-800-898-7180 or go to this website. Many cases that were administratively closed, even for years, are being scheduled for new hearings.
Deportations to another country. The U.S. government is trying to end some immigration court asylum cases and send people to a third country to seek asylum there instead, even if they have never been to that country before. Learn more.
Detention
Detention at airports: In recent months, ICE has detained many immigrants at airports across the country, including people who have pending applications, valid work permits, or who are in the process of changing their immigration status. Bus, train and car travel is generally safer than flying, but not risk-free. Learn more.
Detention at immigration appointments. The government has been detaining more people at ICE check-ins. As of July 2026, arrests in immigration court are not as common. Some people have been detained at USCIS biometrics appointments if they had a removal order or prior criminal history.
Safety measures. Here are safety measures that asylum seekers can take to protect themselves in the United States and prepare for the possibility of detention or deportation.
Find someone in immigration detention. If you have a loved one who is detained, learn how to find them.
Request release from detention. How to request release depends on whether you are trying to stay in the United States or leave. Learn about release from detention.
Faster deportation process. The government is now allowed to put more immigrants in a faster deportation process called "expedited removal" if they have been in the U.S. for less than 2 years AND entered the U.S. without a valid visa or without parole. A court had previously blocked this policy, but on June 23, 2026, a higher court allowed it to move forward. If you have been living in the U.S. for at least 2 years, you may want to carry documents that prove this.
Deportation to third countries. The U.S. government is also trying to send some immigrants to other countries if they have a deportation order or if they won withholding or protection under the Convention against Torture (CAT). Learn more.
Detention of refugees has been blocked. In February 2026, the government announced plans to detain refugees who have not yet become Lawful Permanent Residents (green card holders). However, on March 23, 2026, a court blocked the government from detaining refugees for now.
ICE check-ins
Some immigrants have check-ins with ICE, and some do not.
The government is detaining more people during ICE check-ins. Learn more, including what you can do to prepare.
If possible, talk to a lawyer before you go to your next ICE check-in. Find legal help here.
If you are detained at an ICE check-in, and you are afraid to return to your country of origin, you can tell as many immigration officers as possible that you are afraid to return to your country of origin and you want to seek asylum. Read more about detention and how to apply for release.
Temporary Protected Status (TPS)
The government is ending TPS for many countries. On June 25, 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the government can end TPS for Haiti and Syria. This decision will also negatively impact TPS for other countries. Learn about the current status of TPS for different countries.
If your TPS is ending, you can try to prepare. If your TPS ends, you may be at risk of detention if you do not have another immigration status. It can be a good idea to make an emergency plan. You can read more safety tips here. If you decide to leave the United States, you can read information about leaving.
Consider applying for asylum or another type of immigration status now if you are eligible. This can be a complicated decision that depends on your specific circumstances. If you decide to apply for asylum, it is best to apply before your TPS expires if possible. However, you can also apply for asylum after your TPS expires. You may want to find an immigration lawyer to understand your options.
Lawful permanent residence (green cards)
Different types of green cards. There are different ways to apply for lawful permanent residence (a “green card”) in the United States. For example, you can apply after you win asylum, apply based on some types of family relationships, apply based on an employer petition, or apply for other reasons. When you apply for a green card from inside the U.S. the process is called “adjustment of status.” When you apply from outside the U.S., the process is called “consular processing.” Read about different types of green cards.
A new policy may affect some green card applicants who are in the U.S. On May 21, 2026, USCIS announced that some family- or employment-based green card applicants may now need to leave the U.S. and apply through consular processing, rather than adjusting status while staying in the country. People applying for a green card based on winning asylum are not affected by this new policy. If USCIS asks why you did not leave the country to apply, you can explain your situation. Some applicants have still been approved by showing strong U.S. ties, good character, and reasons leaving would be difficult. Consider talking to a lawyer before your interview and learn more here.
Government assistance. Receiving some types of government assistance can negatively impact your family-based green card application. This is called the “public charge” rule. Starting September 18, 2026, the public charge rule will be expanded to more types of government assistance. The public rule still does NOT apply to asylum-based green cards, asylum applications, work permits, or many other applications. Learn more.
USCIS should resume green card decisions for 40 countries. Earlier this year, USCIS stopped making decisions on green card applications for immigrants from 40 countries. On June 5, 2026, a court ruled that this policy was not legal, and told USCIS to start processing applications again. But the government has appealed the court’s ruling, and application processing remains slow.
Delays and security checks. Security checks for green card applications could cause longer delays. Some people could be asked to attend biometrics appointments again.
Green card renewals. If you already have a green card, you can continue to renew your green card. The pause for 40 countries never applied to green card renewals.
Possible case reviews. In May 2026, the government said they will review cases of people who currently have green cards if they suspect fraud, or if the person has been arrested or convicted of certain crimes. We do not yet know how this process will work or how many people could be impacted. In general, someone with a green card should have a chance to fight their case in immigration court before they can be deported.
Driver’s licenses
Driver’s licenses: Many asylum seekers and other immigrants are eligible for driver’s licenses. Learn about your state’s requirements.
Commercial driver’s licenses: On March 16, 2026, the U.S. government issued a new rule preventing asylum seekers and other immigrants from receiving new commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs), which are special licenses for driving large and heavy vehicles. This rule is very similar to a 2025 rule the government tried to use to limit CDLs for immigrants, but that 2025 rule was blocked by a court. Now, immigrants are fighting the new policy with another lawsuit.
Safety measures: When you leave home, carry a United States ID if you have one. When you leave home, carry a United States ID if you have one. If you have been in the U.S. for at least 2 years, you may want to carry documents that prove this. Learn more.
Social security numbers
Asylum seekers can apply to receive social security numbers once they receive their work permits.
In the past, immigrants could request a social security number as part of their work permit applications and then they would receive a social security card automatically when their work permit was approved. However, social security numbers can no longer be requested in work permit applications. Instead, immigrants now have to apply for social security numbers separately.
After you receive your first work permit, you can schedule an in-person appointment and fill out a form to apply for a social security card. You can watch this video to learn how to apply for a social number or you can follow these instructions.
Social security offices may be sharing information with immigration agencies.
Parole
No new applicants. The government has stopped accepting new immigrants through these parole programs: CBP One parole, parole for immigrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela (CHNV), Ukraine (U4U), Afghanistan (OAW), or El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Colombia (Family Reunification).
CBP One parole has ended for most people. If you received parole through CBP One, many people’s parole is no longer valid. Learn more.
Family Reunification Parole remains valid. If you currently have Family Reunification Parole (FRP), your parole and work permit remain valid for now. On December 12, 2025, the government announced that it would end parole on January 14, 2026 for most people who currently have FRP, but immigrants challenged this termination through a lawsuit.
CHNV Parole has ended. The government has ended CHNV parole. Read more.
Other immigration options. If you do not already have another pending immigration application, you may want to consider applying for other immigration options, if you are eligible. Some people who had parole could be eligible for asylum or other types of immigration status. This can be a complicated decision that depends on your specific circumstances.
Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS)
New Applications. You can still apply for SIJS as a new applicant. There is a $250 fee to apply.
Deferred Action. Some people who apply for SIJS receive “deferred action,” which protects you from deportation and lets you apply for a work permit while your SIJS application is pending. If you applied for SIJS before May 10, 2026, USCIS should automatically consider you for deferred action. If you apply for SIJS on or after May 10, 2026, you will need to request deferred action separately. Either way, USCIS is reportedly denying deferred action to many SIJS applicants. Immigrants are fighting these changes in a lawsuit.
Existing work permits. If you already have a work permit from SIJS deferred action, it is still valid unless USCIS sends you a notice ending your deferred action. Some people who already had deferred action have reported receiving these notices.
If you are granted SIJS, you may qualify for a green card. There are long wait times right now. Once you apply for a green card, you can also apply for a work permit based on the pending green card application.
You can apply for asylum or other types of immigration status at the same time as you apply for SIJS. This can be a complicated decision that depends on your specific circumstances. Learn more about immigration options if you are under 18 years old.
Birthright citizenship
Great news: The Supreme Court upheld birthright citizenship! The Supreme Court ruled that babies born in the United States are U.S. citizens, regardless of their parents’ immigration status. Thank you to ASAP members who led the way to protect this right and defend the U.S. Constitution. The Supreme Court is the highest court in the United States, so all other courts in the United States must follow this decision.
Unfortunately, on August 6, 2026, the U.S. government issued two new executive orders related to birthright citizenship. It is not clear who could be impacted by these executive orders, and it is not clear whether the government has taken any steps to change its practices based on the executive orders. Learn more about the August 6 executive orders here.
Immigration limits for 40 countries
A court ruled that the government has to end immigration limits for 40 countries. In early 2026, the government stopped processing most USCIS applications for immigrants from 40 countries, and imposed other restrictions. On June 5, 2026, a court ruled that these government policies are not legal and told USCIS to start processing applications again. But the government has appealed the court’s ruling, and application processing remains slow. You can learn more about the case here.
The 40 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.
Processing pause. Previously, USCIS had stopped processing most immigration applications for people from the 40 countries, including asylum, work permits based on seeking asylum, and permanent residency (green cards). But on June 5, the court ordered USCIS to stop this policy. The pause never applied to initial work permits based on seeking asylum, under category (c)(8). The pause also never applied to immigration court cases, including asylum cases in immigration court.
Negative factor. Previously, USCIS had said that being from one of the countries on the list would be a “significant negative factor” in deciding many immigration applications, such as asylum or adjustment of status to permanent residence. But on June 5, the court ordered USCIS to stop this policy.
Potential reversal of immigration approvals. Previously, the government said it would review and potentially reverse past immigration approvals for people from the 40 countries who arrived in the U.S. on or after January 20, 2021. But on June 5, the court ordered the government to stop this policy.
Traveling to the United States. Unfortunately, many individuals from the 40 countries still face restrictions when traveling to the United States. But there are exceptions, including one for some spouses and children of asylees. Learn more.
Leaving the United States
If you want to leave the United States and no longer seek asylum, you can read about things to consider before leaving.
Some people can use a government application called “CBP Home” to leave the United States. If you are eligible to use CBP Home, you may be able to get help with buying a plane ticket, and receive a stipend once you have left. The stipend is currently $2600. Learn more about CBP Home.
If you are detained, you can read about options to request to leave the U.S. from detention.
Once you leave the United States, it may be very difficult to return legally in the future, depending on your circumstances, even if you use the CBP Home app.
Travel to the U.S.
The U.S. government has announced several travel and visa restrictions on different countries. Some countries have multiple restrictions imposed on them. Learn about each country’s restrictions here.
Travel restrictions for 40 countries. The U.S. government is now restricting travel to the U.S. for citizens of 40 countries. Some countries have “full restrictions,” and others have “partial restrictions.” For all countries, there are exceptions to the restrictions.
Exceptions to the restrictions for all countries. You can still travel to the U.S if any of these situations apply to you:
You are the spouse or child under 21 of someone who won asylum (called an “asylee”), and you have an approved I-730. An I-730 is a petition filed by your asylee spouse or parent so you can join them in the U.S. Previously, the U.S. government was blocking these family members from traveling to the U.S.. But on July 29, 2026, a court ordered the U.S. government to stop applying the travel restrictions to family members with an approved I-730. We do not yet know how quickly family members of asylees will be able to actually come to the U.S.
You are a Lawful Permanent Resident.
You received a valid visa before January 1, 2026.
You have dual citizenship and your other country is not restricted.
You are a certain type of athlete.
You are a medical doctor.
You are in some specific visa categories, mostly related to government duties.
Full Restrictions. Citizens of countries with full restrictions will not be issued immigrant visas or non-immigrant visas, with the exceptions listed above. If you have won asylum, the process of bringing a spouse or child from one of these countries is also paused. The countries are: Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Burma (Myanmar), Chad, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Laos, Libya, Mali, Niger, the Republic of Congo, Palestine, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.
Partial Restrictions. Citizens of countries with partial restrictions will not be issued immigrant visas or some types of non-immigrant visas (B-1, B2, B-1/B-2, F, M, and J visas), with the exceptions listed above. The countries are: Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Burundi, Cote d’Ivoire, Cuba, Dominica, Gabon, the Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Venezuela, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Limited Partial Restrictions. Citizens of Turkmenistan will not be issued immigrant visas, with the exceptions listed above, but they may still receive non-immigrant visas.
Tourist or business visa bonds for 50 countries. Citizens of 50 specific countries now need to pay a $5,000-$15,000 “visa bond” to the U.S. government before they can travel to the U.S., if they are granted a tourist or business visa. Read more.
The 50 countries are Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Botswana, Burundi, Cambodia, Cabo Verde, the Central African Republic, Cote d’Ivoire, Cuba, Djibouti, Dominica, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, the Gambia, Georgia, Grenada, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Kyrgyzstan, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mongolia, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Immigrant visa processing pause for 75 countries. The U.S. government has stopped processing immigrant visas for 75 countries. Immigrant visas are for people who wish to immigrate to the United States to live permanently. This pause should not affect non-immigrant visas such as tourist and temporary work visas, unless the country has a different travel restriction. The pause should also only affect people outside the United States, not those already inside the United States. Read more. Immigrant families are challenging the visa processing pause through a lawsuit.
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.
Temporary restrictions related to Ebola. Starting on May 18, 2026, the U.S. has paused visa services in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, and South Sudan, and is blocking entry to the U.S. for some people who have traveled through these countries in the last 21 days. The restrictions are supposed to be temporary and do NOT apply to U.S. citizens and U.S. military and government workers. Read about the visa pause and the travel restrictions.
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.