Green Card Processing Resumes for 39 Countries After Court Ruling — EB-3 Update June 2026

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has resumed processing immigration applications for nationals from 39 countries after a federal court ruled that the agency's prior suspension policies were unlawful. The case, Dorcas v. USCIS, challenged USCIS policies that had frozen adjudications — including green card applications, work permits, naturalization, and certain asylum cases — for individuals from designated countries. The court order requires USCIS to process applications but does not mandate automatic approval. Applicants must still satisfy all existing eligibility requirements under U.S. immigration law. Additionally, separate travel restrictions and other immigration policies remain in effect and are unaffected by the ruling. For EB-3 applicants and employer-sponsored foreign workers, this development is significant. Many cases had been stalled for months, creating uncertainty around adjustment of status applications and work authorization. The resumption of processing could finally bring movement to long-pending petitions, which is particularly relevant given recent positive trends in EB-3 processing times in June 2026. However, the government filed an appeal on June 12, 2026, signaling that the legal situation remains fluid. Future court rulings could alter or suspend implementation of the current order. Applicants from the 39 affected countries should closely monitor their cases and exercise caution regarding international travel until the appeals process is resolved. Immigration attorneys advise all affected applicants to stay informed as the litigation progresses and to seek legal counsel before making significant decisions related to their immigration status or travel plans.