USCIS 2026 Security Vetting Alert: Green Card Approvals Paused for EB-3 and All Categories

Effective April 27, 2026, USCIS launched a sweeping new security vetting protocol that has placed temporary holds on adjudications requiring fingerprint-based background checks. Although not formally designated a blanket pause, the new process has significantly delayed approvals across a wide range of case types, including adjustment of status, naturalization, asylum, family-based petitions, and employment-based filings such as EB-3 petitions. At the core of the new protocol is a requirement that USCIS resubmit fingerprint data for most pending cases in which biometrics were collected before April 27, 2026. This stems from an expanded background check framework tied to Executive Order 12385, which grants USCIS increased access to FBI criminal history databases. Historically, the agency reused existing fingerprints; now, cases must clear this additional procedural step before a final decision can be issued. The heightened vetting is also expected to broaden the scope of scrutiny applied to applicants' backgrounds. With deeper access to criminal history records, USCIS may increasingly issue Requests for Evidence (RFEs) and Notices of Intent to Deny (NOIDs) for matters that previously received less attention, such as non-conviction arrests, juvenile records, or sealed cases. Applicants with any prior legal history should consult with immigration counsel proactively. In a notable development, USCIS quietly lifted the adjudication hold for foreign physicians in early May 2026. This targeted exemption allows H-1B petitions, J-1 waiver applications, and employment-based immigrant petitions for physicians to resume processing. The move reflects concern over healthcare workforce shortages caused by the broader pause, and signals that USCIS may grant similar carve-outs for other critical workforce categories going forward. For EB-3 applicants and other employment-based filers, no formal unpause notice will be issued. Affected individuals should monitor their USCIS case status online for movement indicators such as new notices, biometrics appointments, or adjudicative updates. Extended delays and increased scrutiny should be anticipated until the full vetting overhaul is implemented across all categories.