USCIS Adjudication Pause Alert: New FBI Security Checks to Delay Green Card Processing in 2026

USCIS is poised to implement a broad adjudication pause affecting all applications that require fingerprint-based biometrics, based on information from officers across multiple field and asylum offices. The pause stems from an internal directive issued by USCIS leadership requiring enhanced FBI background checks before any adjudication can proceed, with the new security vetting process having taken effect on April 27, 2026. The initial wave of impacted cases includes all applications for which fingerprints were already submitted prior to April 27. This covers a wide range of benefit categories including Adjustment of Status (Form I-485), asylum applications, and family-based green card sponsorship petitions — effectively any application that required biometric submission. For EB-3 applicants specifically, those with pending I-485 Adjustment of Status applications are directly in the affected pool. If fingerprints were already collected, adjudication will be withheld until the enhanced FBI security clearance is complete. Given the enormous backlog of pending cases nationwide, wait times are expected to increase significantly beyond current processing time estimates. Newly filed cases received after April 27 will be placed in a secondary queue and will not be processed until all previously filed and pending cases have cleared the new vetting system. The only known exception applies to naturalization applicants who already have scheduled oath ceremonies. There is no current indication of how long the enhanced checks will take per case. No official public announcement from USCIS has been issued yet. Applicants and petitioners should monitor USCIS communications closely and consult with their immigration attorneys regarding any upcoming interviews, RFE deadlines, or case-specific concerns that may be affected by this pause.