{"id":24468,"date":"2026-07-17T14:15:58","date_gmt":"2026-07-17T14:15:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/international.northeastern.edu\/ogs\/?p=24468"},"modified":"2026-07-17T18:16:12","modified_gmt":"2026-07-17T18:16:12","slug":"uscis-policy-changes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/international.northeastern.edu\/ogs\/uscis-policy-changes\/","title":{"rendered":"USCIS Policy Updates – Updated July 17, 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Updated July 17, 2026: USCIS Policy Alert:\u00a0<\/span>Hold and Review\u00a0<\/span>of Immigration Benefits for Individuals\u00a0<\/span>from the<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u201cHigh Risk<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Countries<\/span>\u201d\u00a0<\/span>Listed in Presidential Proclamations “PP” 10949 and 10998<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\r\n<\/blockquote>\r\nOn June 5, 2026, the\u00a0<\/span>U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island\u00a0<\/span>declared the USCIS\u00a0Policy Memorandums\u00a0placing a\u00a0processing hold on immigration benefits for nationals of\u00a0the\u00a039\u00a0travel ban countries\u00a0listed in Presidential Proclamations\u00a0<\/span>10949\u00a0<\/span><\/a>and\u00a0<\/span>10998\u00a0<\/span><\/a>unlawful.\u00a0The U.S. government has\u00a0appealed this ruling with the Federal\u00a0Court\u00a0of\u00a0Appeals.\u00a0While litigation\u00a0remains\u00a0fluid,\u00a0at this time\u00a0USCIS\u00a0will\u00a0comply with\u00a0the court\u2019s order\u00a0to set aside the\u00a0policy memos\u00a0and resume\u00a0processing applications, including OPT and STEM OPT, for individuals from the travel ban countries listed below.\u00a0USCIS\u00a0announced\u00a0it will issue further instructions pending the\u00a0developments\u00a0of the ongoing\u00a0litigation.\u00a0Please note\u00a0that timelines,\u00a0adjudication\u00a0results\u00a0and\u00a0USCIS\u2019s process\u00a0may\u00a0vary\u00a0as the legal situation\u00a0unfolds.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\nOGS will share updates as\u00a0new information\u00a0becomes available.\u00a0If you have concerns about how this may affect your specific situation, please contact OGS for guidance.\u00a0You may also wish to consult a\u00a0<\/span>personal immigration attorney.<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\nUSCIS Policy Alert:\u00a0<\/span>Hold and Review\u00a0<\/span>of Immigration Benefits for Individuals\u00a0<\/span>from the<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u201cHigh Risk<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Countries<\/span>\u201d\u00a0<\/span>Listed in Presidential Proclamations “PP” 10949 and 10998<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/span>\r\n\r\nOn December 2, 2025, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued a\u00a0<\/span>Policy\u00a0Memorandum<\/span><\/a>\u00a0placing a processing hold on\u00a0pending\u00a0and approved\u00a0immigration benefits\u00a0for individuals\u00a0from the\u00a0countries\u00a0named in the\u00a0June 2025\u00a0<\/span>Presidential Travel Ban (PP10949)<\/span><\/a>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\nUSCIS <\/span>Policy Alert: Additional Scrutiny <\/span>of <\/span>I<\/span>mmigration <\/span>B<\/span>e<\/span>nefits f<\/span>or <\/span>Individuals <\/span>–<\/span> from<\/span> the<\/span> \u201cHigh Risk<\/span> Countries<\/span>\u201d<\/span> L<\/span>isted in<\/span> Presidential<\/span> Proclamation \u201cPP\u201d 10949<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/em>\r\n\r\nOn January 1, 2026,\u00a0U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)\u00a0issued another Policy Memorandum<\/a> (PP10998) expanding the scope of their processing hold on pending and approved immigration benefits to all countries named in the December 2025 Presidential Travel Ban (PP10949).<\/a>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\nAmong other things, the\u00a0memo\u00a0directs USCIS to:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\r\n