The US has announced new immigration restrictions following the incident in Washington: a suspension of asylum processing, a massive review of green cards from 19 countries, and increased security checks for all applicants. Find out who the changes affect and what to expect in 2025

The US federal government has announced a series of tough immigration measures following the tragic shooting near the White House that killed a National Guardsman and injured another soldier. The incident prompted immediate security measures and a review of immigration procedures.

This article explains what will change for immigrants in the US and which countries will be affected.

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Large-scale review of green cards for citizens of high-risk countries

The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced the start of a full-scale review of green cards (permanent resident cards) issued to people from the so-called “countries of concern”.

Important! Both applications that are still in the process of consideration and already approved requests are subject to review.

Citizens of which countries are subject to a large-scale review of green cards

The list includes 19 countries: Afghanistan, Myanmar (Burma), Burundi, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Cuba, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Laos, Libya, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Togo, Turkmenistan, Venezuela and Yemen.

What exactly will be checked?

USCIS says the review will cover security records, past U.S. travel history, and potential new risk factors that may have emerged since the initial green card approval.

US Refugee Restrictions 2025

All asylum applications in the United States have been temporarily suspended.

In addition, a review of all refugees who entered the United States from 2021 to 2025, approximately 233,000 people, has been launched.

Suspension of visa issuance to Afghan citizens in the United States

On November 28, the U.S. State Department announced on social media that it had completely stopped issuing visas to Afghan passport holders. In fact, the restrictions have been in effect since June 9, when the president’s travel ban blocked both nonimmigrant and immigrant visas for Afghan citizens. Despite this, some applicants were previously able to obtain visas through exceptions to the ban, but now the procedure has been completely suspended.

Additional Consideration Criteria for All Immigration Decisions in the United States

USCIS has allowed us to take into account the risks associated with the applicant’s country of origin, including:

- High level of visa violations in the country.

- Level of passport reliability.

- Security threats associated with the country of origin.

- The applicant’s behavior after entering the United States.

These rules apply to applications for change/extension of status, obtaining green cards, EAD, TPS, humanitarian programs, asylum and other types of immigration benefits.

A long-term ban on immigration from certain countries to the United States is possible

The President has announced his intention to completely stop immigration from certain countries, but a specific list has not yet been announced. An update is expected through new proclamations or expansion of existing restrictions.

What was the reason for the new US policy on migrants?

The impetus for the tough measures was the shooting near the White House, during which an Afghan citizen opened fire on two National Guard soldiers.

The tragedy caused a sharp political reaction and led to the immediate introduction of new immigration checks.

Who and how will the new rules in the United States affect? ​​

- Green card holders from 19 countries - re-checking of data, review of security risks, possible additional document requests.

- Green card applicants from 19 high-risk countries - more thorough checks, longer processing times, higher risk of refusal.

- Asylum seekers or refugees - processes temporarily suspended or under additional review.

- All foreign applicants - possible impact in the future due to new discretionary criteria by USCIS.

What changes to US immigration policy should we expect in the future?

Most of the details of the new US immigration policy have not yet been made public. The government has announced additional clarifications in the coming weeks, in particular regarding:

- risk criteria,

- potential expansion of the list of countries,

- the further fate of asylum applications,

- procedures for reviewing previously issued green cards.

Experts expect that the new US policy may significantly affect the processing time and general conditions for immigration for foreign citizens to the country.

Increased checks, changes in US immigration policy and possible risks for applicants may significantly affect your status or migration plans. The Visit World team of lawyers specializes in supporting foreigners during periods of increased restrictions: we check your documents, analyze potential risks, help prepare answers to additional USCIS requests and accompany you during appeals or re-examinations.

Get professional help to protect your status and minimize the possible consequences of the new immigration rules.

Reminder! Planning to work in the US? We have already told you what employment opportunities are available for foreigners in 2025: current work visas, popular industries, average salaries, regional differences and tips for expats.

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