USCIS Lifts Adjudication Hold For Physicians

USCIS has quietly updated its enhanced screening and vetting policy to lift the adjudication hold for foreign national physicians. The update applies only to cases pending or filed with USCIS and does not affect visa applications processed abroad through the Department of State (DOS).

In December 2025, USCIS issued a Policy Memo (PM-602-0192) placing a hold on all asylum filings and USCIS benefit applications filed by individuals from 19 “high-risk” countries. This hold applied to virtually all applications and petitions, including green card applications, nonimmigrant visa applications, and work authorization documents. In less than a month, on January 1, 2026, USCIS issued an updated memo (PM-602-0194) expanding the adjudication hold to individuals from the 39 countries outlined in the President’s travel ban. Further operational guidance was promised within 90 days; however, none has been issued, and cases have remained on hold indefinitely.