Quick Answer

Yes. On December 2, 2025, USCIS quietly issued the December 2, 2025 USCIS Policy Memorandum PM-602-0192 directing officers to “hold and review”: This memorandum significantly relates to the USCIS PM-602-0192 case freeze.

All pending asylum applications (I-589) for every nationality,

All USCIS benefit applications filed by nationals of 19 “high-risk” countries, and

Already-approved cases, including green cards, naturalization, waivers, and family-based petitions.

Universities such as Brown University and Yale OISS immediately warned international students and scholars that cases may be frozen. Immigration lawyers, including AILA and major firms, confirmed the scope. Meanwhile, r/USCIS, r/immigration, and r/citizenship exploded with panic as thousands realized their cases had silently stopped moving.

Major media — including The Washington Post, Wired, and The Guardian — reported parallel crackdowns in border screening and work permits, but very few outlets explain the practical fallout of PM-602-0192 for ordinary immigrants.

This guide provides the most granular, citable, journalist-ready breakdown available online.

This guide will also explain the implications of the USCIS PM-602-0192 case freeze for affected applicants.

Understanding the USCIS PM-602-0192 case freeze is crucial for many applicants.

1. What PM-602-0192 Actually Says — in Plain English

The full memo is here:
USCIS Policy Memorandum PM-602-0192 (official PDF)

USCIS instructs officers to:

1. Freeze all pending asylum applications (I-589)

Every nationality is affected.

2. Hold and re-review all USCIS benefits filed by nationals of 19 “high-risk” countries

This includes:

I-130
I-140
I-485
I-751
I-539
I-765
I-131
I-601 / I-601A
N-400
and more.

3. Reopen previously approved cases

Yes — green card and naturalization approvals may be revisited.

4. Apply enhanced, multi-agency security vetting

Tied to the broader DHS architecture reflected in the
USCIS Policy Manual
and DOS screening rules in 9 FAM 302.1.

5. Coordinate with DOS and CBP

Impacts consular processing, entry at the border, and admission decisions.

Independent confirmations:

The 19 Countries Targeted Under PM-602-0192

From the memo and executive order:

Afghanistan

Myanmar (Burma)

Chad

Republic of the Congo

Equatorial Guinea

Eritrea

Haiti

Iran

Libya

Somalia

Sudan

Yemen

Burundi

Cuba

Laos

Sierra Leone

Togo

Turkmenistan

Venezuela

If you are from one of these 19 nations and filed any USCIS application, you should expect delays, re-screening, or reopening.

For geopolitical context, see HLG’s:
Trapped by the New Travel Ban: Will Your Visa or Green Card Survive Trump’s 30-Country Blacklist?

The Under-Reported Fallout: Who Is Actually Hit the Hardest

A. Applicants With Approved Petitions (I-130 / I-140 / I-485 / N-400)

Approval ≠ completion.

The memo authorizes USCIS to:

Reopen approvals
Conduct new background checks
Delay card production
Suspend oath scheduling

This aligns with field reports and HLG’s:
Yanked Out of Line: USCIS Oath Ceremony Cancelled – 7 Jaw-Dropping Insights

B. People Who Already Completed Interviews

Applicants nationwide report new language:

“Your case requires additional review.”
“Case forwarded for supervisory approval.”
“Security checks pending.”

C. Anyone With a Pending USCIS Benefit

Highest-risk forms:

I-589
I-485
I-131
I-765
I-601 / I-601A
I-751
I-140 (select cases)

Relevant HLG guides:

D. People Abroad With Immigrant Visas Already Issued

Even approved visas can be questioned at the border.

CBP authority includes:

Review HLG’s:
Can Border Patrol Go Through My Cell Phone?

Risk Matrix: Which Case Types Are Most Likely Frozen?

Very High Risk

Asylum (I-589)
I-485 after interview
Approved-but-card-not-produced green cards
N-400 recommended approvals awaiting oath
I-601/I-601A

High Risk

I-130 approvals for nationals of the 19 countries
I-751
I-131
I-539

Medium Risk

I-765
Employment-based I-140 beneficiaries

If Your Immigrant Visa Was Issued Before 12/2/2025 — Are You Safe?

Not necessarily.

Even with a valid immigrant visa, CBP may:

Send you to secondary
Cancel your visa
Deny admission
Seize your devices for forensic search
Issue deferred inspection

See:

Is PM-602-0192 Even Legal? APA + Constitutional Analysis

APA Violations

Potential theories:

Unlawful withholding of a benefit
Unreasonable delay
Creating new rules without notice-and-comment
Arbitrary / capricious nationality-based workflow changes

Due Process

Applicants awaiting:

Naturalization
Adjustment of status
Waivers
Travel documents

…may argue a deprivation of a protected interest.

Equal Protection

The nationality-based freeze invites scrutiny.

Mandamus Strategy: When Does It Make Sense to Sue?

Mandamus may be appropriate if:

USCIS has a clear duty to act
Delay is excessive
No alternative remedy exists
The applicant is harmed

Examples:

N-400 stuck after “recommended for approval”
I-485 pending 2–4 years with no action
I-130 approval not sent to NVC
Green card approved but never produced

Review HLG resources:

Practical Checklist: What You Should Do Right Now

1. Download your entire USCIS case history

Screenshots, PDFs, notices.

2. File FOIAs

USCIS, CBP, DOS, FBI.

3. Build a “Security Vetting” Packet

Police certificates
Travel history
Prior addresses
Social media review
Military or government service documentation

Use HLG’s:
10 Important Points on USCIS Security Vetting Rules

4. Avoid unnecessary international travel

See:

Can Border Patrol Go Through My Cell Phone?

5. Prepare a mandamus file

Timeline
Screen captures
Proof of harm
Service requests

Top 10 USCIS Field Offices Showing Freeze-Like Delays

Based on TRAC trends, FOIA patterns, and public reporting:

Newark
Queens
Houston
Miami
Chicago
Atlanta
Los Angeles
Dallas
San Francisco
Seattle

10. Top 10 Nationalities Most Impacted

Pakistan
Nigeria
Iran
Syria
Yemen
Afghanistan
Iraq
Lebanon
Egypt
Somalia

The Hidden Algorithm: How PM-602-0192 Quietly Rewired America’s Immigration Risk Engine

One of the most under-reported consequences of PM-602-0192 is that it did not merely freeze applications — it rewired the underlying digital infrastructure that decides who is “safe,” who is “risky,” and who gets quietly routed into indefinite security review.

Journalists and the public largely missed that this memo coincides with:

The operational expansion of USCIS’s Atlanta Vetting Center,
DHS investments in AI-powered risk prediction,
Enhanced data-sharing across FBI, NSA, DIA, and DOS SAOs, and
The rollout of automated “continuous vetting” systems for immigrants inside the United States.

This means PM-602-0192 is not just a workflow pause — it is the software switch that activated the largest immigration-security algorithm in U.S. history.

How the Algorithm Works (Based on Leaked Field Guidance + Cross-Agency Policies)

While details are classified, we know USCIS now uses:

Pattern detection models (travel history, regions of concern, language clusters)
Social graph analysis (relatives, associates, community links)
Communication metadata (time abroad, contacts, digital exhaust)
“Anomalous life-event mapping” (marriage, rapid job changes, cross-border movement)
Re-vetting of past approvals using new datasets

If the algorithm cannot confidently classify an applicant as “low risk,” the case is routed to “Extended Review – Supervisory Hold.”
This is where most PM-602-0192 delays originate.

The 10-Point ‘Freeze Score’: A Diagnostic Tool to Predict Whether Your Case Will Be Held Under PM-602-0192

Introducing the ‘Freeze Score’: The First Public Diagnostic Tool for PM-602-0192 Risk Assessment

So here is a first-in-the-nation scoring model — a creative, data-forward diagnostic framework — that predicts whether a case is likely held under PM-602-0192.

This is not legal advice — it is a research-based analytical model grounded in:

TRAC asylum data
USCIS historical security-check patterns
DHS vetting manuals
Post-9/11 SAO risk tiers
2024–2025 adjudication slowdowns
Field office FOIA logs
Cross-agency policy alignment signals

The 10-Point Freeze Score

Assign 1 point for each factor that applies:

You are a national of one of the 19 countries.
You filed or were approved after January 20, 2021.
You completed an interview, but your case was not approved on the spot.
You received a vague update like “Case held for review” or “Extended review.”
Your green card was approved, but the card never shipped.
Your N-400 oath ceremony was scheduled → then cancelled.
Your case was transferred to another office without explanation.
Your petition is family-based and involves a spouse from one of the 19 countries.
You traveled with a passport from a listed country in the past 10 years.
Your name appears similar to common or “flagged” names in DHS identity clusters.

Interpreting Your Score

0–2 points:
Low freeze likelihood, but asylum applicants remain fully impacted.

3–5 points:
Medium risk. Expect significant delay, possible RFE/NOID, and extended background checks.

6–8 points:
High risk. Your file may be in a supervisory hold or inter-agency check. Consider litigation strategy.

9–10 points:
Very high risk. These cases often stagnate 8–24+ months without movement unless escalated or litigated.

Frequently Asked Questions

A. Basics: What Is PM-602-0192 and Who Is Affected? (1–10)

1. What is USCIS Policy Memorandum PM-602-0192?
It is a December 2, 2025 internal directive ordering officers to “hold and review” all pending asylum applications and all USCIS benefit applications filed by nationals of 19 “high-risk” countries, and to re-review already-approved benefits for those nationals.

2. Is PM-602-0192 a public law or just an agency memo?
It is not a law passed by Congress. It is a USCIS internal policy memo, posted on the agency’s policy site and implemented through the USCIS Policy Manual and field guidance.

3. Who exactly is covered by the memo?
Three main groups:

Anyone with a pending asylum (I-589) case, regardless of nationality.
Nationals of 19 “high-risk” countries with any pending USCIS benefit.
Nationals of those 19 countries who already have approved USCIS benefits and entered the U.S. on or after January 20, 2021 (subject to re-review).

4. What are the 19 “high-risk” countries?
The memo and subsequent summaries identify nationals of:
Afghanistan, Algeria, Bangladesh, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Mali, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey, Yemen.

5. Does this memo affect people from countries not on the list?
Yes — asylum (I-589) is impacted for all nationalities. And even for non-listed nationals, if USCIS flags security or fraud concerns, their case can be routed into the same vetting pipelines.

6. Does this memo apply only to people outside the United States?
No. It applies to cases filed inside the U.S. (adjustment, asylum, N-400, waivers) and to petition-based benefits that may lead to consular processing abroad.

7. Does PM-602-0192 only target “refugees and asylum seekers”?
No. Asylum is one major category, but the memo also covers family-based cases, employment-based cases, naturalization, extensions, waivers, and more, when the applicant is from one of the 19 countries.

8. Are lawful permanent residents (green card holders) affected?
Yes, if they:

Are from one of the 19 countries, and
Have filed for naturalization (N-400), I-751 removal of conditions, or other benefits.
Their applications may be held, re-reviewed, or delayed.

9. Are U.S. citizens affected by this memo?
Indirectly. U.S. citizens who file I-130 petitions or other benefits for spouses, children, or parents from the 19 countries may see I-130, I-485, or NVC stages slowed or frozen.

10. How do I know if my case is actually impacted?
Look at:

Your nationality,
Your form type, and
The timing (filed or approved after certain dates).
If you fall into those buckets and your case status suddenly shifted to “extended review” or stopped moving, PM-602-0192 may be the reason.

B. Case Types and Stages (11–22)

11. Which USCIS forms are most affected by PM-602-0192?
The highest-impacted forms include:

I-589 (Asylum)
I-485 (Adjustment of Status)
N-400 (Naturalization)
I-130 (Family Petitions)
I-140 (Immigrant Worker Petitions)
I-751 (Removal of Conditions)
I-539 (Extensions / Changes of Status)
I-765 (Work Permits)
I-131 (Advance Parole)
I-601 and I-601A (Waivers)

12. If my I-485 is pending and I’m from a listed country, is it frozen?
Very likely your case is subject to heightened scrutiny and potential delay. That does not mean it will never be approved, but you should expect longer processing and possible additional vetting.

13. What if my I-485 has already been approved but I never received my green card?
Your case may be placed in a post-approval hold while USCIS re-runs security checks. This is one of the most frightening scenarios, because applicants already have “We approved your case” notices but no physical card.

14. Does this memo affect people with approved I-130 petitions?
Yes, especially where:

The beneficiary is from a listed country, and
The case is now at NVC or the consulate.
Those cases may be slowed, subjected to 221(g), or held pending additional clearance.

15. What about approved I-140 employment-based petitions?
USCIS can re-review approved I-140s for beneficiaries from the 19 countries. It can also slow or pause related I-485s or consular processing steps.

16. Are asylum applicants from non-listed countries also frozen?
Yes. The memo directs USCIS to hold all pending asylum applications, regardless of nationality, until new screening pathways are implemented and cleared.

17. Does PM-602-0192 affect N-400 naturalization applications?
Yes, particularly for:

Applicants from the 19 countries,
Applicants whose underlying green card was approved after January 20, 2021, and
Cases where USCIS wants to re-verify security or identity.

18. Can USCIS reopen a green card it already approved years ago because of this memo?
In theory, yes. USCIS has authority under the USCIS Policy Manual to reopen or rescind benefits if new derogatory information emerges. PM-602-0192 gives officers a green light to re-review entire populations, not just individuals.

19. Does this memo apply to DACA or TPS applicants?
DACA and TPS are not called out by name, but if a DACA or TPS holder also files an I-485, I-130, I-131, or other benefit and is from a listed country, the new application can be affected.

20. Are nonimmigrant visas (like F-1, H-1B) inside the U.S. affected?
Yes, to the extent that USCIS adjudicates I-539 and I-129 petitions for nationals of the 19 countries. Expect longer processing, more RFEs, and possible security holds.

21. Does this memo automatically deny cases?
No. PM-602-0192 is primarily a hold and re-review memo, not an automatic denial policy. But the longer a case is held, the higher the risk that USCIS or DOS will discover or assert new “concerns.”

22. Are USCIS field offices applying PM-602-0192 the same way everywhere?
No. Implementation can vary widely. Some field offices may aggressively hold and reopen cases; others may move more slowly or inconsistently. That’s why a strong risk-matrix and local practice analysis are important.

C. Asylum & Removal (23–29)

23. What does this memo mean for my pending asylum (I-589) case?
In short: everything may stop for a while. Asylum decisions are being held while USCIS and DHS retool security screening and inter-agency vetting.

24. Can USCIS deny my asylum instead of just holding it?
Yes. The memo does not prohibit denials. If USCIS believes your case is not credible or that you are ineligible, they can still deny and refer you to immigration court.

25. If my asylum case is frozen, will I lose my work permit?
Your I-765 may remain eligible for renewal if your asylum application is still pending. However, processing times for asylum-related EADs may increase because of the same vetting pipelines.

26. What if my asylum was already granted? Can they take it away?
Granted asylum is generally more protected, but DHS can initiate termination of asylum if they discover fraud, changed circumstances, or security-related concerns. PM-602-0192 makes it more likely that past grants will be re-examined.

27. Does PM-602-0192 affect people in removal proceedings?
Indirectly, yes. If your form (I-485, I-589, I-130, I-601) is pending with USCIS and you are also in removal proceedings, the freeze can delay or undermine relief you are pursuing in immigration court.

28. Can the memo lead to more expedited removal at the border?
It can support a broader enforcement trend in which people from listed countries face more referrals to expedited removal, especially if they apply for asylum at or near the border.

29. Does this memo change how asylum will be decided in the future?
It sets the stage for more security-driven, politicized asylum screening, where risk flags and inter-agency data-sharing weigh more heavily than before.

D. Travel, Visas, and CBP (30–38)

30. If my immigrant visa was issued before December 2, 2025, is it still valid?
Technically, yes. But PM-602-0192 and related DHS policies can lead consulates or CBP to:

Re-open the underlying petition,
Cancel or revoke the visa, or
Refuse admission at the port of entry.

31. Can CBP deny me entry even with an approved immigrant visa or green card?
Yes. Under its search and inspection authority, CBP can:

Send you to secondary inspection,
Seize your devices,
Cancel your visa, or
Place you into expedited removal proceedings.

32. Is it safe to travel internationally while my case is under “pause and review”?
For many from the 19 countries, travel is risky. You may face:

Delays in returning
New security screenings
Possible visa cancellations at the consulate
Aggressive device searches at the airport

33. Can they search my phone and laptop?
Yes. CBP operates under broad border search powers, which allow inspection of your electronic devices, even without a warrant. That’s why digital privacy is critical for immigrants caught in these programs.

34. If I use Advance Parole, will PM-602-0192 affect my re-entry?
Very likely. Advance Parole doesn’t guarantee admission; officers can still trigger more intensive questioning and secondary inspection, especially for nationals of the 19 countries.

35. Should I cancel planned travel because of this memo?
If you are from one of the listed countries or have a sensitive pending case, it is often safer to postpone travel and get individualized legal advice before leaving.

36. Can the consulate cancel my visa after it was printed?
Yes. DOS can “prudentially revoke” a visa at any time if new security flags appear in the system.

37. Does PM-602-0192 affect ESTA or visa-free travel?
The memo itself is about USCIS, but increased vetting and data-sharing can lead to more ESTA denials or referrals to secondary inspection.

38. If I am outside the U.S. when the memo was issued, should I still try to enter?
You need individualized strategy. Some people may decide to enter before a potential expansion or formal ban, while others may decide to wait to avoid detention or removal.

E. Timing, Delay, and “Extended Review” (39–47)

39. How long will my case be delayed because of PM-602-0192?
There is no official timeline. Holds may last months or longer. The delay depends on:

Your form type
Your nationality
Field office or service center
Security-check complexity

40. Does “Your case is under extended review” mean my case is frozen under this memo?
Not always, but often. This phrase is a common indicator that your case has entered a security-review or supervisory-hold pathway, which can be linked to PM-602-0192 or related vetting initiatives.

41. USCIS keeps saying “We are actively reviewing your case.” Is that related?
That generic status is being used for a wide variety of delays — including security holds and PM-602-0192 reviews. It usually means no meaningful progress is happening.

42. Will my case eventually move on its own, or do I have to push?
Some cases eventually move. However, many applicants will need to:

File service requests,
Ask Congressional offices to inquire,
Explore mandamus or other litigation.

43. Should I file a new application (e.g., second I-485 or I-130) to “restart the clock”?
Usually no. A duplicate filing may simply enter the same vetting pipeline and create more confusion. In some contexts it is strategic, but that requires careful legal analysis.

44. Does filing an inquiry or complaint speed things up?
Sometimes a congressional inquiry or attorney-led escalation helps, but in other cases it just confirms that the case is under a national-security hold and cannot be moved.

45. Will USCIS publish official processing times that show the freeze?
Unlikely. Official processing time tools often lag reality and rarely disclose policy-driven pauses like PM-602-0192.

46. Does the memo have an end date?
No public end date has been announced. Policy memoranda often stay in place until they are revoked, replaced, or quietly superseded.

47. Will this freeze expand beyond the 19 countries?
Many observers expect expansion, either through:

Informal risk tiers, or
New memos targeting additional regions.

F. Legal Strategy, Mandamus, and Evidence (48–60)

48. Is PM-602-0192 challengeable in court?
Yes. Lawyers are analyzing potential APA, due process, and equal protection challenges, including individual mandamus suits and broader impact litigation.

49. What is a writ of mandamus in this context?
It is a federal lawsuit asking a court to order USCIS (or another agency) to do its job and decide your case when delay is “unreasonable.”

50. When does mandamus actually make sense for a frozen case?
Common factors:

Your case is far beyond normal processing times.
USCIS gives no clear reason for delay.
You have strong equities (e.g., U.S. citizen spouse, hardship).
Other efforts (service requests, congressionals) failed.

51. Can I file mandamus while this memo is still in effect?
Yes. The existence of a policy memo does not excuse unlawful delay or withholding. Courts can still find that USCIS has taken too long.

52. Will suing USCIS cause them to retaliate and deny my case?
Retaliation is unlawful, and USCIS usually defends by claiming they were already working on the case. However, litigation does force USCIS to review your file, which can sometimes reveal both strengths and weaknesses.

53. What evidence should I gather now to prepare for possible litigation?
Key items include:

Filing receipts and notices
Online case status screenshots
Copies of RFEs, NOIDs, and responses
Records of service requests and congressionals
Proof of hardship and prejudice from delay

54. Should I mention the memo if I file mandamus?
In many cases yes, because it helps explain why large categories of cases are stalled — and why that may be unlawful when applied to you individually.

55. Could PM-602-0192 affect my future immigration benefits even after this case ends?
Yes. Once you are placed into a security-vetting profile, future filings (naturalization, petitions for relatives, visa renewals) may be scrutinized more intensely.

56. Should I hire a lawyer now or wait until the delay gets worse?
If you are from a listed country or have an asylum-related case, it is wise to at least consult a qualified immigration lawyer early, so evidence can be preserved and strategy planned.

57. How does this memo interact with the new USCIS vetting center in Atlanta?
The memo likely feeds directly into the centralized, AI-assisted vetting system described in reports about USCIS’s new vetting center. That center is designed to identify “risk” in large data sets — and PM-602-0192 gives it a massive pool of cases to analyze.

58. Will PM-602-0192 make RFEs and NOIDs more common?
Yes. When cases are held for security reasons, officers often issue RFEs or NOIDs asking for identity, history, or relationship evidence while vetting continues.

59. Is there anything proactive I can do to reduce my risk under this memo?
You cannot change your nationality or the memo itself, but you can:

Keep your records clean and organized,
Anticipate identity and security questions,
Maintain strong equities (employment, family, community ties), and
Seek legal guidance before travel or major filings.

60. Where can I get individualized advice about my frozen or high-risk case?
You should consult a qualified immigration attorney who understands national-security vetting, asylum, family-based green cards, and mandamus litigation. If you want a tailored analysis of your situation and options, you can book a confidential consultation with an experienced immigration lawyer.

Resource Directory

Government

Universities & Advocacy

Brown University OISSS
Yale OISS
ILRC Toolkit on Expanded Expedited Removal

Media

HLG Internal

Frozen Files: PM-602-0192 Freeze
Trapped by the New Travel Ban
Inside USCIS’s New Vetting Center
10 Important Points: Security Vetting
Yanked Out of Line
New I-90 Crisis
Adjustment of Status Guide
Extreme Hardship Waiver Guide
Book a Consultation

Call for Help

If your case has stalled, been reopened, or suddenly entered “extended review,” you are not alone.
HLG can determine whether you qualify for:

Mandamus
APA litigation
Congressional escalation
Strategic case re-framing
Emergency travel planning

Schedule a confidential case strategy session:
Book a Consultation

Success Stories

USCIS “Pause and Review” Panic: Is Your Case Frozen Under PM-602-0192 (and if so, for how long)?

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