For thousands of asylum seekers across California, the past several months have replaced slow but steady case movement with official silence. Learning how the freeze has touched other applicants can help you make sense of your own stalled filing and what may come next.
Origins of a nationwide pause
In December 2025, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) put a formal hold on every pending asylum application, no matter the nationality of the person who filed it. The agency tied the measure to deeper security checks and paired it with a broader halt on benefit requests from people born in countries on the federal travel ban list.
The scope widened on January 1, 2026, when the agency applied the same treatment to all unresolved filings from the 39 countries covered by the expanded ban. Previously approved immigration benefits involving nationals of those countries also became subject to re-review under a separate USCIS policy.
On March 30, 2026, USCIS resumed adjudicating asylum applications for people outside the designated high-risk countries after implementing expanded screening procedures, while the country-based pause remained in effect. A federal court then ruled in early June that the remaining hold was unlawful, though the government has appealed and the timeline remains unsettled.
Ripple effects on people left waiting
For those partway through the process, the hold can result in the following issues:
- Work permits may still be delayed: People from the 39 listed countries can generally ask for permission to work after 150 days. The pause, however, may slow the government’s release of that document.
- Waiting can become more expensive: A longer asylum process may increase costs for legal representation and other case-related expenses while your application remains pending.
- Future immigration benefits stay on hold: You generally cannot move toward a green card or citizenship through asylum until the agency approves your underlying case.
Although the pause has changed how quickly many cases move, it has not pushed them out of the system. Staying current with every notice and keeping your contact details up to date remains the best way to avoid extra delays while you wait for the process to restart.
Protective steps during the slowdown
You can start by keeping your information current. If you move, file Form AR-11 within 10 days so USCIS can send appointment notices, requests for evidence and other important mail to the correct address.
Your work permit deserves close attention as well. Because the agency no longer gives automatic extensions for pending renewals, it is critical to file your application before your existing card expires.
An attorney’s guidance can also make a difference if your case has sat idle for a long time. They also can explain how the pause affects your situation, help you respond to any requests by the government and map out your next steps once processing resumes.