u/Danamarya

CBS News recently leaked information that USCIS plans to implement an "enhanced vetting" process for all applicants.

This process, which involves reapplying fingerprints, is currently ongoing internally. Many people have reported receiving the "Action Taken" email. Although none of them reported approvals, this USCIS email often signals a final adjudication or a major activity on the account.

My concern is that I have not yet seen anyone from any of the 39 banned countries receiving such an email. Did anyone from these countries receive it? Is the USCIS excluding 39 countries from the "enhanced vetting? "

A couple of days ago, CBS News reported that USCIS has internally expanded its adjudication hold beyond the 39 countries. They claimed that the hold is for refingerprinting and it's going to be very "brief." Apparently, many people from non-banned countries began to see some activities related to the hold.

Initially, I saw the USCIS's expanded hold as a positive sign for 39 countries. Although the pause has severely impacted me, I remained positive throughout this ordeal. I assumed they would subject all of us to the same vetting process and that, upon completion, they would resume adjudication for everyone. If their major argument was "security risks" associated with ONLY 39 countries, why would they continue to pause our applications after rigorous vetting?

My previous assumption is likely wrong. The USCIS is more complicated than I thought. A couple of days ago, they silently edited their 30th March news to add physicians as one of the exceptions to their hold. While this is good for our medical friends, it is certainly alarming for the rest of the US. It's indicative that they are not planning to lift the pause for the 39 countries anytime soon

This is not the first time the USCIS has promised to grant exceptions for some categories in 39 countries. Their January Memo clearly mentioned that they would lift the pause on certain cases. They promised to provide guidance within 7 days, but they haven't done so yet. Nobody has benefited from those exceptions to this day. I hope this time around, they will respect those exceptions. Congratulations to the physicians. For the rest of us, join lawsuits as soon as possible. That is probably the only way out.

There are rumors that the USCIS is pausing adjudication for all countries following the WH sh00ting.

Starting from yesterday, many AOS applicants from unbanned countries saw a massive API update. This update followed a particular trend whenever USCIS pauses applications, as it did in December for 19 countries and in January for 39 countries.

I have not yet seen anyone from 39 countries getting the recent API update (on 4/27 and 4/28). This is because they already have that tag in December and January. Some sources said that the "red banner," advising adjudicators not to approve applicants from 39 countries, was applied.

I hope it's wrong, but the recent massive API updates might suggest that applications from unbanned countries have also been put on hold.