r/39bannedcountries

Hi y’all, I applied for my STEM OPT in early December and I my 180 day extension ends in June. I have been told by my comp immigration lawyer that I will need to leave the country after that even if I have not used up any of my unemployment days. My DSO is saying I can stay as long as I have my application in and I am not sure what to believe anymore and I am frantic cause it is so close. Is anyone going through the same thing?

I'm looking to connect with dual nationals who filed their application inside the United States using a non-restricted passport but are still pending due to the USCIS 39-country adjudication pause.

If your case remains unresolved under these circumstances, please reach out. I'm exploring a potential lawsuit tailored to this specific situation.

Any opinions on Dorcas hearing next Thursday? I’m very hopeful that God will hear our prayers this time.

But is there anything we can do other than watching it?

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72369535/dorcas-international-institute-of-rhode-island-v-united-states-citizenship-and-immigration-services/

Hi everyone,

I’m looking for some guidance from anyone who has been in a similar situation.

I’m currently in the U.S. on a non-immigrant visa and have filed for Adjustment of Status (I-485) through marriage to a U.S. citizen (filed November 2024 in Dallas field Office along with I-130). I’ve responded to RFEs, and my case is still pending with USCIS.

The delay is becoming challenging, especially as I’ve been unable to travel internationally for important personal/family reasons. I understand that leaving the U.S. without proper authorization could be treated as abandoning my application.

One added complexity is that I was born in a country that is currently facing U.S. travel restrictions, although I now also hold British citizenship and working legally in the US as for an international organization and currently hold a valid diplomatic visa that allows me to work and travel.

My questions are:
- Can I still apply for Advance Parole (I-131) now if I didn’t submit it with my original AOS package?
- Has anyone applied for Advance Parole after filing AOS separately and had success?
- Are there additional risks when traveling/re-entering given my background?
- Would requesting emergency Advance Parole be a better route in this situation?

For context:
- Married to a U.S. citizen
- I-130 + I-485 filed Nov 2024
- RFEs responded to
- Case still pending
- Currently unable to travel

I’d really appreciate any insight or experiences others can share.

Thank you!

Has anyone from the banned countries travelled outside of the USA recently with expired conditional green card and extension and came back? What was your experience

EB1C application

RD: 03/09 26

Biometrics: 04/10

Silent updates FT0: 04/22, 05/14

Approved: 05/15

I was very uncertain of progress as my husband is the main petitioner and from Nigeria. His hasn't been issued yet, but fingers crossed. He also got a silent update this week. I'm from the UK.

Hello,

I am posting for my friend who just got approval for i765 STEM OPT extension. No lawsuit, nothing. He is from Togo and I am Malawian.

He applied December 2025. I honestly initially didn't believe as all USCIS benefits adjudication is on pause, until he literally sent his IOE receipt number and I put it on the case status tracker and saw approval decision rendered.

I am so happy for my friend, but he was jokingly saying that the USCIS officer that approved him is probably unaware of the ban and mistakenly approved. Out of all the 200 or so F1 students from the 39 banned countries from my school waiting for EAD, he is the only one approved after Jan 1st proclamation.

USCIS is a really odd organization for sure. Maybe they are going through our applications and seeing who is "worthy" of being approved or the USCIS officer was probably drunk and approved it.

Hi. In February 2025 I was granted asylum.

In March of the same year, my lawyer applied for my travel document.

On April 18, 2026 I requested for an expedited document.

Yesterday, I received an approval notice of the the I-512L instead of I-571 (granted asylee passport) being mailed. In the meantime, my lawyer applied for my adjustment of status (Green card).

Do you think there is a mistake like I do?

I am looking for advice regarding my immigration situation and long-term options in the U.S.

• From a partially banned country
• I recently graduated with a fully funded M.S. in Computer Science (thesis track)
• My research focuses on AI-supported education systems and software engineering education
• During my master’s, I built and deployed AI-assisted educational software used in university classes, and I currently have 7 research papers/preprints
• I have applied for OPT, and still waiting
• Applied for PhD programs; I have not gotten a funded offer so far. Every professor I speak to says the same thing about being interested in my work, but no funding
• I want to remain on status
• I am applying to the EB2-NIW this month
• I am patiently waiting for a positive decision from Dorcas v. USCIS
• I hope to stay in legal status via community college while I keep on applying to PhD programs

I would love tp know y'all's personal thoughts and whether you think this is a good idea!!

Hi,

I think this thread could be helpful to all, especially those trying to figure out whether or not to join a lawsuit.

For cases where PIs have been granted:

1. How many were granted with deadlines for adjudication?

2. Where deadlines were given, have there been cases that have actually gotten adjudicated (denial or approval)?

I would want to know anyone who got FR from DoS for NOS waiver and whose case was finally approved by USCIS from the 39 banned counties.

Hello everyone!

Disclaimer: *This is my first ever Reddit post and it only applies to you if you have not taken these actions yet*

I just want to ask something of all of us, since the growing consensus, which I can observe, is that even lawsuits aren't going to guarantee us anything. Frankly, my suggestion might not guarantee anything for us either :,D !

But there are 2 things I think we can all do, whether you joined a lawsuit or not, and those are:

1. Contact your consulate/embassy- If enough calls/emails are received, and enough of their nationals physically arrive and try to speak to a Consular/Diplomat about this issue and how it's affecting us, maybe they'll begin to do their jobs?

2. Contact the office of one of your Senators (if you reside in a blue state)- Open up a case seeking support with a federal agency. They were oddly reassuring in my case and even stated "Yes, we've been able to help other people in this situation because of the pause, but it's just taking a bit longer than it previously did." Did I believe them fully? No. Is there a chance that there are a few people out there who aren't on Reddit and actually found success on this front? Maybe? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Embassies operate under the Executive (of the governments of our home countries) and are therefore another potential means of direct pressure/resolution with the U.S. government. Your senators operate under the Legislative and believe it or not also represent you.

For those who can afford to join lawsuits, please continue to do so and thank you all for beginning this fight! I do though truly believe that at this point this has to be a triple-fronted attack.

Again, I don't think anything is certainly going to guarantee us a resolution to this issue, and since we cant protest this cause without risking our futures in the U.S., I just want to make sure we're exhausting all of our realistic options.

Thank you for your action and God bless you all!

Curtis Morrison of Red Eagle Law made a short comment about travel ban lawsuits. There are 8 such lawsuits that he knows of that and 6 are his. Judges have been deferring to Trump Vs Hawaii but all generally agree that how the ban is currently being implemented is wrong. Visas should be issued by consular officers but the visas should say “subject to PP 10998”

https://www.youtube.com/live/3pcENvHciO4?t=1051&si=6UqhdLyfLBU\_Qusb

Visas themselves are not permissions to enter a country

Having a U.S. visa allows you to travel to a port of entry, airport or land border crossing, and request permission of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Customs and Border Protection (CBP) inspector to enter the United States. - https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/frequently-asked-questions/what-is-us-visa.html

Presidential authority still has the power to prevent anyone from traveling into the United States, not to prevent visas to be issued.

lol turns out i cant even renew my drivers license. It expired dec 2025 when I graduated and I ended up applying for an extension jan 2026 and they gave me for 4 months and it expires May 14th. I went back to dmv and they told me its a one time thing and I wont be able to renew it without and EAD or new I-20. Idk what to do because I cant drive anymore and we dont know how long this bs will last.

Hi everyone,

I was wondering what is the benefit of lawsuit over its disadvantages. I was looking to join either Red Eagle or Jim Hacking lawsuit as there is a lot of hype around. I am aware that USCIS has "silently" lifted the pause for physicians, which makes no sense, as a physician is not less of security concern than other professionals.

My question is, I came across this article here Iranian doctor denied green card after lawsuit

The Iranian doctor filed a lawsuit due to the adjudication pause we are all facing. The judge ordered USCIS to adjudicate, and then her green card application was denied. So she is suspecting retaliation due to her suing.

This is my biggest fear and what has hindered me from joining a lawsuit. I have an i765 ead pending. Does it mean if I join a lawsuit, USCIS will then retaliate by denying me?