USCIS Must Renew Green Card & Work Permit Processing From 39 Banned Countries

U.S. Judge Strikes Down Trump Policy Targeting Immigrants From 39 Countries

Shilpa Malik Managing attorney
Must Know Facts

Must-Know Facts

  • The 39 country ban implemented by the trump administration has been ruled unlawful for USCIS-based applications
  • The ruling applies across all 50 states, unfreezing pending green cards, work permits, and citizenship applications for all domestic applicants from the 39 nations.
  • The decision only lifts the freeze for internal USCIS cases inside the U.S.; consular processing and visa restrictions at overseas embassies remain active.

On June 5th, the 39-country ban implemented by the Trump administration, which prevented USCIS from processing work permits, naturalization, and green card applications, was officially lifted, offering nationwide relief. It was ruled unlawful by a U.S. federal Judge, Chief U.S. District Judge John McConnell, in Providence, Rhode Island.

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Who Is Affected By The 39-Country Ban Relief?

The 39-country ban was announced in Presidential Proclamation 10998 on “Restricting and Limiting the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the Security of the United States,” which took effect on January 1, 2026, at 12:01 a.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST).

While today’s court ruling forces USCIS to resume processing applications within the U.S., the proclamation still restricts visa issuance at U.S. embassies

The proclamation still restricts visa issuance at U.S. embassies

39 COUNTRY BAN LIFTED MAP

Fully Suspended Visa Issuance (19 Countries):
Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Burma, Chad, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Laos, Libya, Mali, Niger, Republic of the Congo, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Yemen

Partially Suspended Visa Issuance (20 Countries):
Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Burundi, Cote D’Ivoire, Cuba, Dominica, Gabon, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, The Gambia, Togo, Tonga, Turkmenistan, Venezuela, Zambia, Zimbabwe

For those applying for benefits from within the United States with USCIS, processing will resume.

What Does It Mean For Green Card Applicants?

For applicants who have applied for a green card, naturalization, or work permit in the United States, USCIS will now resume adjudicating cases. Applicants should expect the timeline to be extended due to the backlog of frozen cases.

How VisaNation Can Help

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Unsure if you are impacted by this new update? VisaNation Law Group immigration attorneys will closely monitor the shifting legal landscape and proactively manage your case to secure your green card, work permit, or citizenship.