Welcome to the first edition of From the Desk of Manifest.
In this weekly newsletter, you’ll get:
Clear insights into what’s happening inside the U.S. immigration system
Plain-language breakdowns of news, trends, and policy shifts
A curated selection of what we’re publishing, reading, and analyzing
Our purpose is simple: to dismantle the black box of immigration law and give you information you can trust, without the stuffy legal jargon.
🟤 The Legal Brief
Today’s memo is brought to you by Ana Gabriela Urizar, an immigration lawyer with almost a decade of experience and over 15,000 cases filed.
The federal government recently announced that USCIS will review previously approved Green Cards and pause certain pending cases for applicants from 19 “high-risk countries.” Having worked on cases during the 2017 travel ban, I’ve seen how policy shifts like this can create meaningful delays and uncertainty in the immigration process.
If you’re currently navigating the U.S. immigration system, here’s what you need to know:
USCIS’s announcement may affect people from the 19 “high-risk” countries in two ways, depending on your situation:
If you already have a Green Card: USCIS may reopen previously approved cases for additional review. This does not mean your status will be revoked. You may simply be asked to provide additional documentation or attend another interview.
If you have a pending Green Card or another pending application: USCIS has temporarily paused processing for certain applicants from the affected countries. This means they’re pausing review, not denying cases, and processing is expected to resume once USCIS’s security review is complete.
In either situation, here are a few practical steps impacted individuals should keep in mind:
Avoid international travel unless necessary.
Keep building your case, whether for a Green Card or a visa, so you’re ready when processing resumes.
Organize your past immigration records in case USCIS requests clarification.
Ensure USCIS has your current contact information and respond promptly to any notices.
We’ll continue monitoring this closely. If you’d like to discuss how this may affect your case, you can request a consultation with Manifest Law here or book a 15-minute call with our attorneys to ask your legal questions.
Keep reading for more insights and news from the desk of Manifest’s immigration attorneys.
Sincerely,
🟤 Immigration News of the Week
👮🏻 State Department Will Vet the Social Media Profiles of H-1B, H-4 Applicants: Starting December 15, H-1B and H-4 applicants going through consular processing will need to keep their social media profiles public so immigration officers can review their content.
Attorney Insight: “Keep your social media profiles safe from inflammatory statements, keep them public, and avoid posting content that could be misinterpreted as going against the national interest of the U.S.”
📋 USCIS Freezes Processing for 19 Countries: The federal agency has paused all asylum decisions and issued a hold for most immigration benefits for nationals of 19 “high-risk countries of concern.”
Attorney Insight:“If your case has been frozen because you were born in one of the 19 listed countries, speak with an immigration attorney immediately to understand your risks and protect your options moving forward.”
🚩 USCIS Shortens Work Permits of Select Immigration Categories: Instead of lasting five years, the validity period of work permits for those who applied for asylum or other humanitarian immigration programs will now be reduced.
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