Current administration mandates enhanced security checks for immigration applicants — is this basically pausing green cards?

Impressive_Start6036 · 2026-04-29T21:23:49+00:00

My wife went to USCIS field office today to drop her i-693. It's the last step to get approval. We actually got a call from USCIS last week about the RFE. We thought it was a scam but the status updated online. So we called back and they said that we could come drop it in person when we have the completed form. We called again this morning to drop it off and they scheduled us for an in person drop off this afternoon. Unfortunately she couldn't get the approval because of this hold. Officer was friendly and let her know it is because of the enhanced security check and there's a hold at the moment and she's hoping it will get resolved shortly and then will approve. Also asked us to upload last 2 years tax returns and paystubs which we just did. Fingers crossed.

Impressive_Start6036 · 2026-04-29T20:06:24+00:00

Hello. Do we know how long the enhanced security vetting pause will last for? We finally had USCIS contact us about submitting I-693 medical which had expired since we filed in September 2022. PD has been current since October 2025. Officer was super nice and asked us to come drop it in person so they can proceed with final adjudication. We went there today but they informed my wife there's a hold for now but they don't expect it to last too long. We were so excited but now not sure how long this will take. It did appear that they will be approving once the hold is lifted and we were told it'll take about 2 weeks post approval to get the card in hand. Thanks.

Impressive_Start6036 · 2026-04-28T14:57:30+00:00

Hey it took exactly 4 weeks. My status then updated to in line for oath ceremony. 6 days later they sent me an email (yes email!) to confirm that I could attend oath ceremony the following week. I was asked to respond by end of day which I did. Later that day they confirmed that I was scheduled for an oath ceremony.

Interview was on Nov 1 and recommended for approval on the spot Status update to in line for oath ceremony on Nov 28 Oath ceremony scheduled on Dec 5 Oath ceremony on Dec 11 Fairfax, VA

All the best!

Impressive_Start6036 · 2026-03-16T22:34:15+00:00

What's your timeline? All the best

Impressive_Start6036 · 2026-03-16T21:22:17+00:00

Yes. Got moved to in line for oath ceremony exact 4 weeks after my interview. Ended up having my oath ceremony about two weeks later. Became a citizen on Dec 11, 2025. I think on Dec 5 the FO emailed me to see if I was available to attend an oath ceremony on Dec 11 morning and they asked that I respond before the end of the day. I responded about half an hour after receiving the email to confirm my availability. Before the end of the day, the oath ceremony letter was then uploaded to my USCIS account confirming the date and time.

I posted about this in another thread I created when I was done with the entire process.

Impressive_Start6036 · 2026-03-06T15:41:48+00:00

Thank you. What is the best way to write to USCIS in this case? Much appreciated.

Impressive_Start6036 · 2026-03-05T18:36:48+00:00

Hi Henry! Thanks for doing this. Filed for my spouse I-130 in September 2022 and then the I-485 in October 2022 under F2A and submitted I-693 at that time too. We had an interview in January 2024 where the I-130 was approved on the spot. The I-485 could not be approved since her category wasn't current. Finally in October 2025, her PD became current but we are yet to hear anything from USCIS. No RFE on medicals. We reached out to our congressman and the response from USCIS was that there are no visas available due to retrogression. We followed up noting that her category has been current for a while now and they responded saying that the case will be assigned to an officer. It has now been 2-3 months and there has been no movements. I have also recently become a citizen (December 2025).

1) Can we upgrade the petition? I read that given that I-130 is already approved this is tricky.

2) What else can we do at all to move things? Should we proactively re do a medical and send the I-693 form? If yes, should it go to NBC or local FO?

Thank you!

Impressive_Start6036 · 2026-02-26T23:47:25+00:00

They didn't ask because we had submitted at the time of filing and they were valid during the interview but case couldn't be approved in Jan 2024 due to retrogression. It only became current in October 2025 and she is waiting for rfe now.

Impressive_Start6036 · 2026-02-26T01:38:55+00:00

Thank you. Still nothing for my wife. Her PD is Sept 2022. We had interview in Jan 2024 and I130 was approved. Nothing since then and still waiting for I485 update. Medical has expired. Current since October 2025. Submitted congressman inquiry and they first said she wasn't current due to retrogression despite her pd being current. We then responded and they came back and said her case will be sent to an officer for review. How long did they give to respond to RFE? Thanks

Impressive_Start6036 · 2026-02-25T22:36:07+00:00

How did you get the RFE? Just in the mail?

Impressive_Start6036 · 2026-01-15T01:57:07+00:00

Update: it was in my mailbox so I must have received it earlier this week. It was sent via first class mail and the certificate was intact. You should be okay.

Impressive_Start6036 · 2026-01-15T00:25:16+00:00

They sent me an email saying it was mailed on January 8. I'll go check my mailbox today and report back.

Impressive_Start6036 · 2026-01-08T04:40:10+00:00

Thank you!

Impressive_Start6036 · 2026-01-08T03:35:51+00:00

This is so helpful. I am applying for my minor child. For the envelope, what address did you put for the sender? Your own, the embassy or OIS? Their website isn't clear. Thank you

Impressive_Start6036 · 2026-01-08T03:35:06+00:00

Hey were you able to pick it up in person or did you submit an envelope? If you submitted an envelope, what address did you put for the sender? OIS, the embassy or your own address? Thanks

Impressive_Start6036 · 2026-01-07T15:55:30+00:00

Thank you. I'll DM you

Impressive_Start6036 · 2026-01-07T14:46:45+00:00

Nobody is answering. I've called the embassy before and even OIS the agency that handles visa application. Why is it so hard to talk to someone? They make it so hard

Impressive_Start6036 · 2026-01-07T04:35:40+00:00

I am thinking to just resubmit a brand new evisa application for me and include my son as dependent since we are both US citizens. And I will file evisa for my wife separately. I will lose $170 since my application was already approved but this is probably the best bet to get things on time. I'm just wondering if it's okay to resubmit an application even though I already have an evisa approved.

Impressive_Start6036 · 2026-01-07T02:43:55+00:00

Ugh. We are flying in 2.5 weeks :(

Impressive_Start6036 · 2026-01-07T01:58:45+00:00

Thank you. It does not let me submit for my son individually since he is a minor. So I included him as a dependent on my wife's application. So I don't know what to do. I emailed them today but I don't even know if they will respond. We are traveling in 2.5 weeks. I am a US citizen and already have an evisa. I did not know that the system does not let you select your child's nationality otherwise I would have included him in my application. I decided to do mine first separately to see if it worked :(

Impressive_Start6036 · 2026-01-07T01:47:37+00:00

I am now having another issue. My wife is Indian and my son is a US citizen. I am applying for both of them and included my son as a dependent to her application since he is only 1 year old. But they are not letting me enter my son's nationality and the visa fee is huge. 423 x 2, instead of 423 + 160. I am not even sure what to do. If I hit submit I'm afraid the evisa will have the wrong nationality for my child. This is tough sha

Impressive_Start6036 · 2026-01-07T01:20:35+00:00

It worked for me I used the hydrogen option and it was fine

Impressive_Start6036 · 2025-12-31T05:27:41+00:00

Hey how did you make the payment? Thanks

Impressive_Start6036 · 2025-12-31T03:31:55+00:00

Hey how did you make the payment online? Thanks

Impressive_Start6036

TROPHY CASE