On April 27, 2026, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced a new security
vetting protocol that may slow the processing of certain immigration applications.
The updated procedures apply to benefit categories requiring fingerprint-based background checks,
including:
- Adjustment of Status applications
- Naturalization applications
- Asylum applications
Under this process, USCIS officers are required to re-submit previously collected biometric data to
the FBI for most pending cases where fingerprints were submitted prior to April 27, 2026.
Importantly, applicants are not currently required to attend new biometrics appointments or re-
submit fingerprints themselves. An apparent exception may apply to some naturalization applicants
who already have oath ceremonies scheduled.
Once the re-vetting of pending cases is completed, USCIS is expected to apply the same enhanced
procedures to newly filed applications.
Uncertainty and Delays
USCIS has not yet clarified the scale or duration of anticipated delays. It remains unclear whether
this initiative will broaden the processing slowdown affecting additional case types. The volume of
impacted cases and overall timeline remain undetermined.
