Business Desk 
Nov 27, 2025
The United States on Thursday suspended all immigration-related processing for Afghan nationals as federal agencies begin a comprehensive review of security and vetting systems.
The authorities have announced an immediate and indefinite suspension of all immigration-related processing for Afghan nationals, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
According to USCIS, the suspension applies to all Afghan-linked immigration requests, including pending cases, new applications, humanitarian parole requests, family reunification petitions, and other benefits falling under its mandate.
Government officials emphasised that the decision was made “out of an abundance of caution” while the review is conducted.
The agency did not state for how long the security review would take or when routine processing for Afghan nationals might resume. However, officials suggested that the assessment would be "comprehensive", encompassing screening standards, interagency coordination, and background-check procedures.
This pause comes after increased scrutiny of current vetting mechanisms following a recent security incident in Washington, D.C., that has revived debate within US policy circles regarding the pathways for immigration for Afghans in the post-2021 period.
While authorities continue their investigation, federal officials have clarified that the suspension is a precautionary administrative measure rather than a policy shift targeting lawful Afghan applicants.
