Fingerprints again: The new FBI check that is freezing thousands of USCIS cases

If you have a pending application with USCIS and haven't seen progress for weeks, it's not you. Since April 27, 2026, the agency began applying a new background check protocol in collaboration with the FBI that is pausing the approval of thousands of applications nationwide. Work permits, green cards, citizenships, and even asylum cases are in a kind of temporary freeze while the agency reviews the fingerprints of millions of files.

As of April 27, 2026, USCIS expanded its access to FBI criminal databases in response to an executive order signed on February 6, 2026.

At RISE Immigration Services, we reviewed this news for you. We explain what is happening, why cases are being delayed, which ones are most affected, and most importantly, what you can do while this pause lasts.

The new biometric scrutiny: What changed after April 27?

The change is not minor. As of April 27, 2026, USCIS expanded its access to FBI criminal databases in response to an executive order signed on February 6, 2026. In practice, this means the agency is now required to re-verify the biometric data of practically all pending cases where fingerprints were taken before that date. If your application included a fingerprint appointment before April 27, 2026, there is a good chance USCIS is reprocessing your information right now.

The good news is that, in most cases, you will not have to go back to an application support center to be fingerprinted again. USCIS is reusing the data it already has in its files. But the bad news is that, while this new verification is completed, final approvals are on hold. Officers have clear instructions: they cannot approve any application until the review with FBI databases is finished.

Which applications are frozen and which are not?

The pause affects nearly all immigration benefits that require background checks. This includes adjustments of status (Form I-485), naturalization applications (N-400), asylum cases, family-based and employment-based petitions, DACA, and T, U, and VAWA visas. In total, it is estimated that millions of cases could be waiting right now.

There is an important detail you should know: officers are not required to do this re-verification on cases they already intend to deny. That is, if your case is eligible for approval, it is probably in line to be reviewed again. If your case has substantive issues, the decision could come out faster, but not in the way you want.

On the other hand, there are some exceptions. As of April 30, 2026, USCIS began lifting the pause for certain groups that had already been verified through specific programs, such as Operation PARRIS. And since May 11, 2026, the agency also lifted the hold for foreign physicians, after many lost their work permits and stopped seeing patients.

Interviews continue, but approvals do not

One point that confuses many: scheduled interviews are taking place normally. You can go to your appointment, answer questions, and leave with the feeling that everything went well. But that does not mean your case will be approved immediately. Final approval remains on hold until the new background check is complete. So do not be discouraged if weeks go by and the online status of your case remains the same. It is not your problem. It is the system.

The court order that unblocked cases from 39 countries (and what it means for you)

Before this new fingerprint verification went into effect, USCIS already had another controversial pause in place. Since late 2025, the agency had ordered a halt to the adjudication of all immigration benefit applications for nationals of 39 countries considered "high risk." The measure affected asylum seekers, green card applicants, citizenship applicants, and work permit applicants regardless of whether they had already met all requirements.

But on April 30, 2026, a federal judge in Massachusetts issued a landmark ruling. Judge Julia E. Kobick determined that this indefinite pause violated federal laws and USCIS's own regulations. In her decision, she ordered the agency to immediately lift the suspension for 22 individual applicants who demonstrated concrete harms, such as job loss, family separation, and serious mental health issues. She also prohibited USCIS from continuing to use nationality as a negative factor in discretionary decisions on green cards and work permits.

Does this mean there is no longer a pause for the 39 countries? Not entirely yet. The ruling directly benefits the 22 plaintiffs, but it sets an important precedent. Immigration attorneys are watching how USCIS will respond and whether the agency will extend the lifting of the pause to more people. This case is still in motion and could continue to change in the coming weeks.

The date you cannot ignore: May 29, 2026

If you have a pending asylum application, there is a date you must mark on your calendar. May 29, 2026, is the effective date of the final rule requiring payment of the Annual Asylum Fee. It is not a rumor or a proposal. It is a reality already published in the federal register.

As of that date, if your asylum application has been pending for more than one year, you will receive a notice from USCIS. From that notice, you have 30 days to pay $102. If you do not pay within that period, USCIS will reject your asylum application. And if you have no other legal status in the country, the agency will initiate deportation proceedings against you.

But the consequences do not end there. If your asylum case is denied for non-payment, you will also lose any work permit you have based on that application. USCIS will deny any pending Form I-765, and if you already have a valid work permit, you will automatically lose it.

The fee is paid per application, not per person. If your family filed a single Form I-589, you pay a total of $102, regardless of how many family members are included on that application. Only those who filed separate forms must each pay separately.

Watch out for signatures and form errors

The Department of Homeland Security also issued a new rule formalizing USCIS's authority to deny applications if the agency later determines that the signature on the form is not valid. This applies even if the agency had already accepted the case initially. That is, they can come back to review your signature months later and, if something does not match, your application can be rejected. So make sure every signature on every form is clear, consistent, and matches the signature on your identification documents.

Additionally, effective June 1, 2026, USCIS will only accept the most recent version of certain forms. If you use an older edition, your application will be returned unprocessed. Before submitting anything, check on the USCIS website that you are using the correct version.

What can you do today while you wait?

We know this news creates anxiety. Having your case frozen without knowing when it will move forward is frustrating. But there are concrete steps you can take in the meantime.

First, keep your contact information updated with USCIS. If you changed your address or phone number and did not report it, you could miss important notices, including the annual asylum fee payment notifications.

Second, if your case has been pending for a long time without a response, consult with an immigration attorney. Federal law gives you legal tools, such as a mandamus petition, to force USCIS to make a decision when delays are unreasonable.

Third, if you have a pending asylum case for more than one year, prepare to pay the $102. Do not wait for the notice to arrive. Have that money available to act within 30 days.

Fourth, if you receive a USCIS appointment, do not miss it. Attending your interviews and biometric appointments on time is essential to prevent additional delays in your case.

Most importantly, do not panic. These pauses and additional verifications are affecting thousands of people at the same time. It is not a personal problem. It is the system reorganizing itself. And as a community, we must stay informed, prepared, and supported.

Clear information, not legal advice

We understand that these changes create uncertainty. New verifications, deadlines, unexpected pauses. But you are not alone in this. At RISE Immigration Services, our mission is to keep you informed through free resources like this blog, where we publish the latest USCIS news clearly and accessibly for the Latino community. We are not lawyers and do not provide legal advice. What we do is explain what is changing, so that you can make informed decisions and, if needed, consult with a qualified immigration professional. The Latino community grows stronger when we support each other with honest information and no deception.

References

• Duane Morris LLP. USCIS Enhanced Security Vetting: New Fingerprint-Based Background Check Process Places many USCIS Applications on Temporary Hold. May 13, 2026.

• Duane Morris LLP. Federal Court Blocks USCIS's Hold on Immigration Benefits for Some Applicants from 39-Country List — What You Need to Know. May 10, 2026.

• Infobae. Por qué la nueva alianza entre USCIS y FBI puede retrasar tu trámite migratorio en 2026. May 11, 2026.

• USCIS. DHS Announces Consequences for Unpaid Annual Asylum Fees; Unveils New H.R. 1 Requirements. April 28, 2026.

• La Nación. Asilo en EE.UU.: el cobro de US$102 del Uscis que desde el 29 de mayo puede costar el trabajo y derivar en deportación. May 10, 2026.

• Miller Mayer Law. USCIS Lifts Adjudication Hold for Foreign Physicians. May 11, 2026.

• USCIS. Cap Reached for Second Allocation of Returning Worker H-2B Visas for Fiscal Year 2026. April 29, 2026.

• USCIS. Form Updates. June 1, 2026.