On April 27, 2026, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) quietly launched one of the most sweeping changes to its adjudication process in years: a new enhanced fingerprint-based security screening system connected to the FBI’s Next Generation Identification (NGI) database. The rollout has placed millions of pending immigration applications on hold and is causing significant processing delays across virtually every immigration benefit category — from green cards and naturalization to work permits, DACA, and asylum.
What Triggered the Enhanced Screening
The new vetting system stems from Executive Order 14385, signed by President Trump on February 6, 2026, which directed federal criminal justice agencies to share criminal history record information with the Department of Homeland Security to the fullest extent permitted by law. In response, the FBI granted USCIS expanded access to its NGI system — the most advanced biometric and criminal history database in the U.S. — triggering a requirement that all pending cases be re-vetted under the new standards.
Beginning April 27, USCIS field offices and asylum offices nationwide began notifying applicants and attorneys that adjudications were on hold pending the new enhanced background checks. USCIS officers were instructed not to approve any application that had not yet cleared the new system.
Which Applications Are Affected
The enhanced screening impacts virtually every immigration benefit category that requires a fingerprint-based background check. The most commonly affected case types include:
USCIS enhanced screening 2026: affected application types and FBI NGI check scope
- Adjustment of Status (Form I-485) — green card applications filed inside the U.S.
- Naturalization (Form N-400) — citizenship applications
- Asylum applications — both affirmative and defensive (from non-high-risk countries)
- Employment Authorization Documents (EAD / Form I-765)
- DACA renewals
- T and U nonimmigrant status (trafficking and crime victims)
- VAWA self-petitions
- Employment-based petitions and extensions — H-1B, L-1, O-1, and others
- Family-based petitions
The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) estimates that millions of pending cases could be impacted by the re-vetting requirement.
What the New FBI NGI System Checks
The old USCIS fingerprint checks were submitted to the FBI’s Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System (IAFIS). The new system connects to NGI, a significantly more comprehensive database that includes:
- Criminal records from jurisdictions that previously did not share data with federal immigration authorities
- Arrests that did not result in convictions
- Juvenile records
- Sealed or expunged records (to the extent accessible under federal law)
- Civil fingerprint submissions (from employment background checks, etc.)
This means USCIS may now surface criminal history that was previously invisible to immigration adjudicators — even for people who have lived in the U.S. for years with no immigration issues.
Do Applicants Need to Do Anything?
No action is required from applicants. USCIS officers are responsible for re-submitting fingerprints already on file to the new FBI system. Applicants should not go to an ASC (Application Support Center) unless specifically called. You do not need to re-submit biometrics unless USCIS sends you a new biometrics appointment notice.
However, if your fingerprints on file are expired (older than 15 months for most cases), USCIS may send a new biometrics appointment notice. Keep your address current with USCIS to receive any such notices.
Exemptions: Who Is NOT Affected
As of April 30, 2026, USCIS lifted holds for specific categories deemed lower risk or time-sensitive:
- Individuals vetted through Operation PARRIS (military parole in place)
- Certain petitions filed by U.S. citizens for immediate relatives
- Intercountry adoption forms
- Certain rescheduled naturalization oath ceremonies
- Refugee registrations for South African citizens and nationals
- Certain special immigrant visa (SIV) petitions
- Certain Employment Authorization Documents in specific categories
- Asylum applications from non-high-risk countries
- Applications associated with medical physicians (following the Conrad 30 / physician shortage waiver framework)
How Long Will the Delays Last?
USCIS has publicly stated that delays “should be brief and resolved shortly.” Agency sources indicate that fingerprints are being reprocessed in large batches, with most cases expected to clear by the end of May 2026. However, immigration attorneys nationwide are reporting that cases which uncover new or expanded criminal history records may face additional review time — potentially several additional months.
Cases with complex criminal histories — even minor or old arrests — are the most likely to see extended holds. If USCIS discovers a disqualifying criminal record during the re-vetting, a Request for Evidence (RFE) or Notice of Intent to Deny (NOID) may follow.
What Applicants Should Do Right Now
- Check your case status regularly at egov.uscis.gov or via the USCIS online account portal. Status changes triggered by the re-vetting process should appear there.
- Do not call USCIS to ask about the delay if your case is otherwise within normal processing times — the national service center is already overwhelmed with inquiries.
- If your EAD is expiring, file a renewal as early as possible (USCIS allows filing up to 180 days before expiration). Auto-extensions for certain EAD categories remain in effect.
- If you have any criminal history — even minor arrests, dismissed charges, or expunged records — consult an immigration attorney before your next USCIS interview or application submission. What was previously hidden may now be visible.
- If you have a pending I-485 with a USCIS interview scheduled, do not assume the interview will proceed on time. Monitor for rescheduling notices.
See also: How to Check Your USCIS Case Status 2026 | USCIS 39-Country Pause on Immigration Applications 2026
4 steps applicants should take now given enhanced screening delays (2026)
Related: One Big Beautiful Bill: Complete Immigration Guide 2026
