Green card approvals in the United States fell by nearly half in January 2026 compared to the same month the year before. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) approved approximately 34,000 permanent residences in January 2026, down from roughly 65,000 in January 2025 — a drop of about 48%. The decline is the result of three converging policy changes: a processing freeze covering 39 countries, expanded FBI background check requirements for all applications, and significant staff reductions at the agency. At the same time, new processing rules that took effect in May 2026 changed which filing table employment-based applicants must use, and additional restrictions are taking effect on May 29.
Green card approvals 2026 — monthly volume decline, three causes, and May 2026 filing rule changes.
Why Did Green Card Approvals Fall So Sharply?
Three separate policy decisions converged to produce the dramatic drop in approvals:
The 39-country processing freeze: Beginning in January 2026, USCIS and the State Department suspended immigrant visa processing for nationals of 39 countries deemed “high risk” by the administration. Venezuela, Cuba, Nicaragua, Afghanistan, Iran, and 34 additional countries are affected. Citizens of these countries cannot have their I-485 adjustment of status applications adjudicated, and immigrant visa interviews at U.S. consulates abroad are on hold. The only exception carved out by a federal court applies to a limited category of foreign physicians on J-1 waiver programs.
Expanded FBI background check requirements: USCIS issued internal guidance requiring officers to complete FBI biometric and name-based background checks on all green card and naturalization applications before making any approval decision. This verification requirement — which previously applied to a narrower set of cases — significantly lengthened individual adjudication times and created a bottleneck that spread across all application types.
USCIS staff reductions: Federal workforce reductions affected multiple immigration agencies, including USCIS. With fewer adjudicating officers processing a backlog that was already in the millions before 2026, approval rates have slowed substantially, and no agency spokesperson has provided a timeline for when processing speeds are expected to normalize.
New May 2026 Filing Table Rules for Employment-Based Green Cards
USCIS announced a significant change in May 2026 to how employment-based (EB) green card applicants determine when they can file their I-485 adjustment of status application. The change affects which column of the monthly Visa Bulletin applicants must use:
- Family-based applicants (F-2A, F-2B, F-3, F-4 categories): May now use the Dates for Filing table, which allows them to submit the I-485 — and concurrently request work authorization (EAD) and travel (Advance Parole) — before a visa number is immediately available. This is an advantage: applicants can get work authorization sooner while waiting for final approval.
- Employment-based applicants (EB-1, EB-2, EB-3): Must use the stricter Final Action Dates table. They can only file when a visa number is actually available for use — not merely when the waiting period is approaching. This change is a setback for EB applicants who had been waiting to file under the more permissive Dates for Filing table.
Applicants who already have a pending I-485 filed before this rule change are not affected. The new rules apply to those who have not yet submitted their I-485.
May 29, 2026: Additional Restrictions Take Effect
Separate from the USCIS processing changes, additional immigration restrictions become effective on May 29, 2026, as part of the HR-1 reconciliation bill. The most significant changes affecting green card applicants and immigrants with ongoing cases include:
- $102 annual asylum fee: Anyone with a pending asylum case must pay $102 per year while the case remains open. Non-payment within 30 days of notification results in automatic case closure.
- Expanded public charge rules: The “public charge” inadmissibility grounds — which can block green card approval if USCIS determines an applicant is likely to become dependent on government assistance — are being broadened to cover additional benefit categories.
- TPS EAD shortened to 12 months: Temporary Protected Status holders will see their Employment Authorization Documents renewed for 12-month periods instead of the previous 18-24 months, at a renewal cost of $520.
Who Is Most Affected and What to Do
The practical impact varies significantly by immigration status and country of birth:
Citizens of the 39 frozen countries (including Venezuela, Cuba, and Nicaragua) face the most severe situation: their applications are not being adjudicated at all. There is no confirmed date for when the freeze will be lifted. The legal challenge that restored processing for certain physicians is narrow and does not apply to standard family or employment-based cases.
Employment-based applicants from countries with long backlogs (primarily India and China in EB-2 and EB-3) are doubly affected — both by the general processing slowdown and by the shift to the Final Action Dates table, which pushes back their ability to file I-485 applications and access concurrent EAD benefits.
Family-based applicants from non-frozen countries face slower approval timelines but can still file. The ability to use the Dates for Filing table is an advantage for immediate relatives of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents who qualify.
Immigration attorneys recommend checking case status regularly at my.uscis.gov, ensuring all fees and biometric appointments are current, and consulting a lawyer before the May 29 changes take effect if you have a pending asylum case or are receiving TPS benefits.
Frequently Asked Questions
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