On Jan. 1, 2026, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued a new policy memorandum that has had wide-ranging effects on immigration benefit processing.
Continue Reading USCIS ‘High-Risk’ Country Policy Explained: An Analysis of PM-602-0194 Nearly 60 Days Later
On Aug. 19, 2025, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) updated its policy manual to provide guidance on how USCIS officers should exercise discretion when reviewing immigration benefit requests. Specifically
Continue Reading USCIS Policy Manual Update: Discretionary Factors in Immigration BenefitsBackground
Under the Immigration Nationality Act (INA), a person is defined as a “child” when he/she is unmarried and under the age of 21. The Child Status Protection Act (CSPA) allows principal applicants and their derivative beneficiaries to remain eligible for immigration benefits when the beneficiary has aged-out by turning 21. The CSPA was enacted to protect the applicants who aged out due to the delay in the adjudication of the petition or application.
Additionally, in order for an applicant to be protected under the CSPA, the applicant must “seek to acquire” the status of an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence within one year of the visa availability [see INA Section 203(h)(1)(A)]. Under previous USCIS Policy, there are three ways to meet the “seek to acquire” requirement: