USCIS ordered to resume work permit adjudications for Iranian and Sudanese nationals
Updated
Updated · WR Immigration · Apr 23
USCIS ordered to resume work permit adjudications for Iranian and Sudanese nationals
4 articles · Updated · WR Immigration · Apr 23
A federal judge in California ruled that USCIS must process pending work permit applications, including those from Iranian and Sudanese nationals, within 180 days, ending indefinite holds imposed for national security vetting.
The decision mandates timely adjudication and formal decisions, impacting students, researchers, and professionals who have faced months-long delays. Employers and foreign nationals are advised to monitor developments as the ruling may shape broader USCIS practices.
The court found that enhanced vetting cannot justify open-ended delays, reinforcing USCIS’s legal obligation to process applications. This may reduce prolonged processing times and influence future immigration benefit adjudications for high-risk country nationals.
Does the court's ruling on work permit delays signal a broader judicial shift against indefinite immigration processing holds?
With work permit holds lifted, what happens to applicants who face enhanced vetting within the new 180-day deadline?
How will replacing 'Duration of Status' for students impact the U.S. tech industry's access to vital international talent?
How will universities manage the increased compliance burden from new F-1 visa regulations and support their international students?
With the ICE director's departure, what changes in immigration enforcement strategy can we expect under new leadership?
Will the proposed H-1B wage hikes force American companies to move high-skilled jobs and innovation centers overseas?