Immigration Updates: November 11th – November 15th

Immigration Medical Examination Documentation Will Be Valid Indefinitely for Certain Afghan Nationals

New guidance from USCIS ensures that immigration medical examinations for certain Afghan nationals who arrived in the U.S. during Operation Allies Welcome (OAW) are now valid indefinitely. Afghan nationals who meet the requirements will not need to repeat the medical examination when applying to adjust their status to become lawful permanent residents. This change, effective immediately, applies to pending or newly filed Form I-485 applications from November 13, 2024, onward. The guidance aligns with recent decisions by the CDC and applies to examinations documented on Forms I-693, DS-7794, or DS-2054. Learn more here.

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USCIS Updates Guidance on Lawful Admission for Permanent Residence Requirement for Naturalization

USCIS has issued updated guidance clarifying that naturalization applicants need only demonstrate they were lawfully admitted for permanent residence at the time of their initial admission or adjustment to LPR status—not during any subsequent reentries. This policy update, which reflects the recent 4th Circuit decision in Azumah v. USCIS, is now in effect for all pending or newly filed requests. The update, detailed in Volume 12 of the USCIS Policy Manual, helps ensure consistency in naturalization application assessments. Learn more here.