Takeaways

  • As of March 19, 2025, the SSA has paused automatic SSN issuance for many immigrant applicants, including those receiving new work permits and newly naturalized citizens.
  • Affected individuals must now apply in person at SSA offices.
  • Employers should adjust onboarding processes accordingly and educate HR teams to avoid disruptions.

The Social Security Administration (SSA)

USCIS has issued updated guidance following the U.S. Supreme Court’s May 19, 2025, decision to grant the Justice Department’s emergency request to lift a March 31 California district court order halting DHS’s termination of Venezuela TPS.

The status of work authorization documents and TPS are as follows:

1. For individuals who registered under the 2023

President Donald Trump signed a proclamation suspending entry to the U.S. for nationals of 19 countries on June 4, 2025. The proclamation stated that the designated countries are so deficient in their information screening and vetting that a suspension on the entry of nationals from those countries is necessary. “Presidential Proclamation Restricting the Entry

On June 2, 2025, U.S. District Court Judge Edward Chen ruled that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) cannot invalidate Venezuela Temporary Protected Status (TPS) documents, including work authorization documents, issued pursuant to the Biden Administration’s Jan. 17, 2025, 18-month extension of Venezuela TPS. This ruling applies to documents received by beneficiaries on or before

Cameroon’s Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designation will expire Aug. 3, 2025.

On April 14, 2025, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem announced that she will not renew Cameroon’s TPS designation.

While the work authorization documents of Cameroonian TPS beneficiaries were not automatically extended beyond Dec. 7, 2024, Cameroonian TPS beneficiaries were eligible for

  • New student visa interviews are temporarily paused as of 05.27.25 to implement enhanced social media and security screening.
  • Applicants with existing appointments are likely not affected, but new applicants will face delays.
  • Consular officers are instructed to scrutinize applicants’ online presence, including private or limited social media accounts or the lack of any online

On May 22, 2025, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem ordered the Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) to terminate Harvard University’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program (“SEVP”) certification for alleged “pro-terrorist conduct.” SEVP certification enables universities to enroll international students.

The revocation of Harvard’s SEVP authorization has sent shockwaves through the academic community, as it

On May 19, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court granted the Justice Department’s request to lift U.S. District Court Judge Edward Chen’s March 31 order halting the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) rescission of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for approximately 350,000 Venezuelans.

Under the rescission, announced in a Federal Register Notice on Feb. 5, 2025

On May 12, 2025, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem announced that she will not renew Afghanistan’s Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designation, meaning that the designation, including work authorization documents, will expire July 12, 2025.

Secretary Noem said, “Afghanistan has had an improved security situation, and its stabilizing economy no longer prevent them