New USCIS Security Memo: How It Impacts Your I-485, N-400, and I-751 Interview in 2025

On December 2, 2025, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued Policy Memorandum titled: Hold and Review of all Pending Asylum Applications and all USCIS Benefit Applications Filed by Aliens from High-Risk Countries.

This memo does much more than slow down asylum. It directly affects many applicants for:

• Form I-485 – Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status
• Form N-400 – Application for Naturalization
• Form I-751 – Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence

If you are from, or were born in, one of the 19 “high-risk” countries identified in Presidential Proclamation 10949, or you have close ties to those countries, your green card, naturalization, or I-751 case is now under a much brighter spotlight.

Below, I’ll explain what changed, and then focus on what you should expect at your I-485, N-400, and I-751 interviews—and how to prepare so you are not caught off guard.

1. What Did USCIS Change?

The memo does three key things:

1. Freezes all pending asylum applications (Form I-589)
   All I-589s are placed on an adjudicative hold, regardless of nationality, while USCIS conducts a “comprehensive review” of its screening and vetting.
2. Puts a hold on many pending USCIS benefit requests for nationals of 19 “high-risk” countries
   If your country of birth or citizenship is one of the 19 countries listed in Presidential Proclamation 10949, USCIS will pause adjudication of many of your pending benefit requests while your case is re-reviewed for national security and public safety concerns.
   The memo specifically names:
   • I-485 (adjustment of status / green card), I-90 (green card replacement), I-751 (removal of conditions), I-131 (advance parole and travel documents), N-470 (preserving residence for naturalization)
   Other benefit requests, such as N-400 naturalization applications by affected applicants, are likely to face the same heightened vetting and possible delay, even though they are not explicitly listed.
3. Orders a “re-review” of already-approved cases for certain nationals of the 19 countries
   If you are from one of those countries and entered the U.S. on or after January 20, 2021, USCIS may:
   • Re-open your file for comprehensive security review
   • Require you to appear for a new interview or re-interview
   • Refer your case to ICE or other law-enforcement partners if they see red flags

2. Why I-485, N-400, and I-751 Applicants Should Pay Extra Attention

For most families, the main impact of this memo will be felt at interviews. Under this guidance, a typical:

• I-485 interview (marriage-based or employment-based adjustment)
• N-400 interview (naturalization)
• I-751 interview (removal of conditions)

will be less about simply checking the form and more about deep security-focused questioning.

You should be ready for detailed questions in at least these areas:

• Past and current travel history
• Organizational memberships and affiliations
• Social media and online presence
• Friends, relatives, and associates abroad
• Any prior security screenings, military service, or government work

3. What to Expect at an I-485 Interview Under the New Memo

Whether your I-485 is based on marriage, employment, or a family petition, you should assume more intense scrutiny if you are from, or closely connected to, a high-risk country.

A. Travel History: Past and Present

Expect detailed follow-up questions about:

• Every trip outside the United States since your first entry
• Dates, destinations, and purpose of each trip
• Where you stayed and who you stayed with
• How you paid for your travel
• Side trips to other countries not listed on your original visa application

Any inconsistency between your I-485, prior DS-160s, passport stamps, I-94s, and your testimony can raise concerns.

B. Organizations, Mosques, Churches, Political Groups, and NGOs

Officers may ask:

• Which organizations, religious institutions, student groups, political parties, or professional associations you have joined
• The full names and goals of those organizations
• Your level of involvement: casual attendee, volunteer, leader, fundraiser, etc.

C. Social Media and Online Presence

USCIS and other agencies already review public social media in many cases. At the I-485 interview, be prepared to answer:

• Which platforms and usernames you use (e.g., Facebook, Instagram, X, Telegram, TikTok)
• Whether you have ever posted, liked, or forwarded content that could appear political, religious, or controversial
• Whether you maintain other accounts under nicknames or alternate spellings

Your online presence should match the story you tell in your application and at the interview.

D. Friends, Relatives, and Associates Abroad

Typical questions may include:

• Where do your parents, siblings, and close relatives live and what do they do?
• Do any of them serve in the military, police, intelligence services, or government?
• Who did you stay with during your travels? What is your relationship to them?

You are not expected to know every detail of everyone’s life, but you must give clear, honest answers about your closest connections.

E. Prior Security Screenings, Military Service, or Government Work

This is particularly critical if you:

• Served in the military or police in your home country
• Worked for a government ministry, state-owned company, or political party
• Had prior 221(g) administrative processing, or other prolonged visa delays for “security checks”

You should be ready with dates, locations, job titles, unit or agency names, and a straightforward explanation of what you did.

4. What to Expect at an N-400 Naturalization Interview

N-400 naturalization interviews have always included questions about:

• Good moral character
• Criminal history
• Selective Service, taxes, and voting

Under this memo, if you are from a high-risk country, your N-400 interview may also resemble a second security screening of your entire time in the United States.

In addition to the usual civics and English tests, you may face:

• Extended questioning about every trip outside the U.S. during the statutory period
• Detailed follow-up on any asylum, TPS, or prior immigration history
• Renewed scrutiny of past employment, organizations, and online activity

For many applicants, the risk is not just a delayed oath ceremony. A poorly handled N-400 interview can lead to:

• N-400 denial
• Referral for removal (deportation) proceedings, if the officer believes you were ineligible for your green card or committed fraud
• A referral to law-enforcement partners for further investigation

That makes N-400 interview preparation more important than ever, especially for applicants with complex travel history, old arrests, or prior security screenings.

5. What to Expect at an I-751 (Removal of Conditions) Interview

The I-751 process is already stressful for many couples. This memo adds another layer of complexity.

If either spouse is from a high-risk country, or your history involves significant travel or security-sensitive work, USCIS may:

• Be more likely to schedule an I-751 interview rather than approve your petition based solely on documents
• Combine the I-751 interview with a future N-400 interview and use that time to re-review your full background
• Ask questions not only about the bona fides of the marriage, but also about travel, organizations, social media, and foreign ties

You and your spouse should prepare for:

• Typical marital relationship questions (how you met, living together, finances, children, daily routine)
• Additional security-focused questions similar to those described above for I-485 and N-400

6. This Is Not the Time to “Wing It”: How to Prepare

Given this memo, walking into a USCIS interview without preparation is risky. Here are concrete steps you should take for any I-485, N-400, or I-751 interview:

1. Review every prior immigration filing.
   Compare your I-485, I-130, I-140, I-589 (if any), DS-160s, prior I-539s, and old visa applications. Look for date and detail inconsistencies so you can honestly explain them.
2. Create a simple personal timeline.
   Write out:
   • All entries and exits from the U.S.
   • Addresses where you have lived
   • Major jobs and schooling
     This will help you answer confidently and avoid “I’m not sure” on basic facts.
3. Organize your travel documents.
   Keep copies of:
   • Current and old passports
   • Entry and exit stamps
   • Boarding passes if you still have them
   • Advance parole documents and I-94 printouts
4. List your organizations and memberships.
   Make a list of:
   • Religious institutions, charities, student groups, professional associations
   • Any political or community organizations you support
     Know what they do and how you are involved.
5. Audit your social media presence.
   Make sure you know:
   • Which accounts are publicly visible
   • What kind of content you have liked, shared, or commented on
     Do not delete or alter anything just for the interview—that can look suspicious—but be mentally prepared to explain your online activity if asked.
6. Gather identity and civil documents.
   Especially if you are from a country with record-keeping issues, bring:
   • Birth certificates, national IDs, passports (even expired)
   • School, employment, and residency records
   • Documents showing name changes or different spellings
7. Practice answering tough questions out loud.
   Many people “know” the answers in their head, but freeze when questioned. Practicing with a trusted attorney in a mock interview helps you stay calm and consistent.
8. Address criminal or security issues up front.
   If you have:
   • Past arrests, even if charges were dropped
   • Prior 221(g) or security delays
   • Military or government service
     speak with an immigration lawyer before your interview. You may need a written legal analysis or additional documentation.

7. How an Experienced Immigration Attorney Can Help

Under this new memo, I-485, N-400, and I-751 interviews are no longer “routine” for many applicants. An experienced immigration lawyer can:

• Identify whether and how the new guidance applies to your specific case
• Review your entire immigration, travel, and security background for potential red flags
• Help you resolve inconsistencies across your applications and records
• Conduct a mock I-485, N-400, or I-751 interview with realistic, security-focused questions
• Attend the interview with you and help protect your rights if the officer’s questions go in a concerning direction
• Advise you about options if your case is placed on a prolonged security hold or unreasonably delayed

If you have an upcoming I-485 adjustment interview, N-400 naturalization interview, I-751 interview, or a biometrics appointment as a U.S. citizen petitioner, you do not have to navigate this alone. Our office works extensively with these types of cases and can help you walk into your appointment organized, informed, and confident about what to expect.

You can contact our office to schedule a consultation and a tailored interview-preparation session so you walk into your USCIS interview informed, organized, and ready.