USCIS offices, mail, and appointments
- Biometrics appointments in Portland moved locations.
If you have fingerprints scheduled in the Portland area on or after December 15, your appointment will be at a new address:
17112 SE Powell Blvd, Suites 7–11, Portland, OR 97236. - USCIS mailing addresses are changing often.
Before you mail any application, the filing address must be double-checked on the USCIS website. Some visas (such as U visas, T visas, and VAWA) now go to Phoenix instead of other offices. Sending a form to the wrong address can cause serious delays or rejection.
Fees and costs
- Higher USCIS fees start January 1, 2026.
Many applications will cost more, including:
- Asylum
- Work permits
- Temporary Protected Status (TPS)
- Special Immigrant Juvenile (SIJ) cases
- Applications mailed on or after January 1 must include the new fees.
- Asylum fees are currently on hold by a court, but applicants are still strongly advised to pay and save proof in case the rule resumes.
- Possible $1,000 parole fee (for Advance Parole or Parole in Place). USCIS has announced this, but instructions are still pending. Affected applicants should plan financially for this cost.
TPS (Temporary Protected Status)
- Temporary Protected Status for Burma (Myanmar) is ending.
- Protection will terminate on January 26, 2026. People with TPS from Burma should immediately explore other immigration options.
Asylum and removal cases
- USCIS has paused decisions on many cases after recent security events.
- Asylum interviews continue, but final decisions are on hold.
- Final approvals, denials, and naturalization oath ceremonies are paused for nationals of certain countries.
- Countries affected include (not limited to): Afghanistan, Haiti, Iran, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen, Venezuela, Cuba, and others.
- Some asylum cases may be dismissed by DHS if the person traveled through another “safe” country before entering the U.S.
- These filings have strict deadlines, so any official notice must be reviewed by an attorney immediately.
Major change for U-visa holders seeking green cards
- Receiving a U visa no longer counts as a lawful “admission.”
This is a major change.
What this means:
- People who entered the U.S. without inspection cannot apply for a green card right away based on a U visa. They must must now wait 3 years and apply under a different rule (called 245(m)). This applies even to pending cases, not just new ones.
Naturalization (citizenship) changes
The citizenship test is harder as of October 20, 2025.
- Study questions increased from 100 to 128
- Applicants must answer 12 out of 20 correctly (before: 6 out of 10)
Stricter review of “good moral character.”
- Stronger checks on tax history
Neighborhood interviews
Close review of any false claims to U.S. citizenship
Tax issues matter more than before.
- Being on an IRS payment plan may no longer be enough.
- Full payment of taxes is strongly encouraged before applying or interviewing.
Important reminder about legal representation
- A G-28 form does NOT protect you from ICE detention.
A G-28 only shows that a lawyer represents you before USCIS for specific applications. It does not stop arrest or detention. - If someone is detained, lawyers can still help families locate them and connect them with detention or habeas attorneys.
This summary highlights changes that could delay cases, increase costs, or affect eligibility. If you are impacted, please reach out to our legal team at Vanderwall Immigration to speak with a qualified immigration attorney before filing or responding to notices.
