Disclaimer: We assist with federal U.S. immigration (USCIS) matters only. Attorney Scott A. Maki is licensed in Minnesota only and cannot assist with state-law matters in any other state, including North Dakota.
Status as of September 26, 2026: A federal court has blocked USCIS’s hold on applications from people born in or citizens of 39 “high-risk” countries, including naturalization applications. USCIS says it will follow the order. Separately, some local offices have canceled or reduced oath ceremonies, and many applicants are seeing longer waits.
Why is my N-400 citizenship application on hold?
In two policy memos, USCIS placed pending applications on hold for review when the applicant is a citizen or national of a country listed in the President’s travel ban proclamations:
- PM-602-0192 (December 2, 2025): the original list of high-risk countries.
- PM-602-0194 (January 1, 2026): additional countries, bringing the total to 39 plus the Palestinian Authority.
The holds covered most USCIS benefit applications, including naturalization (Form N-400). In a March 30, 2026 update, USCIS said it had lifted holds for some case types, including “certain rescheduled oath ceremonies,” and was reviewing the rest.
Court order lifts USCIS holds: Red Eagle Law v. Edlow
On August 24, 2026, Judge Charles R. Breyer of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California issued a preliminary injunction in Red Eagle Law, L.C. v. Edlow (No. 3:26-cv-04850). The order blocks both memos and requires USCIS to decide applications “in the normal course.” The court also certified a class covering people from the 39 countries (or the Palestinian Authority) whose applications were on hold and had not been finally decided.
USCIS announced on August 28 that it disagrees with the ruling but will follow it pending possible further review. As of September 26, 2026, the public court docket shows no appeal and no order changing the injunction, so USCIS must keep processing these applications normally. The government could still appeal.
Why was my naturalization oath ceremony canceled?
Separate from the country holds, some local offices have canceled ceremonies. In November 2025, ceremonies were canceled across several upstate New York counties. In January 2026, the Austin, Texas office canceled its city hall ceremonies for the “foreseeable future,” citing a decline in applications and a more extensive vetting process that is slowing decisions.
What to do if your citizenship application is on hold
- If you are from one of the 39 countries and your N-400 was on hold, you may be covered by the court order. USCIS should now process your case normally.
- If your oath ceremony was canceled, watch your mail and USCIS online account for a new notice. You are not a citizen until you take the oath.
- Do not travel abroad for long periods, change your address without reporting it, or let your green card expire while waiting.
- If your case has been stuck for a long time, there may be options, including a case inquiry, a congressional inquiry, or in some situations a lawsuit.
Contact our Fargo immigration lawyer if your naturalization case is on hold or your oath ceremony was canceled. For other recent changes, see our family immigration news page.
Sources
- USCIS: Recent Court Order on Hold Policies (Aug. 28, 2026)
- USCIS: Update on Strengthened Screening and Vetting (Mar. 30, 2026)
- USCIS Policy Memo PM-602-0192
- Red Eagle Law v. Edlow court docket
- Axios: Austin halts naturalization ceremonies
- Rep. Lawler: Upstate New York ceremonies canceled
This update provides general information, not legal advice. These policies are changing quickly; check back for the latest status.