Tracking the largest categorical suspension of benefits for lawful immigrants in U.S. history.

Then everything stopped.

This policy has jeopardized my employment as I have missed critical work meeting after work meeting abroad.

Soon I will loose even ability to take care of myself and career

I sit here months after filing without approval because I was born in a banned country.

This pause has cost me financially, professionally, and has taken a real toll on my mental health and my marriage.

not been able to visit my family for the past 5years.

Now I have to make a choice between being able to work/care for my family and being with my family.

I can’t legally work to support myself, can’t move forward, and every day comes with uncertainty and fear about what happens next.

I cannot assume this role because my benefits and authorization are stalled.

My I-765 and DACA was put on pause abruptly despite filing well ahead of these memos and have been waiting nearly a year now for something that used to take 1-3 months. Now I have lost my job from the ever so coveted FAANG companies that took years of effort just to get the role. This happened just weeks after my newborn was born. Even worse is that I'm now in complete uncertainty from for myself and my family

Since that moment, my entire life has been left in painful uncertainty.

Since then, my life has been placed completely on hold.

But even with an offer from one of the best AI labs, I still feel like there is nothing I can do.

This prolonged delay has placed a significant emotional and financial burden on our family.

I just got married to my wife with a kid on the way and I lost my job and we are struggling to make ends meet

My 13-year-old son, an American citizen, has attempted suicide because of everything we're going through with this family separation.

Everyday I ball my eyes out

this pause is basically telling me to leave my wife and kid behind.

4 years have gone by with my husband and I not being able be under the same roof.

I'm dying inside.

I have lost the opportunity to study because of this break.

I am without work, and I am very affected by the pause.

I want to be a doctor again!

Now we have to face the fact that we may never be able to have children before the time she is issued a visa.

I live with constant anxiety and fear.

I was finally excited to the opportunity to work on OPT, earn some real money, and finally be able to take care of my parents.

I have to stop working soon and that is depressing.

we live with the constant weight of insecurity and the fear of seeing ICE in our streets, all while struggling with mounting debt.

To comply, I had to step away from leading the company.

I am a father, and my children are far away in Haiti.

I haven't seen my family in 7 years...

If I am required to return, my safety would be at risk, and the progress I have worked hard to achieve could be lost.

But unfortunately, due to the pause I will not be able to switch my status from within the United States.

I cannot imagine my life without my father, and the thought of losing that stability is overwhelming.

Now, I've wasted years of being next to my family for nothing.

I find myself having anxiety attacks because I’m not sure what to do.

I need her to be with me during this hard Time.

I've also lost my job as a result of this.

I am a U.S. citizen who moved to the United States in 2017 and became naturalized in 2021. I am married to an American citizen, and we have a young son. Since moving here, I have not been able to bring my parents here even for few weeks visit due to travel restrictions affecting Iranian citizens. After years of waiting, my parents were finally approved for immigrant visas and attended their interview. However, their case was placed in administrative processing, and since then, there has been no resolution. My parents are both retired and have no political affiliations or connections that would justify such delays. Despite this, they remain unable to receive their visas. At the same time, I cannot safely travel to visit them due to ongoing regional instability also the danger of arresting American citizens in Iran . As a result, we have been separated for years with no clear end in sight. This prolonged separation has caused significant emotional distress for me and my family, especially my child, who has been unable to form a relationship with his grandparents. We feel isolated and uncertain about whether we will ever be reunited. I am asking for transparency, timely processing, and compassion in handling immigration cases like ours. Families should not have to endure indefinite separation without explanation.

I’m mentally and emotionally exhausted.

My OPT expires in June 2026 and I’ll be out of work if this pause isn’t lifted.

This policy now threatens my ability to finish the training I have already devoted years to and to continue caring for the patients who depend on me every day.

The idea that everything we have worked for, our plans, our stability, and our future, could suddenly disappear is devastating.

I am unable to work, which has caused serious financial hardship and left me unable to support myself.

We remain separated despite having completed the entire immigration process.

I would like to apologize for not being born in Europe since the world doesn't see my people as people.

Every day, I wake up with fear.

Despite being fully qualified and prepared to work as a researcher, I have been unable to obtain work authorization for several months.

But an indefinite pause with no explanation, after collecting thousands of dollars in application review fees, and putting people's lives and careers on hold, is not the American way!

The country is unstable due to ongoing conflict and military control, and there are real risks of being forcibly conscripted and sent to the frontlines to fight for the ruling junta.

I have a two-year-old daughter and a pregnant wife to care for.

Losing everything overnight (jobs, license, protection from deportation) is inexcusable.

She is now alone in the country with no family support, especially given the ongoing conflict in Iran.

Indefinite delays—without individualized assessment or communication—create substantial hardship, prolong family separation, and expose applicants to continued risk.

I do not know how to survive or move forward if this ban is not lifted today.

I am studying to be a Mechanical Engineer and now I don't know for certain.

I have paied taxes, obeyed law, and came and satyed legally, and paid Citizenship application fee, and yet waiting for USCIS to schedule my Citizenship interview because of where I was born!

we have waited 18 years for him to be able to join his remaining family legally in America,

Living with the possibility of being sent back to such conditions adds a constant layer of fear, uncertainty, and emotional strain to my daily life.

It’s turned my life into a constant state of waiting, where the future feels uncertain and out of my control.

it's been 11 months that we are separated because of this pause.

Right now, I'm out of job because my I-797A has expired

We are pursuing foster parenting and adoption, but our immigration status puts this at risk.

Having to choose between your future and your parents isn't right.

I lost my job due to this pause and also facing homelessness if I’m not able to get a work authorization to return to work.

I have reached a point where I am watching my dreams die, and I have no hope of finding a job in the U.S. because I do not know what kind of future is waiting for me.

In May 2024, we were approved to file for adjustment of status and it’s been 2 years and still no green card.

I hold Canadian permanent residency, which is at risk of being lost if I am unable to travel to Canada to meet residency obligations within the required timeframe.

If this pause continues and I cannot secure employment, I will be forced to leave the United States.

We can hardly communicate with each other because our communication path has been cut off.

So if I go back to my country, I will face jail and probably execution.

Now I am stuck and unemployed, washing dishes and doing laundry when I could be helping society as I was.

We have been atruggling to pay all the bills and we just had our son 2 months ago.

pending status of Iranian applicants is making me nervous and anxious about my future.

If my H1B status expires before my case is adjudicated, I will no longer be able to work or remain in the United States.

This pause has created uncertainty and stress about my future, my ability to stay in the U.S., and my career path.

I have not seen my family in 10 years.

Living on a low student stipend during inflation has become extremely difficult, and this delay is making it even harder to manage basic expenses.

My wife and two children rely on me financially, emotionally and mentally.

Right now, we feel trapped between countries, policies, and limitations.

I am PhD student and I cannot do any internships or cannot go for post doc or industry job.

I really don’t know what is gonna happen to me in a month.

My EAD will be expired soon and if I don't receive Green card EAD, then I will lose job and health insurance which will result in no monthly medicine for my disease (MS).

This is having a huge toll on us mentally, and emotionally when I as a US citizen cannot do anything at this time to make sure of the safety of my wife and her well being .

no income, no insurance

I have given everything to build a life and a career in this country through my research, my work, my sacrifices.

Who’s going to pay $50,000 loan?

Being held indefinitely because of where we were born is not just a delay; it is affecting our stability, our careers, and our child’s future and it also risks slowing down contributions to the United State’s science and technology.

Because of this delay, my EAD is on hold, and I am about to graduate but cannot accept any job offers.

I am on the verge of nervous breakdown and no one seems to care.

A lot of legal student are becoming illegal by this pause and under these circumstances, we may be compelled to voluntarily depart the United States.

waiting for USCIS to reschedule because of where I was born

my parents are under daily bombardment.

Despite following every legal step, I am being held back simply because of my country of birth.

I've been forced to stop working and providing care to my patients.

If nothing changes, I will lose my ability to work and support my family—even though I am already eligible for permanent residency.

I am ready and willing to work, but I am being forced to sit still because of delays completely outside my control.

If this pause continues, I will lose my ability to work and support my family—despite being fully eligible for a green card today.

This is cause great financial mental anguish to me and my family.

But I have been stuck and can't start my new job, trying to get out of the lease I signed for my new job location without even staying there.

This situation is affecting not only my career but also the patients I am committed to serving.

Every day the hold continues is a day stolen from him — not because of anything he did, but because of the coordinates of the hospital where he was born.

I have lost two job offers because of the visa inconsistencies that have plagued this great country since the new administration.

Because of the immigration pause affecting Nigerians, I am unable to move forward with gaining the practical experience required to fully utilize my degree.

how staying out of job for 10 months has caused me severe financial hardship.

Right now, the USCIS hold on my STEM OPT EAD application is putting my job at risk.

Because of this, I lost my job as a medical device professional in November 2025, alongside a new job offer in the medical device industry that I had already accepted.

Right now, the USCIS hold on my OPT EAD application is putting my job at risk.

Day 12 of being separated from my husband 💔

My work permit (OPT EAD) remains pending and with the pause there is no timeline of when I will receive it to start my residency program.

Our U.S.-citizen toddlers feel the tension: missed doctor visits, no daycare, constant fear.

As a result, I have been unemployed for several months and have already lost multiple job opportunities, including positions that could not be held due to my lack of work authorization.

without a decision rendered before December, I stand to lose my employment authorization and consequently, my position.

I have exhausted my personal savings, and my wife is currently the sole provider for our household.

I lost my Dad in December 2025, the burial ceremony was in February 25-28th 2026, and I couldn’t travel back to Nigeria to pay my final respect because I’m still in AOS processing.

Many people don’t realize that the children of H1B holders are denied SSNs, which means we must pay taxes as if we had no dependents.

We were only two weeks away from our I-485 interview when it was cancelled due to the pause.

Through no fault of my own, a career I had carefully built was taken from me overnight.

During this time, I lost close family members and was unable to see them before they passed away.

This was how I lost my new job offer and remained unemployed despite my ability to work and contribute to the system.

The recent pause is making it look like a pipe dream, with no where to turn.

The uncertainty was overwhelming.

This pause has left me on my own, raising a one year old while trying to manage work and daily responsibilities.

I am terrified of having to leave if this drags on unreasonably—and what that would mean for my 5-year relationship, my future, and my ability to simply build a life with my spouse.

All my sacrifices, the sleepless nights feels futile if i cannot do what i love...being able to take care of patients.

The uncertainty is one of the hardest parts.

All this happened only because of my national origin, and if I was not from Burma (or from any of the 39 restricted countries), I would have no problem to enjoy my employment and grow my future career.

I have been left in limbo, unable to practice my profession and unable to care for my patients.

That is all we have had as husband and wife.

This situation has taken a serious toll on my mental and physical health, and the uncertainty about our future together worries me the most.

I would also have to leave behind my children and my granddaughter, facing a separation from my family without any clear idea of when we might be able to be together again.

I have depleted my emergency savings and am currently relying on credit cards and the generosity of friends and family to cover my basic living expenses.

Without the ability to work, it becomes very difficult to manage basic responsibilities such as paying rent and supporting my daily living expenses.

Travel ban has separated me and my wife for 3 years now.

Then everything stopped.

This policy has jeopardized my employment as I have missed critical work meeting after work meeting abroad.

Soon I will loose even ability to take care of myself and career

I sit here months after filing without approval because I was born in a banned country.

This pause has cost me financially, professionally, and has taken a real toll on my mental health and my marriage.

not been able to visit my family for the past 5years.

Now I have to make a choice between being able to work/care for my family and being with my family.

I can’t legally work to support myself, can’t move forward, and every day comes with uncertainty and fear about what happens next.

I cannot assume this role because my benefits and authorization are stalled.

My I-765 and DACA was put on pause abruptly despite filing well ahead of these memos and have been waiting nearly a year now for something that used to take 1-3 months. Now I have lost my job from the ever so coveted FAANG companies that took years of effort just to get the role. This happened just weeks after my newborn was born. Even worse is that I'm now in complete uncertainty from for myself and my family

Since that moment, my entire life has been left in painful uncertainty.

Since then, my life has been placed completely on hold.

But even with an offer from one of the best AI labs, I still feel like there is nothing I can do.

This prolonged delay has placed a significant emotional and financial burden on our family.

I just got married to my wife with a kid on the way and I lost my job and we are struggling to make ends meet

My 13-year-old son, an American citizen, has attempted suicide because of everything we're going through with this family separation.

Everyday I ball my eyes out

this pause is basically telling me to leave my wife and kid behind.

4 years have gone by with my husband and I not being able be under the same roof.

I'm dying inside.

I have lost the opportunity to study because of this break.

I am without work, and I am very affected by the pause.

I want to be a doctor again!

Now we have to face the fact that we may never be able to have children before the time she is issued a visa.

I live with constant anxiety and fear.

I was finally excited to the opportunity to work on OPT, earn some real money, and finally be able to take care of my parents.

I have to stop working soon and that is depressing.

we live with the constant weight of insecurity and the fear of seeing ICE in our streets, all while struggling with mounting debt.

To comply, I had to step away from leading the company.

I am a father, and my children are far away in Haiti.

I haven't seen my family in 7 years...

If I am required to return, my safety would be at risk, and the progress I have worked hard to achieve could be lost.

But unfortunately, due to the pause I will not be able to switch my status from within the United States.

I cannot imagine my life without my father, and the thought of losing that stability is overwhelming.

Now, I've wasted years of being next to my family for nothing.

I find myself having anxiety attacks because I’m not sure what to do.

I need her to be with me during this hard Time.

I've also lost my job as a result of this.

I am a U.S. citizen who moved to the United States in 2017 and became naturalized in 2021. I am married to an American citizen, and we have a young son. Since moving here, I have not been able to bring my parents here even for few weeks visit due to travel restrictions affecting Iranian citizens. After years of waiting, my parents were finally approved for immigrant visas and attended their interview. However, their case was placed in administrative processing, and since then, there has been no resolution. My parents are both retired and have no political affiliations or connections that would justify such delays. Despite this, they remain unable to receive their visas. At the same time, I cannot safely travel to visit them due to ongoing regional instability also the danger of arresting American citizens in Iran . As a result, we have been separated for years with no clear end in sight. This prolonged separation has caused significant emotional distress for me and my family, especially my child, who has been unable to form a relationship with his grandparents. We feel isolated and uncertain about whether we will ever be reunited. I am asking for transparency, timely processing, and compassion in handling immigration cases like ours. Families should not have to endure indefinite separation without explanation.

I’m mentally and emotionally exhausted.

My OPT expires in June 2026 and I’ll be out of work if this pause isn’t lifted.

This policy now threatens my ability to finish the training I have already devoted years to and to continue caring for the patients who depend on me every day.

The idea that everything we have worked for, our plans, our stability, and our future, could suddenly disappear is devastating.

I am unable to work, which has caused serious financial hardship and left me unable to support myself.

We remain separated despite having completed the entire immigration process.

I would like to apologize for not being born in Europe since the world doesn't see my people as people.

Every day, I wake up with fear.

Despite being fully qualified and prepared to work as a researcher, I have been unable to obtain work authorization for several months.

But an indefinite pause with no explanation, after collecting thousands of dollars in application review fees, and putting people's lives and careers on hold, is not the American way!

The country is unstable due to ongoing conflict and military control, and there are real risks of being forcibly conscripted and sent to the frontlines to fight for the ruling junta.

I have a two-year-old daughter and a pregnant wife to care for.

Losing everything overnight (jobs, license, protection from deportation) is inexcusable.

She is now alone in the country with no family support, especially given the ongoing conflict in Iran.

Indefinite delays—without individualized assessment or communication—create substantial hardship, prolong family separation, and expose applicants to continued risk.

I do not know how to survive or move forward if this ban is not lifted today.

I am studying to be a Mechanical Engineer and now I don't know for certain.

I have paied taxes, obeyed law, and came and satyed legally, and paid Citizenship application fee, and yet waiting for USCIS to schedule my Citizenship interview because of where I was born!

we have waited 18 years for him to be able to join his remaining family legally in America,

Living with the possibility of being sent back to such conditions adds a constant layer of fear, uncertainty, and emotional strain to my daily life.

It’s turned my life into a constant state of waiting, where the future feels uncertain and out of my control.

it's been 11 months that we are separated because of this pause.

Right now, I'm out of job because my I-797A has expired

We are pursuing foster parenting and adoption, but our immigration status puts this at risk.

Having to choose between your future and your parents isn't right.

I lost my job due to this pause and also facing homelessness if I’m not able to get a work authorization to return to work.

I have reached a point where I am watching my dreams die, and I have no hope of finding a job in the U.S. because I do not know what kind of future is waiting for me.

In May 2024, we were approved to file for adjustment of status and it’s been 2 years and still no green card.

I hold Canadian permanent residency, which is at risk of being lost if I am unable to travel to Canada to meet residency obligations within the required timeframe.

If this pause continues and I cannot secure employment, I will be forced to leave the United States.

We can hardly communicate with each other because our communication path has been cut off.

So if I go back to my country, I will face jail and probably execution.

Now I am stuck and unemployed, washing dishes and doing laundry when I could be helping society as I was.

We have been atruggling to pay all the bills and we just had our son 2 months ago.

pending status of Iranian applicants is making me nervous and anxious about my future.

If my H1B status expires before my case is adjudicated, I will no longer be able to work or remain in the United States.

This pause has created uncertainty and stress about my future, my ability to stay in the U.S., and my career path.

I have not seen my family in 10 years.

Living on a low student stipend during inflation has become extremely difficult, and this delay is making it even harder to manage basic expenses.

My wife and two children rely on me financially, emotionally and mentally.

Right now, we feel trapped between countries, policies, and limitations.

I am PhD student and I cannot do any internships or cannot go for post doc or industry job.

I really don’t know what is gonna happen to me in a month.

My EAD will be expired soon and if I don't receive Green card EAD, then I will lose job and health insurance which will result in no monthly medicine for my disease (MS).

This is having a huge toll on us mentally, and emotionally when I as a US citizen cannot do anything at this time to make sure of the safety of my wife and her well being .

no income, no insurance

I have given everything to build a life and a career in this country through my research, my work, my sacrifices.

Who’s going to pay $50,000 loan?

Being held indefinitely because of where we were born is not just a delay; it is affecting our stability, our careers, and our child’s future and it also risks slowing down contributions to the United State’s science and technology.

Because of this delay, my EAD is on hold, and I am about to graduate but cannot accept any job offers.

I am on the verge of nervous breakdown and no one seems to care.

A lot of legal student are becoming illegal by this pause and under these circumstances, we may be compelled to voluntarily depart the United States.

waiting for USCIS to reschedule because of where I was born

my parents are under daily bombardment.

Despite following every legal step, I am being held back simply because of my country of birth.

I've been forced to stop working and providing care to my patients.

If nothing changes, I will lose my ability to work and support my family—even though I am already eligible for permanent residency.

I am ready and willing to work, but I am being forced to sit still because of delays completely outside my control.

If this pause continues, I will lose my ability to work and support my family—despite being fully eligible for a green card today.

This is cause great financial mental anguish to me and my family.

But I have been stuck and can't start my new job, trying to get out of the lease I signed for my new job location without even staying there.

This situation is affecting not only my career but also the patients I am committed to serving.

Every day the hold continues is a day stolen from him — not because of anything he did, but because of the coordinates of the hospital where he was born.

I have lost two job offers because of the visa inconsistencies that have plagued this great country since the new administration.

Because of the immigration pause affecting Nigerians, I am unable to move forward with gaining the practical experience required to fully utilize my degree.

how staying out of job for 10 months has caused me severe financial hardship.

Right now, the USCIS hold on my STEM OPT EAD application is putting my job at risk.

Because of this, I lost my job as a medical device professional in November 2025, alongside a new job offer in the medical device industry that I had already accepted.

Right now, the USCIS hold on my OPT EAD application is putting my job at risk.

Day 12 of being separated from my husband 💔

My work permit (OPT EAD) remains pending and with the pause there is no timeline of when I will receive it to start my residency program.

Our U.S.-citizen toddlers feel the tension: missed doctor visits, no daycare, constant fear.

As a result, I have been unemployed for several months and have already lost multiple job opportunities, including positions that could not be held due to my lack of work authorization.

without a decision rendered before December, I stand to lose my employment authorization and consequently, my position.

I have exhausted my personal savings, and my wife is currently the sole provider for our household.

I lost my Dad in December 2025, the burial ceremony was in February 25-28th 2026, and I couldn’t travel back to Nigeria to pay my final respect because I’m still in AOS processing.

Many people don’t realize that the children of H1B holders are denied SSNs, which means we must pay taxes as if we had no dependents.

We were only two weeks away from our I-485 interview when it was cancelled due to the pause.

Through no fault of my own, a career I had carefully built was taken from me overnight.

During this time, I lost close family members and was unable to see them before they passed away.

This was how I lost my new job offer and remained unemployed despite my ability to work and contribute to the system.

The recent pause is making it look like a pipe dream, with no where to turn.

The uncertainty was overwhelming.

This pause has left me on my own, raising a one year old while trying to manage work and daily responsibilities.

I am terrified of having to leave if this drags on unreasonably—and what that would mean for my 5-year relationship, my future, and my ability to simply build a life with my spouse.

All my sacrifices, the sleepless nights feels futile if i cannot do what i love...being able to take care of patients.

The uncertainty is one of the hardest parts.

All this happened only because of my national origin, and if I was not from Burma (or from any of the 39 restricted countries), I would have no problem to enjoy my employment and grow my future career.

I have been left in limbo, unable to practice my profession and unable to care for my patients.

That is all we have had as husband and wife.

This situation has taken a serious toll on my mental and physical health, and the uncertainty about our future together worries me the most.

I would also have to leave behind my children and my granddaughter, facing a separation from my family without any clear idea of when we might be able to be together again.

I have depleted my emergency savings and am currently relying on credit cards and the generosity of friends and family to cover my basic living expenses.

Without the ability to work, it becomes very difficult to manage basic responsibilities such as paying rent and supporting my daily living expenses.

Travel ban has separated me and my wife for 3 years now.