USCIS issued a news release titled “U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Will Grant ‘Adjustment of Status’ Only in Extraordinary Circumstances” on May 22, 2026 referring to a policy memo sent to USCIS Immigration Offices on May 21, 2026. This Memo is a shift in regular processing and procedure.
● It doesn’t indicate when AOS applicants can no longer apply within the U.S.
● It doesn’t indicate how pending AOS applications will be processed.
● USCIS will be reviewing various pathways to discretionary adjustment of status as well as the discrete populations of folks that apply for AOS.
● USCIS may also provide policy guidance specific to certain AOS or discrete populations of folks that may or may not warrant AOS and exception to immigrant processing.
More details related to the memo and how it will affect cases will be coming. Weinrich Immigration Law is monitoring developments and will provide updates when more information is known