Immigration Changes Affecting Burmese Nationals (2025–2026)

11

Travel Ban • Asylum Pause • Extreme Vetting • TPS Termination • Visa Scrutiny

This Master Guide is divided into five categories, each with clear action steps:

1. Myanmar TPS Holders
2. Burmese Asylum Seekers (USCIS & Immigration Court)
3. Burmese Green Card Holders (LPRs)
4. F-1 Students & Other Visa Holders Inside the U.S.
5. People in Myanmar Trying to Apply for U.S. Visas

GUIDE FOR MYANMAR TPS HOLDERS (TPS Ending Jan 26, 2026)

🔍 What You Need to Know

• TPS for Burma officially terminates Jan 26, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.
• After this date, you lose TPS protection and work authorization
• You must have another legal status, or you become removable
• USCIS is applying extra scrutiny + benefit freeze for nationals of 19 banned countries (including Myanmar)

What This Means for You

• Your work authorization (EAD) tied to TPS expires Jan 26, 2026
• If you have no other status, you risk:
  • Losing your job
  • Becoming undocumented
  • Facing possible deportation
• Any application you file with USCIS may be:
  • Delayed
  • Held for further review
  • Interviewed or re-interviewed
  • Referred for investigation

Recommended Actions

1. Consult an Immigration Attorney Immediately

You may qualify for:

• Asylum (based on political opinion, religion, ethnicity, anti-junta activism)
• Withholding of removal
• CAT protection (Convention Against Torture)
• Family-based green card
• Employment-based options
• Special humanitarian programs

2. Prepare Your Documents

Collect:

• Passport & IDs
• TPS approval notices
• Work & tax records
• Church/community involvement
• Evidence of fear of return

3. Avoid International Travel

• Leaving the U.S. may prevent re-entry due to the travel ban
• Your TPS does not protect you at the border

4. Monitor Updates

Follow:

• USCIS.gov
• DHS announcements
• ZomiPress immigration alerts

GUIDE FOR BURMESE ASYLUM SEEKERS (Affirmative USCIS + Defensive Court Cases)

🔍 What You Need to Know

• USCIS issued a nationwide pause on all asylum decisions
• Burmese nationals are additionally hit with:
  • Extreme vetting
  • Country-based negative factors
  • Re-review of past benefits
• This creates long delays and high scrutiny

Impact on Your Case

For Affirmative Asylum (USCIS):

• Interviews may still be scheduled
• No approvals or denials until the pause ends
• Cases involving Burma may have deeper background checks

For Defensive Asylum (Immigration Court):

• Court cases continue
• DHS attorneys may challenge applications more aggressively
• Prior immigration history may be re-examined

Recommended Actions

1. Strengthen Your Asylum Claim

Include:

• Proof of persecution (political, religious, ethnic, anti-junta activism)
• Affidavits from witnesses or family
• Medical reports
• Human rights reports
• Photos/videos/social media documentation

2. Keep Your Address Updated

• Asylum cases often experience surprise interview notices
• Missing a notice can lead to denial

3. Avoid International Travel

• Advance parole is nearly impossible to obtain now
• Travel ban blocks re-entry

4. Check Your Case Status Frequently

• Use USCIS online account
• EOIR hotline for court cases

GUIDE FOR BURMESE GREEN CARD HOLDERS (LPRs)

🔍 What You Need to Know

You are exempt from the travel ban, BUT:

• You are still subject to extreme vetting
• Any USCIS application you file may be delayed
• Cases approved after Jan 20, 2021, may be re-reviewed
• Applying for citizenship (N-400) may trigger:
  • Additional background checks
  • A request for more evidence
  • Longer processing times

Risks to Watch For

• If USCIS finds issues during re-review, they may:
  • Request evidence
  • Schedule a new interview
  • Refer to ICE (rare but possible)
  • Delay naturalization for months or years

Good News

• You can still travel internationally, but must:
  • Keep trips short
  • Carry all documents
  • Expect extra questioning at ports of entry

Recommended Actions

1. Keep a Clean Record

• File taxes
• Renew passport
• Stay compliant with state and federal laws

2. Prepare for Extra Questions

Bring:

• Evidence of residence
• Employment
• Marriage documents (if applicable)
• Proof of community ties

3. Consult an Attorney BEFORE Filing:

• N-400 (citizenship)
• I-131 (travel document)
• I-90 (green card renewal)

GUIDE FOR F-1 STUDENTS & OTHER VISA HOLDERS (INSIDE THE U.S.)

🔍 What You Need to Know

The travel ban affects people outside the U.S., but students already inside the country face:

• Higher scrutiny
• Longer processing times for:
  • OPT
  • STEM OPT
  • H-1B change of status
  • Visa renewals

Major Risks

• If you leave the U.S., you will likely be denied a new visa
• If your OPT/STEM renewal delays, your employment may lapse
• Any USCIS filing may be placed on country-based hold

High-Risk Areas

• Social media screening
• Checking political activism
• Inconsistencies between school records and immigration forms

Recommended Actions

• Do NOT travel internationally
• Keep I-20 updated
• Maintain full-time enrollment
• Track your SEVIS status
• File OPT/STEM as early as legally allowed
• Keep copies of:
  • Tuition receipts
  • Enrollment confirmations
  • Transcripts

GUIDE FOR PEOPLE IN MYANMAR TRYING TO APPLY FOR U.S. VISAS

Most Visa Categories Are Blocked

Because Burma is on the 19-country travel ban list, almost all visa categories from outside the U.S. are suspended:

• F-1 student visas
• B-1/B-2 visitor visas
• H, L, O, P work visas
• Employment immigrant visas
• Family immigrant visas (with narrow exceptions)

Only Narrow Exceptions Exist

Possible exceptions:

• U.S. citizens’ immediate relatives (case-by-case)
• National interest cases
• Diplomats
• Medical emergencies

Approval rates are extremely low.

What People in Myanmar Should Do

• Do not spend money on visa applications unless you are clearly qualified for an exception
• Seek legal consultation before filing
• Prepare proper documentation in case restrictions ease later
• Avoid fraudulent “visa agents.”

⭐ SUMMARY

Group	Travel Ban	TPS	Asylum	USCIS Processing	Travel
TPS Holders	Affected indirectly	Ends Jan 26, 2026	Can apply	Major delays & re-review	HIGH RISK
Asylum Seekers	Affects re-entry	N/A	Pause on decisions	Extreme scrutiny	HIGH RISK
Green Card Holders	Exempt	N/A	N/A	Re-review & delays	Moderate risk
F-1 Students	Affects new visas	N/A	N/A	Delays + scrutiny	DO NOT TRAVEL
People in Myanmar	Fully blocked	N/A	N/A	Consulates limited	No entry permitted

References

Federal Register – DHS Notice of Termination
https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/11/25/2025-21069/termination-of-the-designation-of-burma-myanmar-for-temporary-protected-status
USCIS: TPS Burma / Myanmar Page (Archived & Active Updates)
https://www.uscis.gov/humanitarian/temporary-protected-status/temporary-protected-status-designated-country-burma-myanmar
DHS News Release – TPS Termination Announcement
https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/news-releases/dhs-terminating-temporary-protected-status-for-burma
PRESIDENTIAL TRAVEL BAN (JUNE 4, 2025 – 19 HIGH-RISK COUNTRIES)
Presidential Proclamation 10949
https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/06/06/2025-12345/proclamation-10949-suspending-entry-of-certain-noncitizens
USCIS Official Memo – Asylum Adjudicative Hold
https://www.uscis.gov/humanitarian/refugees-and-asylum
Department of State – Social Media Disclosure Requirements
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/social-media.html
INA §212(a) – Grounds of Inadmissibility
https://www.uscis.gov/laws-and-policy/immigration-and-nationality-act/section-212
INA §237 – Grounds of Deportability
https://www.uscis.gov/laws-and-policy/immigration-and-nationality-act/section-237