U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced an update to its policies regarding the review of immigration benefit applications. The measure took effect on August 5, 2026, and applies to applications filed or pending on or after that date, unless otherwise specified by another USCIS regulation or policy.

U.S. citizenship is the highest legal status in the United States. A person can become a U.S. citizen by being born in the United States, by being born abroad to at least one U.S. citizen parent, or through the naturalization process.