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What's New for Arabs in the US This Week: Immigration, Visas and Deadlines (Updated Nov 6, 2026)

Where each issue that matters to Arab families in the US stands this week, with the date of the last official change, what it means in practice, and a link to the full guide.

By Abdelrahman Mohamed AliLast reviewed: Based on official sources
Update log
  • : Weekly review: added the USCIS good moral character memo for citizenship applicants (Nov 4), the refugee 10-day rule pause extended to Dec 4, the new DV-2027 and DV-2028 lawsuit, the Second Circuit's Oct 19 order once confirmed by two sources, and two Saudi Arabia items; rolled the calendar forward. Other items had no official change.
  • : Weekly review: added the Ninth Circuit's October 29 stay of the order to open DV-2027 registration (registration will not open November 1), removed the December 3 date from the calendar, and linked our November bulletin article. Other items had no official change.
  • : Weekly review: added the November 2026 Visa Bulletin (F2A to Oct 22, 2026; USCIS uses the Dates for Filing chart), the government's DV-2027 appeal and stay request, the court pause of the 10-day refugee rule until Nov 6, and USCIS work permit extension notices for Sudan TPS; rolled the calendar forward. Other items had no official change.
  • : Weekly review: added Sudan TPS status after Oct 19 (no published decision; USCIS says protection continues), the new USCIS filing-deadline rule from Oct 23 and the refugee termination rule, and updated DV-2027 dates and the calendar. Other items had no official change.
  • : First published.

In short (updated November 6, 2026): USCIS issued a November 4 memo tightening the "good moral character" review for citizenship applicants. A federal court extended the pause on the 10-day refugee rule through December 4. A new lawsuit seeks to open the DV-2027 and DV-2028 lotteries, but registration stays closed with no official date. No change on the travel ban, no published decision on Sudan or Lebanon TPS, and no December Visa Bulletin yet.

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Status board: where each issue stands today

Latest status confirmed with at least two sources as of November 6, 2026.

TopicStatus todayLast official changeWhat it means for you
Citizenship: good moral characterNew memo; implementing guidance not yet issuedNov. 4, 2026: memo PM-602-0201Closer review of dependent support and benefits. Lawful benefit use is not a bar by itself.
Refugees10-day termination rule pausedNov. 2, 2026: pause extended through Dec. 4If you got a notice, call a lawyer now.
DV-2027 lotteryClosed; appeal pending; new lawsuit filedOct. 29, 2026: Ninth Circuit stays the order to open itNo official date. Beware of anyone offering to register you.
Travel ban (Proclamation 10998)In force, no changeJan. 1, 2026: took effectCovers Yemen, Sudan, Syria, Libya, Somalia; partly Mauritania.
75-country immigrant visa pauseVacated; appeal pendingOct. 19, 2026: temporary Second Circuit orderVacatur stands; re-review of refused cases is on hold.
Visa BulletinNovember in effect; December not yet publishedNovember 2026 bulletinF2A final action date: October 22, 2026; USCIS uses the Dates for Filing chart.
Public charge ruleIn force; lawsuits pendingSept. 18, 2026: rule took effectWe found no court order blocking it.
ACA Marketplace 2027Open enrollment under wayNov. 1, 2026: enrollment opened2027 premium tax credits are limited to green card holders and two other groups.
TPSEnded for Syria, Yemen, Somalia; Lebanon through Nov. 27; Sudan has no published decisionOct. 19, 2026: USCIS statement on SudanWhat comes next is not confirmed as of this date.
Nov. 3 electionVoting day has passedNov. 3, 2026Federal elections are for citizens only.

Citizenship: new memo on good moral character and public benefits

On November 4, 2026, USCIS issued memo PM-602-0201 on how officers evaluate good moral character on Form N-400. Under the memo, an officer may find an applicant lacks it for:

  • Willfully failing to support dependents, even with no court order, unless there are extenuating circumstances.
  • Public benefits fraud, such as false income or household information or unreported changes, even without a conviction.
  • Failing to meet support obligations on Form I-864 or I-134.
  • Cutting work hours to stay eligible for means-tested benefits, with no legitimate personal or medical reason.

The memo also says lawful receipt of benefits does not bar naturalization, that a denial cannot rest on poverty or disability, and that each case gets an individualized review. USCIS will still publish Policy Manual guidance and revise Form N-400 to ask about benefits and dependent support; the timing is not confirmed as of this date.

Keep proof of support payments, report income changes and long trips to the benefits agency, and see a lawyer before filing if this applies to you. See our N-400 guide.

Refugees: 10-day rule pause extended to December 4

An October 14 DHS rule cuts the time to respond to a notice of intent to terminate refugee status from 30 days to 10. A Massachusetts federal court paused it on October 27. On November 2, Judge Myong J. Joun extended the pause through December 4, 2026, and set a November 24 hearing on a longer stay. The order does not decide whether the rule is lawful. If you got a notice, see finding an immigration lawyer.

DV-2027: still closed, and a new lawsuit

On October 29, the Ninth Circuit stayed the order to open registration, finding the plaintiff law firm unlikely to succeed. The appeal is pending, and registration did not open on November 1.

On November 1, an individual plaintiff filed Ivannikov v. Rubio in the Central District of California, seeking at least 30 days of registration each for DV-2027 and DV-2028. No order yet. Any opening date is not confirmed as of this date. If it opens, entry will be only at dvprogram.state.gov; anyone charging you to "register now" is a scammer. Follow our DV status guide and prepare with our DV photo checker.

TPS: no decision on Sudan or Lebanon

Sudan's extension ran through October 19, 2026, and no decision had been published as of November 6. USCIS says beneficiaries keep protection and work authorization until it announces one. Claims of an automatic six-month extension are not confirmed as of this date; keep your notice and see a lawyer before travel.

Lebanon's TPS runs through November 27, 2026, with no published decision. TPS ended for Yemen on July 20, Syria on July 27 and Somalia on August 14, 2026. See our TPS guide.

Travel ban and 75-country pause

Proclamation 10998 has no published amendment as of November 6. It fully suspends entry for nationals of 19 countries, plus holders of Palestinian Authority travel documents, and partly restricts 20 more. Green card holders are exempt. See our travel ban guide.

The 75-country pause was vacated by a New York federal court on August 21, 2026, in CLINIC v. Rubio. Two sources now confirm that on October 19 a Second Circuit judge refused to stay the vacatur, temporarily held the part about re-reviewing refused cases, and sent the stay request to a three-judge panel. We found no panel ruling yet. See our 75-country pause guide.

Bulletin, public charge and health coverage

Visa Bulletin: December's bulletin was not out as of November 6. See our November article and family visa wait calculator.

Public charge: 22 states and DC have sued, but we found no order stopping the rule. See our guide.

Health coverage: open enrollment on HealthCare.gov runs through January 15, 2027; pick a plan by December 15 for coverage starting January 1. For 2027, premium tax credits are limited to green card holders, certain Cuban and Haitian entrants, and COFA migrants, so refugees, asylees and TPS holders no longer qualify. See our open enrollment guide.

After the election: a reminder for noncitizens

Midterm Election Day was November 3. USCIS and the Justice Department have announced charges against dozens of noncitizens for voting or registering, most recently on November 3. If you registered by mistake, see a lawyer. See voting after citizenship.

Saudi Arabia: two items for travelers

  • Ordered departure: on October 23 the State Department ordered non-emergency U.S. government staff and families to leave Saudi Arabia over security risks. Check official travel alerts before any trip. See our Hajj and Umrah guide.
  • Global Entry: eligible Saudi citizens can now apply, with a $120 non-refundable fee and an in-person interview. See our guide.

USCIS fees and policy in the last 30 days

  • Fees (from October 16): I-821 for TPS is $520; the first work permit for TPS, asylum or parole is $570; the annual pending-asylum fee is $105. N-400 and I-485 fees did not change.
  • Work permit renewals: automatic extensions ended for many categories, so renew early. See our work permit guide.

Upcoming dates

DateWhatNote
Nov. 11, 2026Veterans DayFederal holiday
Nov. 13, 2026Comments close on the refugee ruleGovernment response also due
Mid-NovemberDecember 2026 Visa BulletinUnofficial estimate
Nov. 24, 2026Hearing on the 10-day refugee ruleMassachusetts federal court
Nov. 26, 2026ThanksgivingFederal holiday
Nov. 27, 2026Current Lebanon TPS extension endsWatch for a decision
Dec. 4, 2026Refugee 10-day rule pause endsUnless the court extends it
Dec. 15, 2026Last day to pick a plan starting Jan. 1On HealthCare.gov
Dec. 25, 2026Christmas DayFederal holiday
Jan. 1, 2027Narrower premium tax credit eligibility beginsCheck eligibility before Dec. 15

See our US holidays calendar.

How we update this page

We review weekly, official sources first, with a second independent source for each item; otherwise we say "Not confirmed as of this date." This is not legal advice. Beware of immigration scams.

Frequently asked questions

What is the new good moral character memo for citizenship applicants?

USCIS issued memo PM-602-0201 on November 4, 2026. It lets officers weigh willful failure to support dependents, public benefits fraud, unmet support obligations and intentional reliance on benefits. It also says lawful receipt of benefits does not bar naturalization and that each case gets an individualized review.

Is DV-2027 lottery registration open?

No. On October 29, 2026, the Ninth Circuit stayed the order requiring registration to open, and as of November 6 there is no official date. A new lawsuit filed November 1 asks the court to open DV-2027 and DV-2028, with no order yet. If it opens, entry will be only at dvprogram.state.gov.

Is the 10-day refugee termination rule still paused?

Yes, temporarily. On November 2, 2026, the Massachusetts federal court extended the pause through December 4, 2026, and set a November 24 hearing. The order does not decide whether the rule is lawful, so if you got a notice, talk to a lawyer now.

Is the December 2026 Visa Bulletin out?

Not as of November 6, 2026. The November bulletin remains in effect, with the F2A final action date for All Chargeability Areas at October 22, 2026, and USCIS uses the Dates for Filing chart for adjustment applications in November.

What happened to Sudan and Lebanon TPS?

No decision had been published for either as of November 6, 2026. USCIS says Sudanese TPS holders keep protection and work authorization until it announces a decision; how long is not confirmed as of this date. Lebanon's current period ends November 27, 2026.

Has the travel ban country list changed?

No. No amendment to Proclamation 10998 had been published as of November 6, 2026. Among Arab countries it fully covers Yemen, Sudan, Syria, Libya and Somalia and partly covers Mauritania.

Official sources we reviewed

This guide is general information, not legal, tax or medical advice. Rules and fees change, so check the official source before you act and consult a licensed professional about your case. Found an error? Tell us · Editorial policy

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