If you have a pending asylum application, or you are planning to file one, a rule change that took effect this week could directly affect your case. On July 27, 2026, USCIS announced a rule change to the asylum system that allows the agency to refer certain affirmative asylum applications to an Immigration Judge without interviewing the applicant first. The rule, published in the Federal Register on July 28, 2026 as “Affirmative Asylum Referrals Without Interview,” is an interim final rule, meaning it took effect immediately upon publication. How the Affirmative Asylum Process Worked...