The 75‑Country Immigrant Visa Suspension: What Employers Should Know

According to the Department of State’s announcement, the suspension takes effect on January 21, 2026.  

The pause applies to immigrant visa applicants who are nationals of the following countries: 

Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Burma, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Colombia, Cote d’Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, The Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyz Republic, Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Pakistan, Republic of the Congo, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Uruguay, Uzbekistan and Yemen. 

The update follows direction from the Department of Homeland Security and President Trump, who has emphasized that immigrants must be financially self‑sufficient and not become a public charge in the U.S. 

In recent months, the Trump administration has introduced several significant immigration policy shifts aimed at expanding screening and enforcement across the entire U.S. immigration system.   

In November 2025, DHS issued a proposal to rescind the 2022 public charge regulations and restore broader discretion for officers to determine whether applicants may become dependent on government benefits – a rule change that has not yet been finalized.   

Heightened U.S. Immigration Vetting Measures

The State Department’s post on X appears to frame the visa‑processing pause as part of this broader alignment effort, signaling that the suspension may support the administration’s proposed changes to the public charge rule and its emphasis on enhanced screening and benefit‑use assessments. 

On December 16, 2026, President Trump issued a Presidential Proclamation expanding and modifying U.S. entry restrictions for foreign nationals from countries identified as presenting national-security or public-safety risks.   

Most recently, USCIS expanded its adjudication hold to additional countries identified as presenting elevated security concerns. According to the agency, cases from these countries will undergo enhanced review while USCIS conducts further assessments of country‑specific risk factors.  

These actions reflect the administration’s broader focus on heightened vetting and align with other recent measures aimed at tightening immigration screening across agencies. 

As part of this policy shift, the Department of State is conducting a comprehensive review of its policies, regulations and guidance to ensure that immigrants from countries identified as having a high risk of public benefits usage do not rely on U.S. welfare programs. 

All immigrant visa applicants (i.e. applying for Legal Permanent Residence in the U.S. through consular processing) who are nationals of the listed countries are affected by the suspension, except for dual nationals as noted below. 

Dual nationals applying with a valid passport of a country that is not listed in the suspension are exempt from this pause. 

Yes. The suspension affects individuals even if they already have approved immigration petitions.

This is because an immigrant petition allows individuals to apply for Legal Permanent Residence on that basis, for instance, a family-based petition (Form I-130) or an employment-based petition (Form I-140). While one can still apply for an immigrant visa based on that petition, an immigrant visa will not be issued due to the pause.  

This update does not affect nonimmigrant visa issuance, only immigrant visa issuance.   

Family‑based, employment‑based, diversity and special immigrant category visas all fall under immigrant visa classifications.

The State Department has not specified an end date. Thus far, we do not have any idea of how long this will last or the review process. 

No. Consular posts will continue to schedule and conduct interviews during the suspension period.

No. The government will not issue any immigrant visas during the suspension period.

They may continue with the required steps in their case, but the government will not issue an immigrant visa at this time.

As of the end of January 2026, the State Department has not announced any additional exceptions beyond the dual‑national exception included in the original announcement. 

Individuals who hold a valid nonimmigrant visa may use that visa to enter the U.S.

Some employers may choose to explore whether an employee already holds a valid nonimmigrant visa that would permit entry to the U.S. during the pause. Employers may also review whether the employee’s nationality is subject to any full or partial entry bans, as those policies operate separately from the immigrant‑visa suspension. 

Yes. Employees may continue to submit Form I‑485 from within the U.S. USCIS has noted, however, that adjudication of immigration benefit applications filed by or for individuals from certain high‑risk countries is currently paused under Presidential Proclamations 10949 and 10998. 

High‑risk countries identified by DHS to date include:

Afghanistan, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burma (Myanmar), Burundi, Chad, Congo‑Brazzaville (Republic of the Congo), Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Gabon, The Gambia, Haiti, Iran, Laos, Libya, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Palestinian Authority, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Venezuela, Yemen, Zambia and Zimbabwe. 

Some employers are reviewing whether an employee may be eligible to pursue an adjustment of status, as USCIS has paused adjudication only for applicants from the countries noted above. USCIS determines eligibility for adjustment of status based on statutory and regulatory criteria.

General eligibility requirements for filing Form I‑485 include: 

• The individual enters the U.S. only after CBP inspects and admits them, or after CBP inspects and paroles them into the country.
• The individual properly files an adjustment of status application. 
• The individual is physically present in the U.S. 
• The individual is eligible to receive an immigrant visa. 
• An immigrant visa is immediately available at the time of filing and at the time of final adjudication. 
• The individual is admissible to the U.S. for lawful permanent residence or qualifies for a waiver or other relief. 
• The individual meets the discretionary requirements considered by USCIS. 

Individuals from countries listed under the full or partial entry bans who do not have a valid nonimmigrant visa stamp in their passport would not be permitted to reenter the U.S. under those restrictions. 

Many employers are exercising caution around non‑emergent travel at this time, as the situation remains fluid.  

Employees who are not from countries subject to the full or partial travel bans—or who are from those countries but already hold a valid visa stamp in their passport—may still face uncertainty, as policies can shift with little notice.  

Travel and Reentry Under Current Restrictions

If travel is necessary, staying current on official announcements and news updates can help individuals understand any changes that may affect reentry.  

Current policies do not permit individuals from countries subject to full or partial entry bans to reenter the U.S. if they do not have a valid nonimmigrant visa stamp in their passport.