U.S. To Suspend Immigrant Visa Processing For 75 Countries

To understand how this policy change may affect travelers and employers, and to review frequently asked questions, visit our guide: The 75‑Country Immigrant Visa Suspension: What Employers Should Know.

Key Point  

• The State Department will suspend immigrant visa processing for applicants from 75 countries beginning January 21, 2026

Suspension of Immigrant Visa Processing

The U.S. Department of State has announced that it will pause all immigrant visa issuances for nationals of 75 countries beginning January 21, 2026. The update follows direction from President Trump, who has emphasized that immigrants must be financially self‑sufficient and not become a public charge in the U.S.

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.

Countries Affected

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.

Key Points

• Effective January 21, 2026, the Department of State will pause all immigrant visa issuances for nationals of the 75 listed countries.
• The pause applies only to immigrant visas.
• Nonimmigrant visas, including tourist visas, are not affected.
• The Department will continue to accept applications and schedule interviews, but no immigrant visas will be issued to affected nationals during the pause.
• No existing immigrant visas have been revoked.
• Dual nationals applying with a valid passport from a non‑listed country are exempt.

For additional information, please visit the State Department’s statement.

Envoy Global Insight

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

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. This action reflects the administration’s broader focus on heightened vetting and aligns with other recent measures aimed at tightening immigration screening across agencies.

Looking Ahead

A federal lawsuit was filed on Feb. 2, 2026, challenging the State Department’s pause on immigrant visa processing for nationals of the 75 affected countries. The complaint argues that the policy exceeds DOS’s legal authority and conflicts with longstanding public‑charge standards. Envoy Global has published a separate update summarizing the case: Lawsuit Challenges Immigrant Visa Pause for 75 Countries.

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