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ALERT: State Department To Pause Issuance of Immigrant Visas From 75 Countries

January 14, 2026

On January 14th, the Department of State issued a post on social media announcing that they would “pause immigrant visa processing from 75 countries whose migrants take welfare from the American people at unacceptable rates.” Immigrant Visa applications allow those who qualify to apply for permanent residence while they are still living abroad. Once approved by the relevant U.S. Consulate, applicants receive an immigrant visa stamp in their passport, allowing them to enter the U.S. as legal permanent residents. Such applications will be frozen for nationals of the following 75 countries “until the government can ensure that new immigrants will not extract wealth from the American people” per the social media post.

UPDATE 1/15/2025: the government released an update on the DOS website, clarifying the following:

1. Immigrant visa applications can continue to be submitted, and interviews will continue to be scheduled. The pause is only on the issuance of immigrant visas.
2. Dual nationals with a passport from an unaffected country are exempt from the pause.
3. The pause is specifically related to immigrant visas, and does not impact the issuance of nonimmigrant visas, including tourist visas, H-1B visas, etc.
4. They state that “No immigrant visas have been revoked as part of this guidance,” while also cautioning that, “for questions regarding admission to the United States, we refer you to DHS.” If you have an immigrant visa from one of the affected countries listed below but have not yet entered the U.S., we recommend reaching out to your immigration attorney in advance of travel.

Immigrant Visa Pause: Affected Countries

Afghanistan
Albania
Algeria
Antigua and Barbuda
Armenia
Azerbaijan
Bangladesh
Barbados
Belarus
Belize
Bhutan
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Brazil
Cambodia
Cameroon
Cape Verde
Colombia
Cuba
Côte d’Ivoire
Democratic Republic of Congo
Dominica
Egypt
Eritrea
Ethiopia
Fiji
Georgia
Ghana
Grenada
Guatemala
Guinea
Haiti
Iran
Iraq
Jamaica
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kosovo
Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan
Laos
Lebanon
Liberia
Libya
Moldova
Mongolia
Montenegro
Morocco
Myanmar
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
The Bahamas
The Gambia
Togo
Tunisia
Uganda
Uruguay
Uzbekistan
Yemen

TAGS: DOS, Immigrant Visa, Processing Freeze