Key Highlights

• Immigrant visa processing will be suspended for nationals of 75 countries at U.S. consulates abroad.
• The suspension is tied to public charge concerns and expanded screening related to potential use of public assistance.
• No end date has been announced and both pending and future immigrant visa cases may face delays.

Overview

The U.S. Department of State has announced that it will suspend the processing of immigrant visas for nationals of 75 countries with an effective date of January 21, 2026, citing concerns that certain applicants may be likely to rely on U.S. public assistance programs. The suspension is expected to take effect as early as next week and will remain in place while the State Department reviews and revises its immigrant visa screening and vetting procedures.

An official government announcement is expected soon to confirm the scope and implementation details of the suspension.

Scope of the Suspension

• The pause applies to immigrant visas only, including family-based and employment-based immigrant visas processed at U.S. consulates abroad.
• Nonimmigrant visa categories (such as H-1B, L-1, F-1, and B-1/B-2) are not included in the announced suspension currently, though applicants may experience increased scrutiny.
• The suspension does not apply to adjustment of status applications filed with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services inside the United States.

Basis for the Policy

According to government statements, the suspension is intended to allow the State Department to reassess how it evaluates whether immigrant visa applicants may become a “public charge.” This includes reviewing financial resources and other factors used during consular adjudications. The move reflects a broader policy emphasis on heightened screening in immigrant visa processing.

Countries Affected

The suspension impacts nationals of 75 countries across multiple regions, including Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Latin America, and Eastern Europe. 

The suspension affects nationals of the following 75 countries:

• Afghanistan
• Albania,
• Algeria
• Antigua and Barbuda
• Armenia
• Azerbaijan
• Bahamas
• Bangladesh
• Barbados
• Belarus
• Belize
• Bhutan
• Bosnia
• Brazil
• Burma
• Cambodia
• Cameroon
• Cape Verde
• Colombia
• Cote d’Ivoire
• Cuba
• Democratic Republic of the Congo
• Dominica
• Egypt
• Eritrea
• Ethiopia
• Fiji
• Gambia
• Georgia
• Ghana
• Grenada
• Guatemala
• Guinea
• Haiti
• Iran
• Iraq
• Jamaica
• Jordan
• Kazakhstan
• Kosovo
• Kuwait
• Kyrgyzstan
• Laos
• Lebanon
• Liberia
• Libya
• Macedonia
• Moldova
• Mongolia
• Montenegro
• Morocco
• Nepal
• Nicaragua
• Nigeria
• 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
• Yemen

Practical Impact for Clients

• Immigrant visa cases that are pending, scheduled, or not yet filed at U.S. consulates for affected nationals may be placed on hold.
• Employers and families should anticipate extended delays and uncertainty in immigrant visa timelines.