Immigrant Visa Processing Pause for Nationals of Certain Countries

The State Department has announced a pause on immigrant visa processing at U.S. consulates and embassies overseas. This pause goes into effect on January 21, 2026, and applies to nationals of seventy-five countries, as follows:

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

It is important to note that this pause applies only to immigrant visas, meaning individuals applying to permanently immigrate to the United States. Applications for nonimmigrant visas, such as student, work and visitor visas are not impacted by this pause.

The pause also only applies to consular applications, applications for adjustment of status to legal permanent resident by individuals inside the United States are not subject to the pause.

The stated rationale for the pause is to ensure that immigrants from “high-risk” countries to do not become a public charge in the United States.

It is unknown how long this pause will remain in place.

The announcement includes the following clarifications regarding the pause:

• Already issued and valid immigrant visas will not be revoked;
• Dual nationals with a valid passport from a country not listed in the announcement may still be issued immigrant visas; and
• Immigrant visa applications from affected countries may still be submitted and appointments will continue to be scheduled during the pause, but no immigrant visas will be issued to these applicants for the duration of the pause.