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Effective January 21, 2026, the U.S. will indefinitely suspend processing of immigrant visas for citizens of 75 countries, targeting family- and employment-based immigration. The U.S. Department of State (DOS) released a statement via X, formerly known as Twitter, on Wednesday, January 14, announcing the Trump administration’s indefinite suspension of immigrant visa processing for citizens of the 75 countries, significantly expanding existing immigration restrictions. An official statement is now available on the DOS website.
The pause applies only to immigrant visas at U.S. consulates abroad and does not affect nonimmigrant visas (e.g. B-1/B-2, H-1B, L-1, F-1, etc.).
Countries impacted include: 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 and Yemen.
Several of these nations were already subject to earlier travel bans and heightened screening.
Key Takeaways:
- The U.S. is indefinitely suspending immigrant visa processing for citizens of 75 countries across Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe.
- The suspension begins January 21, 2026 and applies to immigrant visas only.
- Consular officers have been instructed to halt immigrant visa issuance from the affected countries while the State Department reassesses immigration processing procedures.
- Dual nationals are exempt from the suspension if they apply with a passport from a non-restricted country.
Secretary of State Rubio stated that the suspension of immigrant visas is tied to stricter enforcement of the “public charge” provision, aimed at barring applicants deemed likely to rely on U.S. public benefits. Consular officers have been directed to halt immigrant visa issuance from the listed countries while they reassess procedures to prevent the entry of immigrants who might require welfare or other public assistance.
This suspension builds on and expands prior travel bans and visa restrictions, further tightening U.S. immigration policy under the Trump administration.
NOTE: The USCIS has not paused adjudication of adjustment of status (AOS) applications for nationals of these countries except where processing is already paused under the earlier, separate USCIS “hold and review” for a more limited group of “high risk” countries as announced on January 1, 2026. See related T&R New Alert here.
Please contact T&R if you have questions or concerns.
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