US State Department Freezes Immigrant Visas Issuance From 75 Countries

In the latest sign of the administration war on immigration the US State Department has directed a pause on immigrant visa processing for those from seventy-five countries which is over one-third of all the countries in the world. The reason for the pause as stated by President Trump is that he wants the State department to “reassess immigration processing procedures to prevent the entry of foreign nationals who would take welfare and public benefits.”

The nationalities affected are as follows:

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, The 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.

According to a cable from the U.S Department of State, issuance of visas from the above countries is paused until further notice. However, I-130 interviews will proceed at consulates abroad. The consular officers are instructed to evaluate all applicants and assess whether the applicant is likely to become a public charge and assess whether there are any criminal issues or other related grounds of inadmissibility presented. The officers will thereafter refuse the visa as ineligible under 212(g) while the Department “develops additional screening and vetting tools, policies and operations to more accurately identify any IV applicants likely to become a public charge.” The cable states that applicants must bring all required documents to their interviews, even medical exams or criminal clearances.

Dual National Exemption: As with prior bans, applicants who apply with a passport from a country that is not on pause may receive final adjudications.

Exemption: As with other bans, national interest exemption appears to apply, in very limited circumstances, and there is an exemption for World Cup participants in 2026.

No valid visas have been revoked; however, if the visa was printed by the post but not yet sent to the applicant, it will be cancelled without prejudice. If the visa was not printed by the post office, it would not be printed, and it would be cancelled.

No timeline given: No timeline was given for the length of the pause.

USCIS Adjudications: As of January 15, 2026, USCIS has not yet issued a corresponding pause on adjudications of adjustment of status applications for these nationals, and cases should continue to be adjudicated. It is very possible that USCIS will take some action that will impact the processing of these cases soon. We will continue to monitor and provide updates to the practice alert, as necessary.