The State Department will stop issuing immigrant visas to nationals of 75 countries, affecting families and employers seeking permanent U.S. immigration.
The U.S. government said it will pause issuing immigrant visas to nationals of 75 countries starting Jan. 21, according to the State Department and reporting by Reuters.
The affected countries include Somalia, Iran, Haiti, Cuba, Russia, Afghanistan, Nigeria, Pakistan, Brazil and dozens of others across Africa, the Caribbean, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.
The State Department posted an updated list and said the pause applies to immigrant visa applicants processed at U.S. embassies and consulates overseas.
The administration says the pause is tied to a review of “public charge” screening—an immigration standard that can bar applicants deemed likely to become primarily dependent on government support.
The development matters now because immigrant visas are the main route for family-based migration and many employment-based green cards, and a pause can delay reunification and hiring plans.
Federal law authorizes denying admission based on public charge findings, but how agencies interpret and apply that standard has shifted across administrations.
State Department posts full country list and start date
The State Department said the pause begins Jan. 21, 2026, and covers immigrant visa issuance for nationals of 75 named countries.
The list includes nations such as Albania, Algeria, Egypt, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Jamaica, Kazakhstan, Laos, Lebanon, Libya, Moldova, Morocco, Nepal, Nicaragua, Senegal, South Sudan, Tanzania, Thailand, Tunisia, Uganda, Uruguay, Uzbekistan and Yemen, among others.
The department said applicants may still submit immigrant visa applications and attend interviews, but visas will not be issued to covered nationals during the pause. The guidance is framed as a review intended to ensure immigrants are financially self-sufficient and not likely to become a public charge.
Under U.S. immigration law, immigrant visas are for people seeking lawful permanent residence, while tourist and many work or student visas are classified as nonimmigrant visas. The State Department said the pause is specific to immigrant visas.
Administration messaging and public pushback
In its posted guidance, the State Department said it is conducting a broad review to ensure immigrants from listed countries do not use welfare in ways that would trigger public charge concerns.
The department’s public explanation centers on financial self-sufficiency as a screening goal for permanent immigration.
Reuters reported critics described the move as a major tightening of legal immigration pathways, with concerns focused on family reunification and disruption to lawful migration channels.
The reporting also noted the pause does not apply to visitor visas, even as the U.S. hosts major international events in coming years.
The State Department’s public-facing guidance includes a reference to DHS for admission questions, signaling that entry decisions at ports of entry remain under DHS authority even when a visa has been issued.
What this means for families, workers, and U.S. sponsors
For U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents petitioning relatives abroad, the pause can delay the final step of consular processing—visa issuance after interviews and document reviews.
This may extend separations for spouses, children and parents who would otherwise travel on immigrant visas.
For employers, the impact falls on workers who must complete immigrant visa processing abroad before relocating as permanent residents, as well as certain employment-based applicants who interview at consulates.
Delays can affect start dates, project staffing and long-term retention planning.
The State Department says the pause does not apply to tourist visas, which are processed under a different framework, meaning travel for short visits remains a separate track from permanent migration.
How “public charge” law connects to the pause
The public charge standard appears in Section 212(a)(4) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, allowing immigration officials to deny admission or permanent residence if someone is likely to become a public charge.
Congress has not eliminated that authority, but agencies and courts have debated how broadly it should be applied.
State Department guidance in the Foreign Affairs Manual defines public charge in terms of likely primary dependence on the U.S. government for subsistence and instructs consular officers on factors to weigh when making determinations.
In practice, public charge assessments are most relevant to immigrant visas and adjustment to lawful permanent resident status, rather than naturalization or routine green card renewals.
USCIS has also maintained public charge resources outlining exemptions and categories that are not subject to the ground of inadmissibility.
Scope of the Restriction and What Applicants Should Expect
Independent reporting has estimated that the pause could affect roughly 315,000 prospective immigrants over the course of a year if applied across all listed countries, underscoring the scale of the action even though officials have framed it as a temporary review.
Other coverage has described the move as one of the administration’s broadest restrictions on immigrant visa processing since taking office, situating it within a wider effort to tighten controls on permanent immigration.
At the same time, the State Department said applicants from affected countries may still submit immigrant visa applications and attend scheduled interviews at U.S. embassies and consulates.
However, approved cases should not expect visas to be issued while the pause remains in effect. The department also said dual nationals are exempt if they apply using a passport from a country not on the list, and that immigrant visas already issued have not been revoked under the policy.
Questions about admission at U.S. borders continue to fall under the Department of Homeland Security, reflecting the division between visa issuance by the State Department and entry decisions by DHS.
What Applicants and Families Should Watch Next
The State Department said the immigrant visa pause takes effect Jan. 21, 2026, and will remain in place while officials review policies, regulations, and internal guidance related to public charge screening.
Any revisions to how consular officers assess financial self-sufficiency would be issued through updated departmental guidance, but no timeline has been publicly provided.
In the meantime, U.S. embassies and consulates are expected to continue interviewing applicants from the affected countries while withholding visa issuance until the pause is lifted or rules change. Applicants are advised to monitor State Department visa updates and embassy-specific notices for operational changes.
The policy narrows a key legal route to permanent residency for nationals of 75 countries, directly affecting U.S. citizens and lawful residents seeking to reunite with family members and employers depending on immigrant visa processing.
It also underscores how shifts in executive interpretation of existing immigration law can alter access to permanent status without legislative changes.
For the public, the central issues are family unity, workforce stability, and consistent application of immigration standards, with attention now focused on whether the State Department sets clearer criteria or an endpoint for resuming visa issuance.
People Also Ask
Which visas are covered by the pause?
The pause applies to immigrant visa issuance for nationals of the listed countries. Immigrant visas are used by people seeking to move permanently to the United States as lawful permanent residents.
Does the pause stop interviews and case processing?
No. Applicants may still submit immigrant visa applications and attend scheduled interviews. U.S. embassies and consulates will continue processing cases, but visas will not be issued during the pause.
Are there any exceptions?
Yes. Dual nationals are exempt if they apply using a valid passport from a country not included in the pause. Federal guidance also states that immigrant visas already issued have not been revoked.
Does it affect tourist visas or short-term travel?
No. The pause does not apply to tourist visas or other nonimmigrant visas, which are processed under separate rules from immigrant visas.
What law is being cited as the basis for the review?
The review is grounded in the “public charge” provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act. This law allows immigration officials to deny permanent residence if an applicant is deemed likely to become primarily dependent on government assistance.
