DOS Pauses Immigrant Visa Processing for Nationals of 75 Countries

in Immigration Actions Trump 2.0
January 14th, 2026

The US Department of State announced that they will pause immigrant visa processing effective January 21, 2026 for nationals from 75 countries citing concerns that some of these nationals could require financial or public charge assistance upon entering the US. It is important to understand that an immigrant visa approves individuals to travel to the US to remain in the US permanently (like an US Resident Alien or a green card applicant) which is very different from a nonimmigrant visa which allows individuals to travel to the US for a temporary period so this visa pause should have a very limited impact on our international student and scholar/employee community.

Nationals from the following countries will not be able to obtain an immigrant visa at a consular post outside the US until after this pause has been lifted: 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.

It is unclear how long this immigrant visa pause will remain in place or, if this pause will impact individuals applying for US permanent residence from inside the US.

Also, it is important to note that this visa processing pause is different from the travel/entry ban currently in place for nationals from countries based on concerns about national security or visa overstays. Some countries may be listed on both visa processing pauses.

As always, please contact your ISSO advisor and/or an experienced immigration attorney should you have any questions.