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On January 14, 2026, the U.S. Department of State, without any advance notice, announced a major change in immigration policy: effective January 21, 2026, immigrant visa processing for citizens of 75 countries will be indefinitely paused while the government reassesses its current screening procedures. This sudden action marks one of the most sweeping immigration enforcement moves in recent weeks and could affect hundreds of thousands of people hoping to come to the United States to live permanently.
Under this new guidance, The Department of State has directed U.S. consulates in the designated 75 countries around the world to halt immigrant visa issuance under existing law unless and until new procedures are in place.
As it stands, the policy affects people seeking permanent residency (green cards) through the immigrant visa process abroad, which includes family-based, employment-based, and other immigrant categories. This path is commonly referred to as “consular processing” as opposed to “adjustment of status” petitions, which are pursued domestically inside the United States. While non-immigrant visas (like tourist or business visas) are not the primary focus of this suspension, new screening standards may also apply to them.
According to government statements, the policy is rooted in the longstanding public charge rule — a provision of immigration law that allows U.S. officials to deny visas to applicants they believe are likely to rely on government benefits after arriving in the United States. As we discussed in an earlier blog, President Trump had imposed stringent measures designed to expand the contours of who could be considered a public charge; when President Biden assumed office, these measures were relaxed. Now we are seeing the pendulum swing back to a very restrictive calculus that can take any number of factors into account, such as obesity, diabetes, etc.
The list of 75 countries includes a wide and diverse set of nations across Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and Latin America. The list includes: 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.
Here are some potential ramifications of this new policy:
People who have been waiting for their immigrant visa interview or approval — including family-sponsored or employment-based applicants — may see their cases paused or refused until new procedures are finalized. Consular officers may and likely will refuse visas even if the underlying case was approved but the visa has not yet been printed.
For those already inside the United States and pursuing adjustment of status through USCIS, processing may continue. However, as we have seen, USCIS policies tend to mirror and align with Department of State policies so USCIS may impose a parallel blanket pause as well in the near future.
Even for non-immigrant visa applicants (such as students, temporary workers, or visitors), consular processing is likely to include more rigorous evaluations of financial stability and likelihood of reliance on government assistance.
No end date has been specified for the suspension. The pause is “indefinite,” meaning it could last months or longer, depending on how quickly the government implements and finalizes its revised vetting protocols.
If your immigrant visa interview is scheduled after January 21, 2026, it is strongly recommended that you consult with immigration counsel, especially if you are inside the United States and preparing to depart.
This policy underscores how rapidly immigration procedures can change and highlights the importance of staying abreast of the latest immigration developments. As this situation develops, it will be critical for individuals with cases in process — especially those involving consular processing abroad — as well as those intending on starting new cases, to consult experienced immigration counsel to manage risks and explore options. This is a rapidly evolving situation, and guidance may change quickly so please visit this blog regularly to keep informed.