[January 2026] U.S. Immigrant Visa Processing Pause (75 countries)

The U.S. Department of State announced it will suspend (“pause”) processing of immigrant visas for citizens of 75 countries, with the pause described as indefinite and set to begin Jan. 21, 2026. Reporting frames the action as part of tighter screening under the “public charge” concept—screening out applicants deemed likely to rely on U.S. public assistance.

What visas are Included and Excluded:

Included (Visa Paused):

The visa pause applies to people seeking immigrant visas, which intended for permanent residence or green-card pathways for nationals of the listed 75 countries, i.e. EB-11, EB-12, EB-13, EB-2, EB-3, EB-4, EB-5, NIW, etc.. Consular posts have reportedly been instructed to halt immigrant-visa processing while vetting procedures are reassessed.

Excluded (Visa Not Paused):

The pause does not apply to non-immigrant visas including tourist and business visas, i.e. F-1, F-2, J-1, J-2, TN, TD, M-1, M-2, O-1, O-2, O-3, L-1, L-2, R-1, R-2, P-1, P-2, P-3, P-4, Q-1, Q-2, V-1, V-2, H-1B, H-4, H-1C, H-2A, H-2B, H-3, B2, and B1, etc., which are reported as not subject to the suspension. (Note: excluded from the pause does not necessarily mean unchanged scrutiny or wait times.)

Countries Affected by Visa Pause

The List of 75 Affected Countries

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.

Rationale of the visa pause

The pause is tied to stricter application of “public charge” screening and follows earlier guidance (reported as issued in Nov. 2025) directing more expansive vetting across factors such as applicant age, health, finances, education/skills, and potentially English proficiency. The Department’s public messaging described the goal as preventing entry

[December 2025] Termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Ethiopian Nationals

[September 2025] New European Union (EU) Entry/Exit System (EES) 

Starting October 12, 2025, U.S. citizens visiting the European Union should expect to have their biodata, including fingerprints and facial images, digitally collected at the borders of entry (upon arrival and departure). Travelers will also be required to complete a short questionnaire about their purpose of travel and source of funds. More information on EES is available on the EU's website.