US immigrant visa suspension has entered a new phase as the United States moves to indefinitely halt immigrant visa processing for citizens of 75 countries, according to US officials. The decision marks a major expansion of immigration restrictions under the Trump administration and will affect thousands of families and workers seeking permanent entry into the country.
The suspension is set to begin on January 21 and applies strictly to immigrant visas. These include visas for employment-based immigration and family reunification. Non-immigrant visas, such as student, tourist, and short-term travel visas, are not affected by the pause.
What the immigrant visa suspension means in practice
For affected applicants, the change means immigrant visa applications will not be processed until further notice. This includes individuals approved for sponsorship by employers, as well as relatives of US citizens and permanent residents waiting to join family members.
The suspension does not apply to non-immigrant categories. Travelers seeking short-term entry for tourism, education, or events such as the upcoming World Cup in the United States will still be able to apply under existing rules.
Countries affected by the US immigrant visa suspension
The suspension covers a wide range of countries across Africa, the Caribbean, Europe, Asia, and Latin America. Some of these nations were already subject to enhanced travel restrictions under earlier policies.
Countries impacted include Brazil, Colombia, Egypt, Haiti, Somalia, and Russia, alongside dozens of others spanning multiple regions. The full 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.
Why the US paused immigrant visa processing
US officials say the decision is tied to a reassessment of immigration screening procedures. The State Department confirmed that the pause is linked to enforcement of the “public charge” provision in immigration law.
This provision allows authorities to deny entry to individuals deemed likely to rely on public assistance programs. The administration argues that the rule protects public resources and ensures that new immigrants can financially support themselves.
State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott stated that the department would continue using its authority to deny immigrant visas to applicants believed to place strain on public resources or welfare systems.
How the policy fits into broader immigration restrictions
Several countries affected by the suspension were already part of the administration’s expanded travel ban framework. The new pause goes further by stopping immigrant visa processing entirely while internal procedures are reviewed.
Officials have not provided a timeline for when processing may resume. For now, applications from the listed countries will remain on hold until the reassessment is completed.
What applicants should expect next
Applicants from affected countries should expect delays with no confirmed end date. Immigration attorneys advise monitoring official State Department updates and avoiding irreversible travel or employment decisions until clearer guidance is issued.
While non-immigrant travel remains open, those seeking permanent relocation to the United States face uncertainty as the policy takes effect.
