DOS Pauses Adjudication of Immigrant Visa Applications for Nationals of 75 Countries

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On January 14, 2026, the U.S. Department of State announced a sweeping new policy: a pause on immigrant visa issuances for nationals of 75 countries, justified on the grounds that these nationalities are at “high risk of public benefits usage.”

Effective January 21, 2026, consular posts around the world will continue interviewing applicants from these countries but will not issue any immigrant visas to them during the pause. This announcement marks one of the broadest nationality‑based immigrant visa restrictions in recent U.S. history.

What did the State Department announce?

The State Department’s notice, titled: “Immigrant Visa Processing Updates for Nationalities at High Risk of Public Benefits Usage” states:

“The Department of State is undergoing a full review of all policies, regulations, and guidance to ensure that immigrants from these [75] high-risk countries do not utilize welfare in the United States or become a public charge.”

As part of that review, the Department is pausing the issuance of all immigrant visas to applicants who are nationals of 75 named countries until further notice. The adjudication pause goes into effect on January 21, 2026

What are the 75 affected countries?

Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Burma, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Colombia, Cote d’Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, The Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyz Republic, Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, North Macedonia, 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.

These 75 countries span multiple regions, religions, and income levels, and include both U.S. allies and adversaries. The notice labels them collectively as “high risk” for future public benefits usage but does not explain the underlying data or criteria.

What is an immigrant visa?

An immigrant visa is a stamp issued by the U.S. State Department at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate abroad that allows a foreign national to enter the United States as a lawful permanent resident (“green card” holder).

An immigrant visa is for permanent residency, and is different than a nonimmigrant visa, which is a stamp issued at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate outside the United States that allows the foreign national to enter the United States on a temporary basis, for the purposes of tourism (B1/B2), investment or trade (E1/E/2), professional work (E3/H1B/TN), skilled work (H2), study (F1), cultural exchange (J/Q), intra-corporate transfer (L), entertainment or athletics (O/P), etc.

What is actually paused?

This pause impacts the issuance of immigrant visas (visas for lawful permanent residency / “green card”) to all applicants including family‑based, employment‑based, Diversity Visa, many special immigrant categories, for people outside the United States.

Importantly immigrant visa applicants can still submit DS-260 applications, submit documents to the National Visa Center (NVC) portal, schedule immigrant visa interviews and attend interviews during this adjudication pause. The Department of State has paused the final adjudication (i.e., denial or approval) of these applications, not the acceptance of applications or processing of the applications. Practically, this means many cases will reach the finish line and then be stuck in limbo, awaiting policy change.

Who is exempt?

The announcement provides only one clear exception:

• Dual nationals applying with a valid passport of a country that is not listed above are exempt from this pause.

This means if you hold dual nationality, and at least one of your passports is from a country NOT on the list, and you apply and process your immigrant visa under that non‑listed nationality (using that passport), then the pause does not apply to you.

There are no other listed exemptions or exceptions to the indefinite adjudication pause.

What is the impact on immigrant visas for nationals of the 75 countries that have already issued?

The Department of State has indicated no immigrant visas have been revoked as part of this guidance. So, if your immigrant visa (the immigrant visa in your passport) was already issued before January 21, 2026, it remains valid, unless independently revoked for some other reason.

Whether you will be admitted at the U.S. port of entry is a question for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) / Customs and Border Protection (CBP), not the State Department, but this announcement doesn’t itself cancel existing visas.

In an abundance of caution, if you have an immigrant visa that has already been issued, and you are a national of one of the 75 countries, you should try to enter the United States prior to January 21, 2026.

Does this affect tourist and other temporary (nonimmigrant) visas?

The State Department explicitly stated that the pause was specific to immigrant visas and does not impact tourist visas (B1/B2) visas – because they are nonimmigrant visas.

While the State Department does not mention the numerous other categories of nonimmigrant visas, including E-2, F-1, H-1/H-2, J, K-1, L, O, P, Q-1, R, etc., since they are all nonimmigrant visas, it might be assumed that these nonimmigrant visas are not affected by the adjudication pause, but we will await further clarification and guidance from the State Department to confirm.

What is not yet known?

A lot.

Impact on individuals with pending cases/status in the United States?

We don’t yet know. While the Department of State’s announcement does not impact applications for lawful permanent residency through the adjustment of status process for applicants in the United States, it is not yet known whether DHS will issue a similar announcement of a pause on adjudications.

Impact on adjudication of other nonimmigrant visa categories (E-2, F-1, H-1/H-2, J, K-1, L, O, P, Q-1, R)?

We don’t know yet. As mentioned above, the Department of State suggests that nonimmigrant visa applications are not subject to the pause, but only explicitly confirm that the B1/B2 Tourist Visa is not impacted by the adjudication pause.

Length of Pause?

We don’t know. The adjudication pause announced on January 14, 2026, is “indefinite.” We do not know when it will end.

What is the broader impact on families, employers, and communities?

The human and economic impact of this announcement will be substantial.

Family‑based immigrants

U.S. citizens and green card holders sponsoring spouses, children, parents, or siblings from these 75 countries will see their reunification plans frozen after years of waiting.

Employment‑based immigrants

Employers with permanent hires abroad from these nationalities will not be able to bring those workers in on immigrant visas during the pause. Some may switch strategies to temporary, nonimmigrant categories (H‑1B, O‑1, etc.), where available. Even for highly skilled workers with strong financial profiles, country of birth now becomes a controlling factor in whether an immigrant visa can be issued.

Diversity Visa (DV) winners

Diversity Visas are subject to their own separate adjudication pause announced by the Trump administration on December 23, 2025, as well.  It is unclear how the 2 separate adjudication pauses will work in tandem, but the bottom line is that Diversity Visa selectees from these 75 countries will, in many cases, be unable to receive their immigrant visas within the program year if the pause persists. Because the DV program is deadline‑driven (visas must be issued by the end of the fiscal year), a prolonged pause could effectively nullify their selection, even if the pause is later lifted.

What should affected applicants do now?

For individual strategies, consult a qualified immigration attorney or accredited representative. If you would like to schedule a consultation, please contact Kolko & Casey, P.C.

Disclaimer: This blog is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Immigration law and policy change rapidly. Always consult an attorney or accredited representative for advice about your specific situation.