The United States has announced an indefinite suspension of immigrant visa processing for nationals of 75 countries beginning January 21, 2026. This article lists all affected countries and explains the policy’s implications for immigrant law and clients seeking lawful permanent residence.
You may be seeing headlines declaring that the United States has stopped immigrant visa processing for 75 countries. Let’s be clear: what’s being reported is a temporary pause, not a permanent shutdown.
As of this writing, there is no formal press release, public memo, Federal Register notice, or official cable published by the U.S. Department of State confirming such a policy change.
According to those reports, some consular posts have been instructed to temporarily pause immigrant visa processing while internal screening procedures and “public charge” vetting frameworks are reviewed.
A pause means a delay—not a denial. It does not mean your case is canceled or permanently rejected. It does not mean these countries are banned indefinitely. And importantly, there is no end date announced, but also no language suggesting the policy is permanent.
According to the Fox News‑cited State Department cable, the complete list of countries whose nationals will be subject to the immigrant visa processing pause includes:
The likely legal basis behind this development lies in the application of “public charge” inadmissibility grounds, under which consular officers may refuse immigrant visas if an applicant is likely to become primarily dependent on public benefits.
This approach was expanded in past administrations and appears to be under renewed review by consular authorities. However, without an official memorandum, the exact parameters and length of the pause remain unclear.
Applicants for non-immigrant visas (such as student, tourist, or temporary work visas) are reportedly unaffected, though wait times may grow as demand shifts.
If you or your family have pending immigrant visa petitions and are from one of the 75 countries listed, this is understandably frustrating—but it is not the end of the road. We urge you to:
Stay calm. Nothing official has been published yet.
Do not assume your case is denied.
Prepare your supporting documents, especially financial and sponsor-related forms.
Stay updated with a legal team that monitors State Department updates in real-time.
Most importantly, understand that in immigration law, a pause typically means that processing will resume once clear guidance is issued. This is a slowdown, not a shutdown.
At Spar & Bernstein, our immigration attorneys are monitoring this issue closely and are ready to help clients:
Evaluate their current immigration case status
Strengthen applications against “public charge” scrutiny
Explore alternative pathways such as adjustment of status where available
Prepare supporting documentation for eventual consular review
We understand how delays affect families, careers, and futures. That’s why our team is committed to finding lawful, creative solutions and guiding you through every step with professionalism, clarity, and compassion.
