On January 14, 2025, the US Department of State (“DOS”) announced its intention to pause the processing of immigrant visas indefinitely for nationals of seventy-five countries, including Brazil, Iran, Russia, Pakistan, and Somalia. The suspension is set to take effect on January 21, 2026, and applies only to immigrant visas, which are used by individuals seeking lawful permanent residence (commonly known as Green Cards) through family sponsorship, employment, or other pathways. The suspension does not apply to nonimmigrant visas, including tourist visas or temporary work visas. DOS also specified that nationals of affected countries may still apply for and interview for immigrant visas, but no visas will be issued during the pause. Furthermore, dual nationals using a passport from an unaffected country are exempt, and no previously issued immigrant visas have been revoked. The administration has not indicated how long this temporary pause will be in effect.
A State Department cable which has been leaked, was sent to US missions to halt immigrant visa applications from the affected countries. The cable specifically instructs “consular officers must refuse under Section 221(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act to all immigrant visa applicants who have not been refused under another ground of ineligibility” if the applicant is from one of the 75 affected countries. A refusal under INA §221(g) means the consular officer could not determine visa eligibility at the time of the interview. These cases are often placed in administrative processing or require additional documentation, and a final decision may be made later once the requested information is reviewed or processing is completed.
The indefinite suspension is tied to expanded enforcement of the federal government’s public charge rules, as noted by Tommy Pigott, the Principal Deputy Spokesperson at the DOS. Under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) 212(a)(4), individuals seeking permanent residence may be denied if the government determines they are likely to become a “public charge,” meaning they may depend on certain government benefits. The current policy expands scrutiny of applicants’ financial circumstances, including income, assets, employment history, and support systems. The Trump Administration has indicated that nationals from the seventy-five affected countries are more likely, under current assessments, to trigger public charge concerns, prompting the suspension of immigrant visa processing at US consulates. The list of countries also appears to be in line with President Trump’s vow to “permanently pause migration from all third world countries” after the attack and subsequent death of a National Guard member.
As published on the Department of State’s website, the list of countries that will be impacted by the suspension, are: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Bosnia, Brazil, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Cuba, Dominica, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, The Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, North Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Myanmar, 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. This list includes countries that are subject to the administration’s travel ban as well.
We will continue to closely monitor this development and share updates as more details emerge.