U.S. Pauses Immigrant Visas for 75 Countries

The United States will pause immigrant visa processing for applicants from 75 countries, a move the State Department says aims to curb admissions of people deemed likely to become a “public charge.” The step marks one of the most sweeping shifts in legal immigration pathways since President Donald Trump returned to office.

What Happened

The State Department said on January 14 that consular posts will stop adjudicating immigrant visas from the affected countries beginning next week. Effective January 21, 2026, officers will rely on existing law to refuse cases while the department reassesses screening and vetting procedures. Examples of countries on the list include Brazil, Iran, Nigeria, Russia, Somalia, Afghanistan, Yemen and Thailand. Nonimmigrant visas are not affected, according to officials. No end date has been set.

How We Got Here

Officials framed the pause as an enforcement of long-standing “public charge” inadmissibility rules under U.S. immigration law, arguing that consulates need time to align processes with the administration’s broader strategy. The decision follows a year of intensified immigration restrictions that have targeted both border enforcement and legal pathways, with the State Department emphasizing tougher vetting and the curbing of access to public benefits by new arrivals.

What It Means

The immediate effect is a halt in processing for family- and employment-based immigrant visas from dozens of countries, likely extending backlogs and delaying reunifications and planned hires. Critics say the policy will disproportionately affect applicants from Africa, the Middle East and parts of Latin America and Asia, and could sharply reduce legal immigration in the coming year. One immigration policy analyst estimated the pause could block roughly 315,000 would-be immigrants over 12 months. Supporters argue the step protects U.S. taxpayers and allows time to strengthen fraud prevention, screening and financial-sufficiency reviews.

What’s Next

Embassies and consulates are expected to implement the pause in the days ahead, with further guidance likely as the review proceeds. Applicants with interviews scheduled after January 21 should expect cancellations or refusals while the suspension remains in place. The department has not detailed criteria for lifting the pause, beyond signaling that additional vetting measures and reassessment of procedures are underway.

Sources

• US to suspend immigrant visa processing for 75 nations, State Department says — Reuters (January 14, 2026)
• US will suspend immigrant visa processing from 75 countries over public assistance concerns — Associated Press (January 14, 2026)
• Trump administration indefinitely pauses immigrant visa processing for 75 nations — Washington Post (January 14, 2026)
• US Will Halt Issuing Immigrant Visas for Dozens of Countries — Bloomberg (January 14, 2026)