Department of State to Pause Immigrant Visa Processing for 75 countries, effective January 21, 2026
On January 14, 2026, the Department of State (DOS) announced that it will be pausing all immigrant visa (green card) processing at US embassies and consulates for nationals / citizens of 75 countries, starting on January 21, 2026.
Key Points
Only applies to persons from the 75 countries who are applying for immigrant visas (green cards) at US Embassies or consulates abroad - It does not impact persons applying for adjustment of status in the United States
Does not apply to nonimmigrant visa applications such as H-1B, L-1, TN, E-3, H-1B1 or other nonimmigrant workers, as well as B-1/B-2 tourists
Does not apply to dual nationals, if applying with a passport of a country not included in the 75 countries
Does not impact or revoke previously approved immigrant visas or green cards
Background
The pause on family-based and employment-based immigrant visa processing for the 75 countries will remain in place indefinitely while the DOS reassesses its procedures to prevent the entry of foreign nationals who are likely to rely on welfare and public benefits, or become a public charge, in the United States. US embassies and consulates will continue to accept immigrant visa applications and conduct interviews for nationals of the 75 countries, however no immigrant visas will be issued during the pause.
The 75 countries impacted by the DOS pause include:
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.
What this Means for Our Clients
The DOS pause does not apply to China, India, Western Europe and most other countries with high rates of employment-based immigration. We expect that relatively few foreign workers in the United States will be impacted. Applicants currently in the United States who are subject to the DOS pause may wish to consider filing for adjustment of status in the United States as an alternative to consular processing to avoid difficulty in returning to the United States. It’s important to note that several countries affected by the DOS pause are already subject to the Administration’s travel ban which suspends immigrant visa issuance and entry into the United States.
We will reach out to clients to notify them of any employees whose immigration matters we are working on will be impacted.
We will continue to monitor developments related to the DOS’ pause on immigrant visa processing, and will provide updates as additional information becomes available.