On January 14, 2026, the U.S. Department of State (DoS) announced an indefinite pause (effective January 21, 2026) in immigrant visa processing for nationals of 75 countries. This policy change affects only individuals applying for immigrant visas — those that lead to lawful permanent residence (i.e., green cards) — at U.S. embassies and consulates abroad. The pause will remain in effect until DoS reassesses its procedures for determining whether immigrant visa applicants from these countries are likely to become financially dependent on the U.S. government and, therefore, deemed inadmissible on public charge grounds.
According to a DoS cable obtained by the Associated Press, the immigrant visa processing for the nationals of the following countries has been paused while the DoS reviews screening and eligibility criteria: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Bosnia, Brazil, Burma, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Colombia, Congo (Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo), Congo (Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo), Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Cuba, Dominica, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Pakistan, 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.
Important note about who is not affected:
- Non‑immigrant visa holders, such as F‑1 students, J‑1 students and scholars, employment-based visa holders such as H-1B, O-1, TN, and E-3, and visitor visas (B1/B2).
- Nationals of countries above who are
- In the U.S., applying for green cards through U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), and
- Not covered by the USCIS January 1st memo regarding the pause on immigration benefits for individuals who are nationals of and born in the 39 countries impacted by the Presidential Proclamation 10998
Students, scholars, faculty, employees, and family members from affected countries pursuing permanent residence through consular processing abroad may experience delays. At this time, there is no announced end date for the pause.
While OISS cannot provide legal advice on self-petitioned immigrant visa processing, we encourage affected individuals to monitor updates from the DoS and consult a qualified immigration attorney for individualized guidance. If you or your family members are impacted by this pause and need a legal referral, please contact your designated OISS adviser.
We will continue to monitor developments and share updates as more information becomes available.
