The United States has announced a new pause on immigrant visa processing for people from 75 countries. The decision comes from the US State Department and is part of a wider push to tighten immigration rules.
The pause affects people applying for permanent immigrant visas. It does not apply to tourist, business, or other short-term visas.
The State Department will pause immigrant visa processing from 75 countries whose migrants take welfare from the American people at unacceptable rates. The freeze will remain active until the U.S. can ensure that new immigrants will not extract wealth from the American people.
— Department of State (@StateDept) January 14, 2026
What counts as an immigrant visa?
Immigrant visas are for those who are planning to move to the US permanently and get a Green Card. These include:
- Family-Sponsored Visas
- Employment-Based Visas
- Diversity Visa Lottery
- EB-5 Investor Visas
- Special Immigrant Visas
- Returning Resident Visas
What Is Not Included
The current pause does not apply to non-immigrant visas, such as:
- Tourist visas
- Business visas
- Student visas
- Short-term work visas
Why the US Says It Is Doing This
According to the State Department, the pause targets countries where officials believe new immigrants rely on US public benefits at unacceptable levels.
In a public message, the department stated that the freeze would remain in place until the US can be confident that new immigrants will not become a financial burden on American taxpayers.
Linked to Trump’s Latest Immigration Push
The move is being described as part of Donald Trump’s latest immigration crackdown. His administration has repeatedly focused on limiting entry from countries it considers high risk under public charge rules.
Officials say the decision follows a broader order issued in November that tightened checks on people who may depend on welfare after arriving in the US.
Countries Named So Far
While the US government has not released an official public list, some media reports say 75 countries are expected to be affected.
These include Bangladesh, Pakistan, Iran, Russia, and Nepal. Other countries mentioned include Afghanistan, Egypt, Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Sudan, Thailand, and Yemen.
The State Department also said the pause would affect countries such as Somalia, Haiti, Iran, and Eritrea, where officials believe many immigrants become public charges after arrival.
White House Comments Add More Clarity
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed on social media that Somalia would be among the affected countries. She also named Russia and Iran as part of the list.
Her comments followed renewed criticism from Trump over past immigration-related cases in the US.
Full List of 75 Countries
According to reports, the 75 countries expected to fall under the pause include:
- Afghanistan
- Albania
- Algeria
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Armenia
- Azerbaijan
- Bahamas
- Bangladesh
- Barbados
- Belarus
- Belize
- Bhutan
- Bosnia
- Brazil
- Burma
- Cambodia
- Cameroon
- Cape Verde
- Colombia
- Côte d’Ivoire
- Cuba
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Dominica
- Egypt
- Eritrea
- Ethiopia
- Fiji
- Gambia
- Georgia
- Ghana
- Grenada
- Guatemala
- Guinea
- Haiti
- Iran
- Iraq
- Jamaica
- Jordan
- Kazakhstan
- Kosovo
- Kuwait
- Kyrgyzstan
- Laos
- Lebanon
- Liberia
- Libya
- Macedonia
- Moldova
- Mongolia
- Montenegro
- Morocco
- 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
- Yemen
When the Visa Pause Starts
The State Department, led by Secretary Marco Rubio, has told US consulates to stop processing immigrant visa applications from the affected countries starting January 21.
For now, non-immigrant visas are not included. That means applications for tourist visas, business travel, and other temporary stays can still be processed.
What This Means for Travellers
If you are planning to move to the US permanently and your country is on the list, your application may be put on hold with no clear end date.
If you are travelling short-term, nothing changes yet. Tourist and business visas are still being handled as usual.
As always with US immigration policy, rules can shift quickly. Anyone affected should keep a close eye on official updates from the State Department and their local US embassy.
Follow and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Google News for the latest travel news and updates!