The U.S. State Department has announced a suspension of immigrant visa processing for citizens of 75 countries, effective January 21. This policy change is based on expanded enforcement of the federal “public charge” rule and affects individuals seeking permanent residence in the United States.
Importantly, this suspension does not apply to nonimmigrant visas. Tourists, students, business travelers, and temporary workers may continue to apply for temporary visas as usual.
Understanding visa categories is critical, as immigrant and nonimmigrant visas serve very different purposes under U.S. immigration law.
Immigrant visas are issued to individuals who intend to live permanently in the United States. These visas typically lead to lawful permanent resident (green card) status and are commonly used for:
Nonimmigrant visas, by contrast, are for temporary stays in the United States. Common examples include:
The State Department has confirmed that nonimmigrant visa processing is not affected by this suspension.
Immigrant visa applicants are subject to the “public charge” rule, which requires applicants to prove they are unlikely to depend on U.S. government benefits. Under expanded guidance issued in November, consular officers must now conduct a more detailed review of immigrant visa applicants, including factors such as:
The State Department has paused immigrant visa processing for affected countries while it reassesses how these standards are applied.
The suspension of immigrant visa processing for the countries listed above is not permanent. The U.S. State Department has stated that immigrant visa processing is being paused while it reassesses its screening and public charge procedures.
This means the suspension can be lifted or modified at any time, and processing may resume once the government completes its review or issues updated guidance.
Applicants should continue monitoring official announcements and should not assume their case is permanently denied. In many situations, cases may be delayed rather than refused, and alternative immigration strategies may still be available.
For individuals affected by this suspension, consulting with an immigration attorney is recommended to evaluate options, exemptions, or future filing strategies.
Affected Countries:
Afghanistan
Albania
Algeria
Antigua and Barbuda
Armenia
Azerbaijan
Bahamas
Bangladesh
Barbados
Belarus
Belize
Bhutan
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Brazil
Burma (Myanmar)
Cambodia
Cameroon
Cape Verde
Colombia
Congo
Cuba
Dominica
Egypt
Eritrea
Ethiopia
Fiji
Gambia
Georgia
Ghana
Grenada
Guatemala
Guinea
Haiti
Iran
Iraq
Ivory Coast (Côte d’Ivoire)
Jamaica
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kosovo
Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan
Laos
Lebanon
Liberia
Libya
North 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
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