On January 14, 2026 the U.S. State Department announced an indefinite pause on issuance of immigrant visas for nationals from 75 different countries. The pause goes into effect on January 21, 2026.

 

The countries included in this pause are as follows: 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 

 

Immigrant visas are issued by U.S. consulates to persons seeking to enter the U.S. as permanent residents (immigrants). The announcement does not apply to temporary, non-immigrant visas such as B-1 / B-2, F-1, J-1, H-1B or O-1 visas. The pause also does not apply to the adjudication of I-485 applications for adjustment of status to permanent resident, which are overseen by US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

 

The State Department indicates that immigrant visa applications may continue to be submitted, but issuance of an immigrant visa will be suspended until the pause is lifted.