DOS Pauses Immigrant Visa Issuance for Nationals of 75 Countries
In a January 14, 2026 news posting, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) announced that it will pause the issuance of immigrant visas at U.S. consulates worldwide starting January 21, 2026 for nationals of 75 countries that DOS deems are "at high risk of public benefits usage." During the pause, DOS will conduct "a full review of all policies, regulations, and guidance to ensure that immigrants from these high-risk countries do not utilize welfare in the United States or become a public charge." The pause impacts only immigrant visa issuance and does not affect nonimmigrant visas such as B tourist visas, F student visas, J exchange visitor visas, H-1B work visas, etc.
The covered countries 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.
Note that 23 of these countries are also separately covered by the current travel ban.
Affects Immigrant Visas Only, Not Nonimmigrant Visas
It is important to note at the outset that the pause impacts immigrant visa issuance at U.S. consulates abroad, and does not affect nonimmigrant visas such as B tourist visas, F student visas, J exchange visitor visas, H-1B work visas, etc.
A DOS posting on X, made before the DOS webpage announcement, also stated that the suspension applies only to immigrant visas.
Keep in mind, though, that 23 of these countries are also separately covered by the current travel ban, which may independently affect eligibility for certain nonimmigrant visas. Individuals from Afghanistan, Antigua and Barbuda, Burma, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Dominica, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, The Gambia, Laos, Libya, Nigeria, Republic of the Congo, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Togo, or Yemen would have to independently assess their eligibility for a nonimmigrant visa under the travel ban as well.
Details of the DOS Notice
The January 14, 2025 news posting starts by saying:
"President Trump has made clear that immigrants must be financially self-sufficient and not be a financial burden to Americans. The Department of State is undergoing a full review of all policies, regulations, and guidance to ensure that immigrants from these high-risk countries do not utilize welfare in the United States or become a public charge."
Here is the remainder of the rather brief DOS notice, which identifies the covered countries and contains four FAQs:
"Effective January 21, 2026, the Department of State is pausing all visa issuances to immigrant visa applicants who are nationals of the following countries:
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
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens to my immigrant visa interview appointment?
Immigrant visa applicants who are nationals of affected countries may submit visa applications and attend interviews, and the Department will continue to schedule applicants for appointments, but no immigrant visas will be issued to these nationals during this pause.
Are there any exceptions?
Dual nationals applying with a valid passport of a country that is not listed above are exempt from this pause.
Does this affect my current valid visa?
No immigrant visas have been revoked as part of this guidance. For questions regarding admission to the United States, we refer you to DHS.
Does this apply to tourist visas?
No, this pause is specifically for immigrant visa applicants. Tourist visas are nonimmigrant visas."
Background on Public Charge
A long-standing Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) public charge provision establishes that applicants for a visa, admission, or adjustment of status are inadmissible to the United States if they are likely at any time to become a public charge. INA 212(a)(4), 8 USC 1182(a)(4) provides in general that,
"Any alien who, in the opinion of the consular officer at the time of application for a visa, or in the opinion of the Attorney General at the time of application for admission or adjustment of status, is likely at any time to become a public charge is inadmissible."
The statute then directs DOS and DHS to consider at a minimum the following factors when making a public charge determination:
- age,
- health,
- family status,
- assets, resources, and financial status, and
- education and skills.
Additional background on public charge
For additional background on public charge, see:
- The Department of State's sparse regulations implementing the statutory public charge provision are at 22 CFR 40.41.
- DOS Foreign Affairs Manual guidance on public charge at 9 FAM 302.8.
- Also see NAFSA's Rulemaking on Public Charge Determinations page for additional background.
The pause policy may also be related to a purported DOS cable sent to consular posts on or about November 6, 2025, which described a "totality of the circumstances" approach to making public charge determinations. This cable has likewise not been made available to the public, but was described in press reports
around the globe instructed consular officers to enforce sweeping new screening rules under the so-called "public charge" provision of immigration law.
Fox News broke the story on January 14, 2026 and CNN and other news outlets began reporting as well. See, for example: