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  • BREAKING: U.S. Freezes New Immigrant Visas ("Green Cards") for Citizens and Nationals of 75 Countries: The Great Pause of 2026

BREAKING: U.S. Freezes New Immigrant Visas ("Green Cards") for Citizens and Nationals of 75 Countries: The Great Pause of 2026

Author

Neil A. Weinrib
January 21, 2026

We are writing to inform you of an important update from the U.S. Department of State that may affect individuals and families pursuing immigrant visas (green cards) through U.S. consulates abroad that goes into effect on January 21, 2026.

The U.S. Department of State has announced a temporary pause on the issuance of immigrant visas for nationals of 75 designated countries. This “pause” applies to immigrant visa processing conducted at U.S. embassies and consulates outside the United States and is part of an ongoing review of visa vetting and public-charge determinations.

There is currently no announced end date for this pause.

What does this mean? Immigrant visas will not be issued to affected applicants during the “pause”, even if an interview has been already scheduled or taken place. Applications may still be submitted, and some consular posts may continue to schedule interviews, but final visa issuance is suspended.

The “pause” will affect immigrant visas only in the following categories:

  • Family Based

  • Employment Visas (Immigrant)

  • Diversity Visas (DV)

However, the “pause” will not affect the following categories:

  • Tourists

  • Students

  • Employment Visas (Nonimmigrant)

NOTE: Individuals applying for Adjustment of Status (AOS) from within the United States through USCIS are not affected by this change at this time.

The pause applies to nationals of 75 countries across Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Europe, the Caribbean, and Latin America. The Department of State has indicated that the designation is based on factors related to economic conditions and public-charge risk assessments. This is a pause and not a complete ban.

Regions affected include:

  • Africa:
    Algeria, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Congo, Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Libya, Morocco, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda

  • The Americas:
    Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, Dominica, Grenada, Guatemala, Haiti, Jamaica, Nicaragua, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Uruguay

  • Europe:
    Albania, Belarus, Bosnia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro

  • Middle East:
    Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen

  • Asia & Asia-Pacific:
    Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burma, Cambodia, Fiji, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, Thailand, Uzbekistan

Contact us today or Visit Our Website to get your immigration process started! And check out our social media updates on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.

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