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Original Date Announced
January 14, 2026The Department of State announced that it is pausing issuance of all immigrant visas to nationals of 75 countries based on a determination that nationals of such countries are at "high-risk" of becoming a public charge, effective January 21, 2025. This policy will not revoke any existing visas, and will not affect nonimmigrant visas, such as tourist visas. The freeze will remain in place "until the U.S. can ensure that new immigrants will not extract wealth from the American people," according to a State Department post on X.
The impacted countries are: 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.
Trump 2.0 [ID #2178]
2026.01.14: DOS: Immigrant Visa Processing Updates for Nationalities at High Risk of Public Benefits Usage 2026.01.26 DOS X Post - Visa Processing FreezeEffective Date
January 21, 2026Current Status
NoneOriginal Trump Policy Status
Status: Final/ActualTrump Administration Actions: Agency Directive Change in PracticeSubject Matter: Immigrant VisasAgencies Affected: DOSAssociated or Derivative Policies
Documents
Trump-Era Policy Documents
- New Policy
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New Policy
Original Source:
2026.01.26 X Post - Department of State
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