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ARTICLE · 02 FEBRUARY 2026

State Department Suspends Immigrant Visa Processing For 75 Countries

Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C.
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Effective January 21, 2026, the State Department indefinitely paused the issuance of immigrant visas for applicants from 75 countries on the stated basis of foreign nationals...

GlobalImmigration
Arash R. Bahar
Arash R. Bahar
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Effective January 21, 2026, the State Department indefinitely paused the issuance of immigrant visas for applicants from 75 countries on the stated basis of foreign nationals potentially being a "high risk" of becoming a Public Charge. This announcement only impacts the issuance of immigrant visas by US consulates, and does not impact non-immigrant visas including employment-based visas, tourist visas, and student visas. Dual nationals from countries not on the list below are exempt from the immigrant visa suspension.

Countries Subject to the Immigrant Visa Processing Suspension

The following 75 countries are subject to the suspension of immigrant visa processing:

Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Bosnia, Brazil, Burma, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Colombia, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji,

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