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ARTICLE · 20 JANUARY 2026

U.S. State Department Suspends Immigrant Visa Processing For Nationals Of 75 Countries

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Immigrant visa processing will be suspended for nationals of 75 countries at U.S. consulates abroad.

GlobalImmigration
Mandira Sethi
Mandira Sethi
Tejas Shah
Tejas Shah
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Key Highlights

  • Immigrant visa processing will be suspended for nationals of 75 countries at U.S. consulates abroad.
  • The suspension is tied to public charge concerns and expanded screening related to potential use of public assistance.
  • No end date has been announced and both pending and future immigrant visa cases may face delays.

Overview

The U.S. Department of State has announced that it will suspend the processing of immigrant visas for nationals of 75 countries with an effective date of January 21, 2026, citing concerns that certain applicants may be likely to rely on U.S. public assistance programs. The suspension is expected to take effect as early as next week and will remain in place while the State Department reviews and revises its immigrant visa screening and vetting procedures.

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