U.S. Department of State Halts Immigrant Visa Issuance to Nationals of 75 Countries

Foreign Nationals Must Prepare for this Latest Immigration Policy Change

On January 14, 2026, the U.S. Department of State announced that it is halting immigrant visa processing for nationals of 75 countries, beginning on January 21, 2026.

The 75 countries listed are as follows:

Those with immigrant visa interviews scheduled prior to January 21, 2026, should still attend their interviews and may still be issued immigrant visas. In addition, the guidance indicates that applications for immigrant visas may be filed and interviews may be conducted even for those subject to the ban, but that no immigrant visas will be issued until the ban is lifted.

The only exception to the ban is for dual nationals who are citizens of both a banned country and a non-banned country, and who are applying for an immigrant visa using the nationality of the non-banned country. There are no exceptions for spouses of U.S. citizens.

It should also be noted that at this time, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has not announced a pause in adjudication of I-485 applications for adjustment of status for nationals of the 75 countries. Thus, barring additional guidance from USCIS, those who are physically present in the U.S. and legally eligible to adjust status may still become permanent residents during the immigrant visa ban.

Finally, the visa ban applies only to immigrant visas and does not apply to nonimmigrant visas (such as visitor and work visas) for nationals of the same countries. However, the Department of State’s guidance is premised on the notion that nationals of the 75 countries are, based solely on their nationality, more likely to become a public charge, and that the public charge ground of inadmissibility applies to immigrants and nonimmigrants alike. Nationals of the 75 countries should therefore consider carrying proof of their finances to all visa interviews (e.g., bank statements, proof of investment accounts, etc.) to overcome this new presumption.