The U.S. Department of State (DOS) announced that effective January 21, 2026, it will suspend issuance of immigrant visas to nationals from 75 countries. The DOS has not announced an end date for this suspension, which is in effect while it reviews its procedures for determining whether an applicant is likely to become financially dependent on the U.S. government.
Based on current guidance from the DOS, it appears that this pause only applies to immigrant visa (i.e., green card) applications filed abroad through United States Embassies. Non-immigrant visas, as well as green card applications filed from within the U.S., should not be impacted by this pause.
Nationals from the affected countries may still submit visa applications and attend immigrant visa interviews during this pause.
Dual nationals applying for an immigrant visa with the passport of a country not included in the list are exempt from this suspension. The suspension will apply to nationals of the following 75 countries:
| 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 | Gambia** |
| Georgia | Ghana | Grenada | Guatemala |
| Guinea | Haiti* | Iran* | Iraq |
| Jamaica | Jordan | Kazakhstan | Kosovo |
| Kuwait | Kyrgyzstan | Laos* | Lebanon |
| Liberia | Libya* | Macedonia | Moldova |
| Mongolia | Montenegro | Morocco | Nepal |
| Nicaragua | Nigeria** | 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 | Yemen* |
*Currently included on full travel ban list
**Currently included on partial travel ban list
Many of the countries included in the above list are already subject to the current travel ban list that took effect on January 1, 2026. Applications for foreign nationals who were born in, or are citizens of, travel ban countries are already subject to the pause on final decisions announced in December, meaning that they would already only qualify for a U.S. immigrant visa in the rare instance that they are deemed eligible for a travel ban exception.
Carmody’s Immigration lawyers counsel employers on an array of business immigration matters, including the sponsorship of highly skilled workers for visas and green cards. For more information on this developing situation, please contact:
Lauren M. Hopwood
Partner
203.784.3104
[email protected]
Johanna M. Bachmair
Associate
203.784.3183
[email protected]
This information is for educational purposes only to provide general information and a general understanding of the law. It does not constitute legal advice and does not establish any attorney-client relationship.