Department of State to Pause Immigrant Visa Processing from 75 Countries
The Department of State announced on January 14, 2026, that it is pausing the processing of immigrant visas from 75 countries in an attempt to screen out immigrants who may rely on welfare programs in the United States. The announcement indicates that the suspension, which will begin January 21, will not apply to applicants seeking non-immigrant visas, tourist or business visas at this time. Note this announcement does not supersede the Proclamation 10949 which imposes full and partial restrictions on the entry of foreign nationals from select countries, citing national security and public safety concerns.
Following the announcement on social platform X, Tommy Pigott, Principal Deputy Spokesperson at the State Department said, "Immigrant visa processing from these 75 countries will be paused while the State Department reassesses immigration processing procedures to prevent the entry of foreign nationals who would take welfare and public benefits.”
Immigrant eligibility for public benefits is limited and available only to small subset of noncitizens (i.e.; legal permanent residents, refugees, those granted asylum, certain survivors of abuse or trafficking, parolees, etc.) and are subject to specific requirements. For example, most green card holders are subject to a five-year waiting period for food stamps, non-emergency Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP.) On July 4, 2025, the federal budget reconciliation bill (“the 2025 reconciliation act”) imposed new restrictions which will further narrow the availability of these benefits to specific immigrants.
What Countries Are Impacted?
While an official list has yet to be released by the government, several news agencies are reporting the following countries are included in the pause: 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 and Yemen.
These developments underscore the ongoing impact of U.S. immigration policy, with the potential for significant legal and economic ramifications for affected communities.
