On January 14, 2026, the Department of State (DOS) announced a pause in the issuance of immigrant visas for nationals of the 75 countries (listed below), effective January 21, 2026.
The action was prompted by welfare fraud being prosecuted in Minnesota that involved Somali immigrants. The Administration has decided that people from the listed countries are more likely to need government assistance after immigrating and thus pose a risk of becoming a “public charge,” which is a reason to refuse an immigrant visa.
Current immigrant visa processing already involves review of the “public charge” grounds for refusal, including requiring applicants to submit an Affidavit of Support for anyone immigrating under family sponsorship and a job offer at a living wage for anyone immigrating under employment sponsorship. DOS will review and potentially revise its vetting procedures and/or evidence requirements. Until then, no immigrant visas may be issued.
Who is affected by the immigration visa issuance suspension?
Currently, only individuals applying for an immigrant visa through a U.S. consulate (i.e., outside the United States) are affected. An immigrant visa is one that results in permanent residence (a “green card”) after entry.
Applicants for “nonimmigrant” visas, meaning temporary entries such as visitors, B, E, F, H, J, L, O, and R visas are not affected.
Applicants for permanent residence through the “adjustment of status” process in the United States are not affected by this announcement as far as we know now. The same “public charge” review process is applicable to them, however.
Who is exempt from the visa suspension?
Those who have dual nationality with a country that is not on the list below may obtain an immigrant visa if they present a valid passport from the non-listed country.
Those whose immigration would serve a “specific U.S. national interest, consistent with Executive Order 14150 ‘American First Policy Directive to the Secretary of State,’” could be granted an exemption. We expect these exemptions to be extremely rare based on the current approach to other similar exemptions.
Will case processing stop?
No. DOS will continue to interview applicants for immigrant visas and may ask for additional evidence. Your Dentons attorney will work with you regarding whether additional evidence should be presented at the interview. At the end of the interview, applicants will receive a refusal under law section 221(g) if no other reason for refusal is found. The refusal may later be overcome when the pause is lifted and sufficient evidence that the applicant will not be a “public charge” is presented.
Immigrant petitions filed in the U.S. (I-130, I-140, or I-360) will continue to be processed, as will I-485 adjustment of status applications (as of this writing).
What countries are affected by the immigration visa suspension?
Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Burma, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Colombia, Cote d’Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, The Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyz Republic, Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, North Macedonia, 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
Existing travel bans and visa bonds for visitor visas
As a reminder, the citizens of the following countries are subject to a full travel ban that prevents entry on an immigrant visa: Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Burma, Chad, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Laos, Libya, Mali, Niger, Republic of the Congo, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen, plus any individuals who seek to travel on any travel documents issued or endorsed by the Palestinian Authority.
The citizens of the following countries are subject to a partial travel ban for immigrant visas and B-1, B-2, B-1/B-2, F, M, and J visas: Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Burundi, Cote d’ Ivoire, Cuba, Dominica, Gabon, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, The Gambia, Togo, Tonga, Venezuela, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Turkmenistan has a ban on immigrant visas only. The pause announced yesterday is separate from the travel bans and may continue after any travel ban ends or vice versa.
This pause is also separate from the countries the DOS has identified as requiring visitor visa bonds in amounts ranging from $5,000-$15,000.
