As of January 2026, the United States government (under the Trump administration) has officially announced an indefinite suspension of immigrant visa (permanent residency) processing for citizens of 75 countries, effective January 21, 2026. This action means that nationals of these countries cannot currently obtain U.S. immigrant visas at U.S. embassies/consulates abroad until further notice while the State Department reassesses processing procedures. This policy does not apply to non-immigrant visas (such as tourist, business, student, or work visas) or people already in the U.S. adjusting status. (Al Jazeera)
Below is the full list of the 75 countries whose immigrant visa processing has been officially suspended: (Phillips Lytle LLP)
- Afghanistan
- Albania
- Algeria
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Armenia
- Azerbaijan
- Bahamas
- Bangladesh
- Barbados
- Belarus
- Belize
- Bhutan
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Brazil
- Burma (Myanmar)
- Cambodia
- Cameroon
- Cape Verde
- Colombia
- Côte 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
- Mozambique
- Nepal
- Nicaragua
- Nigeria
- North Macedonia
- Pakistan
- Panama
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Philippines
- Rwanda
- Senegal
- Sierra Leone
- South Sudan
- Sri Lanka
- Sudan
- Syria
- Tajikistan
- Tunisia
- Turkmenistan
- Uganda
- Ukraine
- Uzbekistan
- Venezuela
- Yemen (Phillips Lytle LLP)
Key Points
- What’s suspended: Immigrant visa processing (green card applications via consulates abroad). (Al Jazeera)
- Not affected: Non-immigrant visas (tourist, student, business) and most adjustment-of-status applications inside the U.S. (ABC News)
- Reason given: The U.S. government cites concerns about applicants potentially becoming reliant on public benefits, and is reviewing vetting procedures. (Travel)
If you want, I can also provide a breakdown of how this policy affects specific regions or what exemptions exist for certain groups.