U.S. Suspends Immigrant Visa Issuance for Nationals of 75 Countries

News

The U.S. Department of State has announced a major change affecting immigrant visa applicants from dozens of countries, temporarily suspending immigrant visa issuance while a policy review is carried out.
According to an official notice published on the State Department’s website, the suspension applies to nationals of 75 countries identified as being at higher risk of public-benefits usage. The measure affects immigrant visas only and does not apply to non-immigrant visas, such as tourist, student, or temporary work visas.

What the State Department Announced

Under the new policy, U.S. embassies and consulates may continue to accept immigrant visa applications and conduct interviews, but final visa issuance will be paused for affected nationalities until further notice.

The State Department said the suspension is part of a broader reassessment of how immigrant visa applicants are evaluated under U.S. public-charge standards, which are used to determine whether an applicant is likely to become primarily dependent on government assistance after immigrating.
No timeline has been provided for when the pause may be lifted.

What “Public Charge” Means

In U.S. immigration law, “public charge” refers to whether an immigrant is likely to rely heavily on government benefits. Consular officers already consider factors such as income, employment, education, age, and health when making immigrant visa decisions.

The current review aims to reassess how these factors are applied at the visa-issuance stage, particularly for applicants from countries where statistical public-benefits usage has raised concerns among U.S. policymakers.

Who Is Affected — and Who Is Not

The suspension applies only to immigrant visas, including Diversity, family-based and employment-based categories.

It does not affect:
• Tourist and business visas
• Student visas
• Temporary work visas
• Previously issued immigrant visas

Importantly, the State Department clarified that dual nationals may still benefit from immigrant visa issuance if they apply using a passport from a country not included on the list of affected countries.

Countries Covered by the Suspension

The official State Department notice includes a list of 75 countries spanning multiple regions, including Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Latin America, and parts of Europe. Because the list is detailed, applicants are strongly encouraged to consult the State Department’s original announcement to confirm whether their nationality is affected.

Policy Context

This development comes amid a series of immigration policy changes under the Trump administration, which has emphasized stricter enforcement, self-sufficiency standards, and tighter eligibility reviews across the immigration system.

Supporters of the policy argue that it protects public resources and reinforces long-standing immigration principles. Critics warn that broad suspensions could delay lawful immigration and create uncertainty for families with approved cases.

Conclusion

While the suspension represents a significant development, it is described as temporary, and the State Department has not indicated that immigrant visa programs are being permanently canceled.

Further guidance may be issued as the review progresses. As such, immigrant visa applicants, especially those from affected countries are advised to regularly follow official U.S. government sources for updates. And in addition, attend scheduled interviews unless instructed otherwise, as well as review whether dual nationality may not provide an alternative processing route.