In a sweeping escalation of President Donald Trump’s second-term immigration crackdown, the U.S. State Department confirmed on 14 January that it will suspend the processing of all immigrant-class visas for citizens of 75 countries—including Brazil—as of 21 January 2026. A confidential cable, first reported by Fox News and later confirmed by Reuters, instructs U.S. embassies and consulates to refuse applications under the existing “public-charge” provisions while a wider policy review is carried out.
Although the measure does not affect non-immigrant categories such as B-1/B-2 business-tourist visas, it effectively blocks family reunification, fiancé(e), diversity-lottery and employment-based green-card cases for Brazilians who have not yet been issued a visa foil. Consular posts worldwide have been told to stop scheduling interviews and to cancel appointments already booked after the 21 January cut-off. Applicants who have paid fees will receive instructions on how to request refunds or revalidation once processing resumes.
For those suddenly navigating these shifting requirements, specialized assistance can be invaluable. VisaHQ, an online visa and passport facilitation service, maintains a dedicated Brazil page (https://www.visahq.com/brazil/) with real-time updates, document checklists, and concierge support that can help individuals and corporate mobility teams chart alternative routes while U.S. immigrant processing is on hold.
![U.S. freezes immigrant visas for Brazilians and 74 other nationalities]()
For global-mobility teams in Brazil, the immediate impact is a halt to new long-term U.S. assignments. Multinationals that planned to relocate staff under the EB-2 or EB-3 categories must now explore alternatives such as the L-1 intracompany transfer or the E-2 treaty-investor visa—options that remain open, but only for companies that meet stringent ownership and nationality criteria. Employers with Brazilian assignees already in the United States on temporary visas should advise them to maintain lawful status and avoid travel abroad, as re-entry could be jeopardised if the suspension is extended to non-immigrant renewals.
Immigration attorneys also warn that the “public-charge” language used in the cable signals a tougher adjudicatory stance when processing eventually restarts. Expect more document requests around health-insurance coverage, affidavit-of-support thresholds and evidence of employability. Companies should begin compiling enhanced financial documentation—tax returns, payroll records and proof of continued salary—to support any future filings.
Brazil’s Foreign Ministry (Itamaraty) has not yet announced reciprocal measures, but officials told reporters they are “monitoring the situation closely.” Human-rights groups in both countries criticised the U.S. decision as discriminatory and economically counter-productive, noting that Brazilians rank among the top foreign investors in Florida real-estate and tech start-ups. Unless the suspension is lifted quickly, analysts believe the policy could chill cross-border investment and slow the post-pandemic rebound in bilateral trade.
Although the measure does not affect non-immigrant categories such as B-1/B-2 business-tourist visas, it effectively blocks family reunification, fiancé(e), diversity-lottery and employment-based green-card cases for Brazilians who have not yet been issued a visa foil. Consular posts worldwide have been told to stop scheduling interviews and to cancel appointments already booked after the 21 January cut-off. Applicants who have paid fees will receive instructions on how to request refunds or revalidation once processing resumes.
For those suddenly navigating these shifting requirements, specialized assistance can be invaluable. VisaHQ, an online visa and passport facilitation service, maintains a dedicated Brazil page (https://www.visahq.com/brazil/) with real-time updates, document checklists, and concierge support that can help individuals and corporate mobility teams chart alternative routes while U.S. immigrant processing is on hold.
For global-mobility teams in Brazil, the immediate impact is a halt to new long-term U.S. assignments. Multinationals that planned to relocate staff under the EB-2 or EB-3 categories must now explore alternatives such as the L-1 intracompany transfer or the E-2 treaty-investor visa—options that remain open, but only for companies that meet stringent ownership and nationality criteria. Employers with Brazilian assignees already in the United States on temporary visas should advise them to maintain lawful status and avoid travel abroad, as re-entry could be jeopardised if the suspension is extended to non-immigrant renewals.
Immigration attorneys also warn that the “public-charge” language used in the cable signals a tougher adjudicatory stance when processing eventually restarts. Expect more document requests around health-insurance coverage, affidavit-of-support thresholds and evidence of employability. Companies should begin compiling enhanced financial documentation—tax returns, payroll records and proof of continued salary—to support any future filings.
Brazil’s Foreign Ministry (Itamaraty) has not yet announced reciprocal measures, but officials told reporters they are “monitoring the situation closely.” Human-rights groups in both countries criticised the U.S. decision as discriminatory and economically counter-productive, noting that Brazilians rank among the top foreign investors in Florida real-estate and tech start-ups. Unless the suspension is lifted quickly, analysts believe the policy could chill cross-border investment and slow the post-pandemic rebound in bilateral trade.
