In a sweeping move that stunned consular posts world-wide, the U.S. Department of State has ordered a complete pause on issuing immigrant visas to citizens of 75 countries effective 21 January 2026. The policy—quietly released last month but posted in detail on 11 February—targets nations the administration says present a “high risk” of future public-benefit use by new permanent residents. It applies to family-, employment- and diversity-based immigrant visas but leaves non-immigrant categories such as H-1B, L-1, O-1, F-1 and B-1/B-2 untouched. (visapro.com)
The list is global, ranging from Brazil, Colombia and Nigeria to Pakistan, Russia and Fiji. Applicants may still attend scheduled interviews, but consuls have been instructed to withhold visa foil issuance until further notice. Existing valid immigrant visas are not revoked. Adjustment-of-status cases filed inside the United States continue as normal, creating a stark divergence between in-country and abroad processing queues.
Driving the decision is a pending overhaul of the “public-charge” rule. Officials argue a temporary freeze is necessary to prevent approvals that might later conflict with stricter financial-self-sufficiency standards. Immigration lawyers counter that the pause is legally dubious because the Immigration and Nationality Act mandates visa issuance once an applicant is documentarily qualified. At least three impacted families have already filed mandamus suits in federal district courts.
![State Department freezes immigrant-visa issuance for nationals of 75 countries]()
Amid the uncertainty, VisaHQ’s U.S. portal (https://www.visahq.com/united-states/) can help applicants and employers track real-time consular updates, explore alternative non-immigrant options, and organize documentation for in-country adjustment. Their consolidated dashboard streamlines decision-making until immigrant-visa processing resumes.
For employers, the immediate concern is talent mobility. Multinationals awaiting green-card approvals for foreign staff in affected countries must now pivot to temporary work visas or prolong overseas assignments. HR teams are urged to audit global rosters for employees in final immigrant-visa stages, prepare contingency staffing plans and budget for repeated H-1B extensions. Family-reunification timelines could stretch by six to 12 months if the review lasts through FY 2026.
Consular officers have been told to provide “credible yet unspecific” estimates for resolution, but insiders suggest the review could extend well into the summer. Companies with significant workforces in Brazil, Nigeria, Pakistan or Russia should brief travellers that immigrant-visa processing is on hold and explore in-country adjustment alternatives where eligibility exists.
The list is global, ranging from Brazil, Colombia and Nigeria to Pakistan, Russia and Fiji. Applicants may still attend scheduled interviews, but consuls have been instructed to withhold visa foil issuance until further notice. Existing valid immigrant visas are not revoked. Adjustment-of-status cases filed inside the United States continue as normal, creating a stark divergence between in-country and abroad processing queues.
Driving the decision is a pending overhaul of the “public-charge” rule. Officials argue a temporary freeze is necessary to prevent approvals that might later conflict with stricter financial-self-sufficiency standards. Immigration lawyers counter that the pause is legally dubious because the Immigration and Nationality Act mandates visa issuance once an applicant is documentarily qualified. At least three impacted families have already filed mandamus suits in federal district courts.
Amid the uncertainty, VisaHQ’s U.S. portal (https://www.visahq.com/united-states/) can help applicants and employers track real-time consular updates, explore alternative non-immigrant options, and organize documentation for in-country adjustment. Their consolidated dashboard streamlines decision-making until immigrant-visa processing resumes.
For employers, the immediate concern is talent mobility. Multinationals awaiting green-card approvals for foreign staff in affected countries must now pivot to temporary work visas or prolong overseas assignments. HR teams are urged to audit global rosters for employees in final immigrant-visa stages, prepare contingency staffing plans and budget for repeated H-1B extensions. Family-reunification timelines could stretch by six to 12 months if the review lasts through FY 2026.
Consular officers have been told to provide “credible yet unspecific” estimates for resolution, but insiders suggest the review could extend well into the summer. Companies with significant workforces in Brazil, Nigeria, Pakistan or Russia should brief travellers that immigrant-visa processing is on hold and explore in-country adjustment alternatives where eligibility exists.
