In an unpublicised move that surfaced on 2 March 2026, the U.S. Department of State has ordered consulates worldwide to pause the printing and issuance of all family- and employment-based immigrant visas for nationals of 75 countries while an internal policy review is conducted. The freeze, first reported by Pakistani outlet FYEP citing an internal cable dated 21 January, applies at every overseas post and has no stated end-date.(fyep.org.pk)
Consular officers may continue to interview applicants and create cases, but they have been instructed not to finalise visas or place the issuance foil in passports. The directive does not affect Diversity-Visa selectees or non-immigrant categories such as H-1B or L-1. Nor does it stop applicants from filing adjustment-of-status applications inside the United States. However, applicants awaiting consular processing abroad—estimated at 110,000 according to National Visa Center figures—now face indefinite delays.
![Washington Abruptly Freezes Immigrant-Visa Issuance for 75 Countries Pending Policy Review]()
Amid this uncertainty, individuals and global mobility teams can turn to VisaHQ’s United States portal (https://www.visahq.com/united-states/) for consolidated updates, alternative visa strategies and document-preparation support, helping applicants explore temporary travel options or navigate adjustment-of-status filings while the consular freeze remains in place.
Global mobility teams must reassess start-dates for transferees relying on consular processing. Employers with PERM-based green-card candidates stuck overseas should consider short-term B-1/B-2 or parole solutions where feasible, though work authorisation limitations remain a challenge. Immigration counsel recommend that HR issue communication plans to affected employees and monitor the Federal Register for a possible formal notice explaining the rationale.
Analysts believe the review is linked to ongoing security vetting reforms introduced under Presidential Proclamation 10998, which expanded country-based entry restrictions in early 2026. Whether the pause evolves into a longer-term policy shift—or is lifted once new screening protocols are in place—will determine how severely corporate relocation pipelines are affected.
Consular officers may continue to interview applicants and create cases, but they have been instructed not to finalise visas or place the issuance foil in passports. The directive does not affect Diversity-Visa selectees or non-immigrant categories such as H-1B or L-1. Nor does it stop applicants from filing adjustment-of-status applications inside the United States. However, applicants awaiting consular processing abroad—estimated at 110,000 according to National Visa Center figures—now face indefinite delays.
Amid this uncertainty, individuals and global mobility teams can turn to VisaHQ’s United States portal (https://www.visahq.com/united-states/) for consolidated updates, alternative visa strategies and document-preparation support, helping applicants explore temporary travel options or navigate adjustment-of-status filings while the consular freeze remains in place.
Global mobility teams must reassess start-dates for transferees relying on consular processing. Employers with PERM-based green-card candidates stuck overseas should consider short-term B-1/B-2 or parole solutions where feasible, though work authorisation limitations remain a challenge. Immigration counsel recommend that HR issue communication plans to affected employees and monitor the Federal Register for a possible formal notice explaining the rationale.
Analysts believe the review is linked to ongoing security vetting reforms introduced under Presidential Proclamation 10998, which expanded country-based entry restrictions in early 2026. Whether the pause evolves into a longer-term policy shift—or is lifted once new screening protocols are in place—will determine how severely corporate relocation pipelines are affected.
