U.S. Pauses Immigrant Visas for Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Nepal amid broader crackdown

The U.S. State Department announced on January 14, 2026 that it will indefinitely suspend immigrant visa processing for nationals of 75 countries, a move set to take effect on January 21, 2026 and expected to halt the issuance of green-card visas for applicants from countries including Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Nepal.

The pause is aimed at permanent residency pathways processed at U.S. consulates abroad and is framed around the “public charge” standard, which the Trump administration is using to bar would-be immigrants it deems likely to rely on U.S. welfare programs.

“The State Department will use its long-standing authority to deem ineligible potential immigrants who would become a public charge on the United States and exploit the generosity of the American people,” said Tommy Pigott, Principal Deputy Spokesperson at the State Department.

Countries Named and Noted Exceptions

Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Nepal were explicitly listed among the 75 affected nations. Other examples named in the announcement included Afghanistan, Bhutan, and Burma.

India, by contrast, was not included on the list, allowing Indian nationals to continue immigrant visa processing without a direct interruption under the new policy.

Scope of the Suspension

The suspension applies to all immigrant visas, including family-sponsored IR/CR categories and employment-based EB-1 through EB-5 green cards. Under the policy, applications and interviews may proceed, but no visas will be issued during the pause.

Nonimmigrant visas were excluded from the suspension, including tourist B-1/B-2 and student F/M visas, along with other temporary categories. The State Department’s action also does not apply to dual nationals using passports from countries not on the list.

• Immigrant visas affected. Family-sponsored and employment-based green cards (IR/CR and EB-1 through EB-5) — issuance paused.
• Nonimmigrant visas excluded. Tourist B-1/B-2, student F/M, and other temporary categories continue.
• Dual nationals. Those using passports from countries not on the list are not subject to the suspension.

Short-term travel for events like the 2026 World Cup was also carved out, and existing valid visas will not be revoked under the policy, according to the announcement.

Rationale and Review

The State Department said the pause would remain indefinite until it completes a review of screening procedures focused on public charge risks. The agency cited benefits including Medicaid, SNAP, and CHIP in describing the types of public assistance that factor into its assessment.

The administration described the move as tied to concerns about welfare usage and vetting deficiencies in the countries named in the suspension. It also linked the policy to broader Trump-era efforts that include expanded travel bans and public charge rule revisions proposed by the Department of Homeland Security in November 2025.

Why India Was Excluded

While the State Department did not provide an official explanation for why India was excluded, experts attributed India’s exemption to what they described as stronger documentation systems, compliance with U.S. standards, economic ties, and the prominence of Indian workers in high-skilled visa categories such as H-1B.

Those experts pointed to India’s dominance in high-skilled visas like H-1B, describing Indian workers as filling tech and defense roles at lower costs. Critics from MAGA circles argued that dynamic disadvantages U.S. workers.

Practical Effects for Affected Applicants

For applicants from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Nepal, the practical effect is that immigrant visa issuance will halt starting January 21, 2026, even if interviews and related steps continue.

The policy leaves families and employers waiting for State Department updates on whether processing will resume, and on what timeline. The action is designed around consular immigrant visa issuance rather than short-term travel.

As a result, applicants who hoped to reunite through family-sponsored green cards or move through employment-based green card categories face an open-ended delay once the effective date arrives.

Public Charge Emphasis and Broader Effects

The State Department’s emphasis on public charge risks also brought renewed attention to how welfare considerations shape immigrant visa decisions. By highlighting benefits such as Medicaid, SNAP, and CHIP, the administration signaled that applicants’ perceived likelihood of using public assistance is central to the review.

Advocacy groups and policy researchers warned the approach could have effects beyond the individuals whose cases are paused, particularly where families may change behavior in response to the policy.

Julia Gelatt, Associate Director of the U.S. Immigration Policy Program at the Migration Policy Institute, said immigrants use benefits at lower rates than U.S. citizens. Gelatt also warned that stricter rules could deter eligible families, harming children and leading to worse health and poverty outcomes.

Duration, Monitoring, and Possible Expansion

The State Department stressed that the suspension is tied to a review of screening procedures, suggesting that the list of affected countries could remain in place until that work is completed. The policy’s timeframe was described as indefinite, rather than set to expire after a fixed number of days.

Experts cautioned that the list could expand under public charge or security rationales. As of January 15, 2026, no changes had been announced.

The decision is the latest in a series of Trump administration moves that connect immigration screening to welfare usage and broader restrictions that officials have linked to travel bans and vetting. The public charge framing, and the reliance on long-standing authority described by Pigott, positions the State Department as using its consular power to block immigrant visa issuance while maintaining other streams of travel.

Applicants affected by the policy were told to monitor State Department updates for any notice of resumption or expansion. As of January 15, 2026, no court challenges or reversals were reported.