EFFECTIVE JAN 21, 2026
The Full List of 75 Countries Where Trump Is Suspending Immigrant Visa Processing
The State Department has announced a sweeping pause on immigrant visa issuances for nationals of 75 countries, citing concerns over public benefits usage. Here is the complete list organized by region.
On January 14, 2026, the U.S. Department of State announced a significant policy change that will affect immigrant visa applicants from 75 countries worldwide. Effective January 21, 2026, the department is pausing all immigrant visa issuances to nationals of these countries, which the administration has identified as having high rates of public benefits usage among their immigrant populations.
The announcement, titled “Immigrant Visa Processing Updates for Nationalities at High Risk of Public Benefits Usage,” states that the Department of State is undergoing a full review of all policies, regulations, and guidance to ensure that immigrants from these countries do not utilize welfare in the United States or become a public charge.
The country selection aligns with the Public Charge Ground of Inadmissibility rule issued by the Department of Homeland Security in November 2025.
This suspension applies only to immigrant visas (green cards). Non-immigrant visas such as tourist visas (B-1/B-2), student visas (F-1), and work visas (H-1B) are not affected by this pause.
Complete List by Region
The 75 countries span multiple continents and regions. Below is the complete list organized by geographic region for easy reference.
14 COUNTRIES
19 COUNTRIES
14 COUNTRIES
11 COUNTRIES
17 COUNTRIES
Complete Alphabetical List
For quick reference, here is the complete list of all 75 countries in alphabetical order as published by the State Department.
OFFICIAL LIST
What’s Affected vs. What’s Not
Understanding the scope of this suspension is crucial. The State Department has confirmed that this pause applies specifically to immigrant visas and does not affect temporary non-immigrant visa categories.
- Family-sponsored immigrant visas
- Employment-based immigrant visas
- Diversity Visa lottery winners
- Other immigrant visa categories
- Tourist visas (B-1/B-2)
- Work visas (H-1B, L-1, etc.)
- Student visas (F-1, J-1)
- Other non-immigrant visas
Dual nationals applying with a valid passport of a country that is not on the list are exempt from this pause. The determination depends on which passport is used for the visa application.
Frequently Asked Questions
Immigrant visa applicants who are nationals of affected countries may submit visa applications and attend interviews. The Department will continue to schedule applicants for appointments. However, no immigrant visas will be issued to these nationals during this pause.
Yes. Dual nationals applying with a valid passport of a country that is not listed are exempt from this pause.
No immigrant visas have been revoked as part of this guidance. For questions regarding admission to the United States, the State Department refers individuals to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
No. This pause is specifically for immigrant visa applicants. Tourist visas are non-immigrant visas and are not affected by this suspension.
No. H-1B visas are non-immigrant (temporary) work visas and are not affected by this suspension. However, if an H-1B holder from an affected country is applying for a green card (immigrant visa), that green card application would be subject to the pause.
The pause will remain active until the U.S. can ensure that new immigrants will not become dependent on public benefits. No specific end date has been announced.
Key Takeaways
The suspension of immigrant visa processing for nationals of 75 countries represents a significant policy shift that will affect hundreds of thousands of prospective immigrants. While the pause specifically targets immigrant visas (green cards), it does not apply to non-immigrant visa categories such as tourist, student, or work visas.
Affected individuals should monitor official State Department announcements for updates on this policy. Dual nationals may be exempt if they apply using a passport from a country not on the list.
