US Suspends Immigrant Visa Processing for 75 Countries, Including Pakistan, Bangladesh, Iran & Russia
In a major shift in US immigration policy, the United States State Department has announced an indefinite suspension of immigrant visa processing for citizens of 75 countries, effective January 21, 2026. The move - aimed at tightening immigration screening and preventing entry of applicants deemed likely to become a “public charge” - will impact prospective migrants from countries across Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Eastern Europe, and Latin America.
Countries named in the freeze include Pakistan, Bangladesh, Iran, Russia, Afghanistan, Nigeria, Somalia, Brazil, and Thailand, among many others - although tourist, business, student, and other non-immigrant visas are not affected by this policy.
A State Department spokesperson said the suspension allows US embassies and consulates to reassess immigration procedures under existing law and better vet applicants for potential reliance on government welfare programs. During the pause, consular officers have been instructed to refuse immigrant visas from these countries, even if applicants have already attended interviews or been conditionally approved.
Officials offered exceptions for dual nationals holding valid passports from countries not on the list, and cases that can demonstrate a special “America First” national interest. The suspension carries no fixed end date and will remain in place until the reassessment process is complete, the spokesperson noted.
While this policy is one of the broadest restrictions on legal immigration in recent years, it does not bar short-term travel or non-immigrant entries. Indian passport holders currently remain unaffected by this suspension - India is not included on the 75-nation list - though nearby neighbours, including Pakistan and Bangladesh, are impacted.
The decision has raised concerns among affected countries and immigrant communities, many of whom see it as a significant barrier to family reunification, employment-based migration and long-term residency plans in the US. Immigration lawyers also warn that the policy’s public-benefit rationale could significantly restrict legal avenues for permanent settlement.
