The Trump administration has announced a major change for immigration.
Effective January 21, 2026, the U.S. Department of State will pause all immigrant visa issuance for nationals of 75 countries.
This means citizens from these countries will temporarily be unable to receive green cards.
Some of the countries affected include Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Cuba, Ethiopia, Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan, Russia, Syria, Yemen, and many others.
In total, the list covers 75 nations.
What This Means for Applicants
Immigrant visas allow foreigners to live and work permanently in the U.S. after receiving a green card.
Under the new rule, nationals of the affected countries cannot be granted immigrant visas during this pause.
However, there is an important distinction: non-immigrant visas like B1/B2 tourist visas, student visas, or temporary work visas will not be affected.
Citizens of these countries can still travel to the U.S. temporarily, but permanent residency applications are on hold.
Applicants can still submit applications and attend interviews, but visas will not be issued until the review is complete.
Why the Pause Was Introduced
The Trump administration says this step is economic in nature.
Officials want to ensure that new immigrants are financially self-sufficient and do not rely on U.S. welfare programs.
The Department of State is reviewing policies to prevent immigrants from becoming a public charge.
President Trump highlighted data on Truth Social showing welfare use among immigrant households from nearly 120 countries—but notably, India was excluded because Indian-Americans typically have high median incomes and low welfare dependency.
This rule is aimed at reducing financial burden on the U.S. while still allowing the Department of State to process applications and maintain oversight.
