In a significant escalation of its immigration policy, the United States government has announced an indefinite suspension of processing immigrant visas for citizens from 75 different countries. The move, unveiled by the State Department on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, is set to take effect on January 21.
Policy Rationale and Official Statement
The suspension targets individuals seeking to live and work permanently in the U.S. According to the State Department, the freeze is a direct response to concerns over welfare usage. In a statement posted on social media, the department declared the action would pause immigrant visa processing from countries whose migrants "take welfare from the American people at unacceptable rates."
Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott framed the decision as a necessary measure to protect American resources. He stated the move was designed to end "the abuse of America’s immigration system by those who would extract wealth from the American people." The suspension will remain active until the U.S. government can implement mechanisms to ensure new immigrants are financially self-sufficient.
Scope of the Ban and Exemptions
The sweeping policy applies specifically to the processing of immigrant visas, which are required for those pursuing permanent residency (green cards). It does not affect non-immigrant visas, such as those for tourists, students, or temporary workers.
A key exemption exists for dual nationals. Individuals who hold a passport from a country not included on the list of 75 will not be subject to the ban, even if they are also citizens of a listed nation. This provides a potential pathway for some affected applicants.
List of Affected Countries
The State Department released a comprehensive list of nations subject to the visa processing halt. The list includes a diverse mix of countries from multiple continents:
- Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan
- Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil
- Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Colombia, Congo, Cuba
- Dominica, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia
- Fiji, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea
- Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Ivory Coast
- Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan
- Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya
- Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Myanmar
- Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, North Macedonia
- Pakistan, Republic of the Congo, Russia, Rwanda
- Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria
- Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia
- Uganda, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Yemen
Context and Potential Implications
This policy marks a major expansion of the Trump administration's efforts to restrict immigration, moving beyond previous travel bans focused on specific regions or security concerns. By tying the suspension to welfare usage rates, the administration is introducing a new economic criterion for immigration eligibility.
The indefinite nature of the suspension creates significant uncertainty for thousands of prospective immigrants whose applications will now be put on hold indefinitely. The policy is likely to face legal challenges and has already drawn criticism from immigration advocates who argue it unfairly targets a broad swath of the world's population.
For Canadian observers and those with ties to the listed countries, the announcement underscores the volatile and restrictive nature of current U.S. immigration policy. It may influence migration patterns and international relations for the foreseeable future.
