Which Countries Are Included in the US Immigrant Visa Processing Suspension?

Plans to relocate to the United States may now come with added uncertainty for many applicants. The US has announced a pause on immigrant visa processing for individuals from 75 countries, reflecting a broader tightening of immigration procedures under the Trump administration. The decision is part of a wider review of how immigrant visas are screened and approved.

According to Reuters, the suspension will take effect on January 21 and applies specifically to immigrant visas, not tourist or short-term visitor visas.

The suspension is part of a broader tightening of immigration rules under President Donald Trump’s administration, which has made visa processing notably more demanding in recent months. Beyond increased scrutiny, applicants are also facing steeper costs.

Among the changes are the introduction of a “visa integrity fee” set at $250, as well as visa bonds that can reach up to $15,000 for certain countries. Highly skilled foreign workers applying for H-1B visas—the temporary work visa commonly used in tech, healthcare, and engineering—are also subject to a dramatically higher fee of up to $100,000.

US officials say the pause allows the State Department to conduct a full review of immigration policies to ensure stricter screening and financial self-sufficiency among applicants. A State Department cable reviewed by Reuters noted concerns that some applicants from the affected countries may be at higher risk of relying on public benefits once in the US.

The administration has emphasized that the decision does not affect visitor visas, which remain especially relevant as the US prepares to host the 2026 World Cup and the 2028 Olympics.

According to a US official cited by Reuters, immigrant visa processing will be suspended for applicants from the following countries:

• Afghanistan

• Albania

• Algeria

• Antigua and Barbuda

• Armenia

• Azerbaijan

• Bahamas

• Bangladesh

• Barbados

• Belarus

• Belize

• Bhutan

• Bosnia

• Brazil

• Cambodia

• Cameroon

• Cape Verde

• Colombia

• Democratic Republic of the Congo

• Cuba

• Dominica

• Egypt

• Eritrea

• Ethiopia

• Fiji

• The Gambia

• Georgia

• Ghana

• Grenada

• Guatemala

• Guinea

• Haiti

• Iran

• Iraq

• Ivory Coast

• Jamaica

• Jordan

• Kazakhstan

• Kosovo

• Kuwait

• Kyrgyzstan

• Laos

• Lebanon

• Liberia

• Libya

• North Macedonia

• Moldova

• Mongolia

• Montenegro

• Morocco

• Myanmar

• Nepal

• Nicaragua

• Nigeria

• 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

The US State Department said immigrant visa processing from these countries will remain on hold while procedures are reassessed. Critics, including policy analysts, have warned that the move could significantly reduce the number of legal immigrants entering the US over the next year.