The U.S. State Department has suspended the issuance of immigrant visas from 75 countries whose migrants receive an unacceptable rate of public benefit usage from the American people. The suspension remains in effect until the United States can ensure that new immigrants will not drain resources. The measure went into effect on January 21, 2026.
The suspension applies to all immigrant visas, which are typically issued at embassies and consulates abroad. This means that those entering the country temporarily with non-immigrant visas for study, temporary work, tourism, business, or any other type of non-immigrant visa are not affected by the measure.
Which Countries Are Affected?
The countries whose nationals cannot initiate immigrant visa petitions are:
Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Bosnia, Brazil, Burma, 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, Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, 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, and Yemen.
What Happens If I Already Have an Appointment?
Those who already have a pending application may continue with the process and attend interviews, but for the moment, their applications will not be approved. New applications continue to be accepted, although they will not be approved while the pause remains in place.
Will Adjustments of Status, Petitions, and Green Card Renewals be Affected?
Green card holders (lawful permanent residents) from these 75 countries can generally continue to apply for adjustments of status and renew their cards by filing Form I-90 with USCIS within the U.S., as the ban primarily targets the processing of new immigrant visas from abroad, and not existing lawful permanent residents renewing their physical cards. However, the government continues to provide clarifications on implementation details.
Are There Exceptions?
The U.S. Department of State has noted that if an applicant has dual nationality and one of those nationalities is subject to the suspension and the other is not, the person may obtain an immigrant visa by applying with the passport of the nationality that is not restricted.
The Stated Rationale for Implementing the Immigrant Visa Hold
The United States stated that nationals of these countries would come to the U.S. to use its public benefits. The order is consistent with the Trump administration's efforts to reduce the risk that immigrants will become "public charges" by using government resources.
President Trump published a list on the social media platform X naming the countries whose nationals use the greatest amount of public benefits when they come to the U.S. According to the list published by the president, the countries at the top are Bhutan, Yemen, and Somalia, with between 71% and 81% of their immigrant nationals in the U.S. requesting public assistance.
Critics of the measure argue that the "potential" to become a public charge is vague and that the underlying reasons are actually political. For example, Uruguay and Brazil have a lower rate of immigrants using public benefits in the U.S. compared with Mexico, yet Uruguayan and Brazilian nationals have had their immigrant visa applications paused while Mexicans have not.
Nationals of the Dominican Republic are in fifth place in the ranking of those requesting the most U.S. public benefits, and yet their green card applications have not been paused.
Critics also say that the measure makes a sweeping generalization that affects all citizens of these countries instead of evaluating each individual. For all these reasons, it is highly likely that this order will be challenged in the courts.
The government, for its part, states that "The Trump administration is putting an end to the abuse of the U.S. immigration system by those who want to take advantage of the American people. Processing of immigrant visas from these 75 countries will be suspended while the Department of State reevaluates immigration processing procedures to prevent the entry of foreign nationals who might make use of public benefits and public services."
How Does This Affect the World Cup?
The order should not affect those who wish to come to the country for the World Cup because the visas being suspended are immigrant visas, not tourist, business, work, student, or other nonimmigrant visas. Even so, the impact of this measure is massive. If you are in one of the categories affected by the measure, or if you have questions about whether having received any public benefit could put your immigration case at risk of being considered a "public charge," it is recommended that you consult with an immigration lawyer to evaluate your situation.
Related Resources
- Increased Social Media Reviews for Immigrants: What They Involve and Who Is Affected (FindLaw's Law and Daily Life)
- What the ‘Asylum Pause’ Means (FindLaw's Law and Daily Life)
- New Policy Would Make Getting a Green Card a 'Weighty' Matter (FindLaw's Law and Daily Life)
