Based on a post published on the US Department of State’s official X account, the Department has announced that it will suspend immigrant visa processing for nationals of approximately 75 countries. This development follows earlier restrictions affecting immigration benefit requests for designated countries and further signals an expansion of US government review measures. At this time, no formal guidance or implementing memorandum has been released.
According to media reports, the US Department of State has issued internal instructions directing consular posts to pause immigrant visa adjudications for nationals of approximately 75 countries. The pause is expected to begin on January 21, 2026, and is intended to allow the Department to reassess its screening and vetting procedures.
This announcement should be viewed as a further development of Presidential Proclamation 10998, issued December 16, 2025, and an earlier December 2, 2025 memorandum that placed holds and additional reviews on immigration benefit applications for nationals from designated high-risk countries.
It should be noted that this pause will only impact individuals who have applied for an immigrant visa at the US consulate abroad. It does not impact individuals who are applying for non-immigrant visas (such as an H-1B, L-1, etc) at the US consulates.
The full list of potentially affected countries comprises Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Bosnia, Brazil, Burma, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Colombia, Cote d’Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, 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.
As of this date, the referenced memorandum has not been published, and the Department of State has not issued an official announcement; however, the Department did acknowledge the pause in a post on its official X account. News reports and the Department’s post on X indicate that the suspension currently applies to immigrant visa processing only.
In light of this uncertainty, impacted individuals and employers should anticipate potential delays in immigrant visa processing and monitor closely for further updates from the Department of State.
Vialto is actively monitoring for official updates from the Department of State and will provide further details as soon as they are released.
For a deeper discussion on the above, please reach out to your Vialto Partners point of contact, or alternatively:
Manish Daftari
Partner
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