On January 14, 2026, the State Department announced on X that it would pause indefinitely the immigrant visa processing for citizens of 75 countries globally. The rationale for the pause is that the agency, through consular posts, must determine whether applicants are likely to become financially dependent on the U.S. government should they process for immigrant visas (permanent residence) through U.S. consulates abroad. This restriction will not apply to applicants already in the United States applying for permanent residence.

The notification from the State Department was implemented through an internal cable to consular posts not initially available to the public. This notification is in addition to an earlier ‘public charge’ restriction directive issued by the Department of State in November 2025. See our link here: https://www.tarterkrinsky.com/roxanne-h-levine/insights/new-public-charge-guidance-from-dos-and-uscis-significant-policy-shifts-ahead

Expanded Suspension Impacts Numerous Countries but Excludes Nonimmigrant Visa Categories

This directive does not apply to nonimmigrant (temporary) visa applicants, including those applying for B, E, F, L, H-1B, O1, R, Q and other visa categories. This expansion of suspensions targets a large portion of countries globally without targeting specific security checks.

The specific countries impacted include some countries already on the travel ban list, as well as countries currently included in a partial travel ban. 

They specifically include: 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. Many of these countries are already on a partial or complete travel ban to the United States.

Effects of Public Charge Inadmissibility

The public charge grounds for inadmissibility were recently expanded in November 2025 to include a much broader range of health conditions including diabetes, asthma, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, cancer, sleep apnea, neurological or metabolic diseases, mental health conditions or obesity.  There is sentiment throughout some communities that the concern about new immigrants applying for public benefits is unfounded, as new immigrants are not, under current federal regulations, entitled to such benefits until they have held permanent residence status for five years.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: 

The Tarter Krinsky & Drogin team will continue to monitor changes to the visa processing pause for indicated countries and provide updates as additional information becomes available.