U.S. Freezes Immigrant Visa Processing for Nationals of 75 Countries And What this Means For Our Clients

By Mireya Martinez, Managing Attorney, Motion Law,

The U.S. government has announced a pause on immigrant visa processing for nationals of certain countries effective January 21, 2026. This change affects cases processed at U.S. embassies and consulates abroad. It does not apply to nonimmigrant visas (tourist, student, etc.). This situation is still developing and detailed guidance has not yet been released. The only exception published is for individuals who are dual citizens of an unaffected country. 

What This Means for You 

If you or your family member are applying for an immigrant visa (also known as a green card) outside the United States and are a national of one of the affected countries, your case may be delayed. Consulates are still conducting interviews, but will pause the issuance of immigrant visas for nationals of the covered countries. 

Next Steps 

If you have already been scheduled for an interview and you are already abroad: 

Attend the interview as scheduled. There is no other action you need to take right now. There are no new forms, waivers, or procedures available.  

If you are waiting for an interview to be scheduled: 

We anticipate delays in the scheduling of the interviews.  

Please note that at this time the government has not released implementation details or exceptions beyond dual citizenship. As soon as reliable guidance is released, we will review its impact on pending cases and notify affected clients directly. 

Please continue to monitor this page for updates from our office. This is the fastest and most reliable way to receive accurate information as the situation develops. 

Background and Details 

The U.S. Department of State announced that beginning January 21, 2026, it will pause immigrant visa processing for nationals of 75 countries. The pause applies to immigrant visas issued at U.S. embassies and consulates abroad, including family based and employment based immigrant visas. Nonimmigrant visas such as tourist, business, student, or most work visas are not currently included. 

The government has stated that this pause is part of a broader review of immigrant visa screening procedures. No end date has been announced. Interviews may still occur in some cases, but visas will not be issued while the pause remains in effect. 

Nationals of the following countries are affected by the pause:

We will continue to monitor official announcements from the Department of State and other government agencies. Updates will be shared by email as soon as accurate information becomes available.