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The United States has begun enforcing a sweeping suspension of immigrant visa processing for nationals of 75 countries, marking one of the most extensive restrictions on legal migration pathways under the Trump administration.
The measure took effect on January 21 and applies to applications for permanent residency, including family-based and employment-based immigrant visas. The policy affects countries across Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and Eastern Europe, including Brazil, Pakistan, Nigeria, Egypt, Thailand, Russia and Uruguay.
According to a statement from the US Department of State, the suspension is aimed at preventing immigrants deemed likely to become a “public charge” from entering the country. The administration has framed the move as part of its broader effort to ensure that immigrants are financially self-sufficient and do not rely on US government welfare programmes.
“President Trump has made clear that immigrants must be financially self-sufficient and not be a financial burden to Americans,” the State Department said, adding that the policy is designed to ensure that immigrants from what it described as high-risk countries do not utilise welfare benefits in the United States.
Scope and exceptions
The suspension applies to immigrant visa cases that have not yet reached the issuance stage. While applicants from the affected countries may still submit visa applications and attend interviews, their cases will not progress to visa issuance. If a visa has already been approved but has not been printed, consular officers have been instructed to refuse the application.
Existing visas held by nationals of the affected countries remain valid and are not impacted by the decision.
Limited exemptions apply. Dual nationals may proceed with immigrant visa applications if they apply using a valid passport from a country not on the list. Additional exceptions may be granted if an applicant can demonstrate that their travel serves an “America First” national interest, according to a State Department cable.
The list of affected countries spans multiple regions and includes US allies, emerging markets and conflict-affected states. Among them are Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Colombia, Egypt, Ghana, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Nigeria, Pakistan, Russia, Sudan, Syria, Thailand and Yemen.
The full list also includes several Caribbean and Latin American nations, as well as countries in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, underlining the global scale of the restriction.
Duration unclear
The Trump administration has not specified an end date for the suspension, raising concerns among immigration lawyers, businesses and multinational employers that the measure could remain in place indefinitely.
For companies operating across borders, particularly those reliant on talent mobility, family reunification or long-term workforce planning, the move adds another layer of uncertainty to US immigration policy at a time of heightened geopolitical and economic tension.
The suspension represents one of the most far-reaching immigration actions since President Donald Trump returned to office, reinforcing the administration’s hardline stance on immigration and welfare-related eligibility.
Here is the full list:
Afghanistan
Albania
Algeria
Antigua and Barbuda
Armenia
Azerbaijan
Bahamas
Bangladesh
Barbados
Belarus
Belize
Bhutan
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Brazil
Myanmar
Cambodia
Cameroon
Cape Verde
Colombia
Côte d’Ivoire
Cuba
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Dominica
Egypt
Eritrea
Ethiopia
Fiji
The Gambia
Georgia
Ghana
Grenada
Guatemala
Guinea
Haiti
Iran
Iraq
Jamaica
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kosovo
Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan
Laos
Lebanon
Liberia
Libya
North Macedonia
Moldova
Mongolia
Montenegro
Morocco
Nepal
Nicaragua
Nigeria
Pakistan
Republic of the Congo
Russia
Rwanda
St Kitts and Nevis
St Lucia
St Vincent and the Grenadines
Senegal
Sierra Leone
Somalia
South Sudan
Sudan
Syria
Tanzania
Thailand
Togo
Tunisia
Uganda
Uruguay
Uzbekistan
Yemen
