Rehan Shahid 
Jan 16, 2026
United States authorities has indefinitely suspended immigrant visa processing for people from 75 countries, including Pakistan, marking one of its most expansive efforts yet to restrict legal pathways to the country.
The US visa processing suspension will take effect on January 21, impacting applicants from Latin America and the Caribbean, the Balkans, and several countries in South Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.
The Department of State stated that the freeze will remain active until the US can ensure that new immigrants will not extract wealth from the American people.
“The Trump administration is bringing an end to the abuse of America’s immigration system by those who would extract wealth from the American people.
“Immigrant visa processing from these 75 countries will be paused while the State Department reassess immigration processing procedures to prevent the entry of foreign nationals who would take welfare and public benefits,” said the state department.
US visa processing suspension: Full list of affected countries
Here's the full list of affected countries by US visa processing suspension, which include:
- 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
Will US visa processing suspension affects tourist visas?
The state department said that this pause is specifically for immigrant visa applicants. Tourist visas are non immigrant visas.
Earlier in January 2025, the White House, in a statement, said the US could not accept large numbers of migrants, especially refugees, without putting pressure on public resources, creating security concerns, or making it harder for newcomers to integrate.
