US Freezes Immigrant Visa Processing for 75 Countries Under Trump Administration

In a major tightening of immigration rules, the United States has announced a blanket suspension on immigrant visa processing for citizens of 75 countries. The decision, taken by the Trump administration, applies only to permanent immigration and has no fixed end date. The move signals a sharp shift in US immigration policy with wide global implications.

Why in News?

The United States has indefinitely suspended immigrant visa processing for nationals of 75 countries, starting January 21, 2026, as part of a sweeping immigration restriction under the Trump administration.

About US Decision

• The Trump administration has ordered an indefinite freeze on immigrant visas, which are meant for individuals seeking to live and work permanently in the US.
• The suspension is based on nationality, not individual applications, and affects countries across Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and Eastern Europe.
• Importantly, the decision does not apply to tourist, business or temporary work visas, narrowing its scope strictly to permanent residency pathways.

Reason Behind the Visa Suspension

• According to the US State Department, the decision uses long-standing legal authority that allows visa denial if applicants are likely to depend on government welfare.
• However, for the first time, this authority is being applied as a blanket nationality-based suspension.
• State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said the freeze aims to prevent abuse of America’s immigration system and protect public resources under an “America First” approach.

Countries Affected by the Freeze

• The suspension covers 75 countries, including Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Iran, Russia, Nigeria, Brazil, Thailand, Somalia and Nepal, among many others.
• These countries span multiple continents, making the policy one of the widest nationality-based immigration restrictions in recent US history. The full list includes developing as well as middle-income nations, significantly affecting global migration flows to the US.

Who Will Not Be Affected?

• The restriction does not affect tourist, business, student or temporary work visas, including sports-related travel such as the upcoming FIFA World Cup.
• Exceptions may apply to individuals with dual nationality, if they hold a passport from a non-listed country, or if their travel is deemed to serve US national interest.
• However, if an immigrant visa is approved but not yet printed, consular officers must refuse it under the new directive.

Here Is The Full List

Africa

• Algeria
• Cameroon
• Cape Verde
• Côte d’Ivoire
• Democratic Republic of the Congo
• Egypt
• Eritrea
• Ethiopia
• Gambia
• Ghana
• Guinea
• Haiti
• Liberia
• Libya
• Morocco
• Nigeria
• Republic of the Congo
• Rwanda
• Senegal
• Sierra Leone
• Somalia
• South Sudan
• Sudan
• Tanzania
• Togo
• Tunisia
• Uganda

Asia

• Afghanistan
• Armenia
• Azerbaijan
• Bangladesh
• Bhutan
• Myanmar
• Cambodia
• Fiji
• Georgia
• Iran
• Iraq
• Jordan
• Kazakhstan
• Kyrgyzstan
• Laos
• Lebanon
• Mongolia
• Nepal
• Pakistan
• Syria
• Thailand
• Uzbekistan
• Yemen

Europe (including Eastern & Balkan states)

• Albania
• Belarus
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Kosovo
• Moldova
• Montenegro
• North Macedonia
• Russia

Latin America & Caribbean

• Antigua and Barbuda
• Bahamas
• Barbados
• Belize
• Brazil
• Colombia
• Cuba
• Dominica
• Grenada
• Guatemala
• Jamaica
• Nicaragua
• St Kitts and Nevis
• St Lucia
• St Vincent and the Grenadines
• Uruguay

Middle East

• Iran
• Iraq
• Kuwait
• Lebanon
• Libya
• Syria
• Yemen

Question

Q. The US visa freeze announced in January 2026 applies to which category?

A. Tourist visas
B. Student visas
C. Immigrant (permanent) visas
D. Transit visas