Overview
- Officials described the freeze as open-ended, saying it will remain until safeguards convince the U.S. that new immigrants will not draw on public welfare.
- The suspension covers only immigrant visas tied to permanent residence, leaving tourist, business, student, and other nonimmigrant travel unchanged.
- Consular officers were told to stop issuing immigrant visas to affected nationals, with applications and interviews allowed to continue but no visas printed during the pause.
- News outlets published a reported full country list based on State Department guidance and internal memos, including Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Russia, Iran, Somalia, Nigeria, and Thailand, and excluding India.
- Guidance notes exemptions for dual nationals applying with a passport from a non-listed country and specifies that no immigrant visas have been revoked under this policy.