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2h ago

U.S. Publishes 75-Country List as Immigrant Visa Processing Pause Takes Effect Jan. 21

The State Department says the pause enforces stricter public‑charge rules to prevent reliance on U.S. benefits.

EE.UU. pausó el procesamiento de visas de inmigrante, generando incertidumbre entre miles de familias que esperaban reunificarse. | Crédito: BanarTABS / iStock
EE.UU. detiene temporalmente el procesamiento de visas para varios países. | Crédito: Freepik
El anuncio fue realizado por la secretaria de prensa de la Casa Blanca, Karoline Leavitt, quien publicó en la red social X: “Estados Unidos congela el procesamiento de visas para 75 países, incluidos Somalia, Rusia e Irán.”. (AP Foto/Wilfredo Lee, Archivo)
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio gestures as he speaks to the media on the day of a briefing for the House of Representatives on the situation in Venezuela, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., U.S., January 7, 2026. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein

Overview

  • The State Department released the full roster of 75 affected nationalities and directed consulates to halt issuing immigrant visas starting Jan. 21.
  • The suspension is indefinite while procedures are reevaluated under the expanded public‑charge guidance issued in November.
  • Only immigrant (permanent) visa categories are covered, with tourist, student and business visas continuing to be processed.
  • Existing visas remain valid, and applicants may still file and attend interviews, but immigrant visas will not be issued during the pause.
  • The list spans Latin America, Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Europe—including Brazil, Colombia, Uruguay, Russia, Iran and Somalia—and migration analysts warn the step could cut nearly half of recent legal immigrant visa volumes.