What the January 14th Immigrant Visa Freeze Means

On January 14th, 2026, the State Department revealed that they will be pausing all visa issuances to immigrant visa applicants from countries they have deemed as "high risk." This pause went into effect on January 21^st, 2026 and applies to any immigrant visa applicant from the following countries:

Afghanistan

Albania

Algeria

Antigua and Barbuda

Armenia

Azerbaijan

Bahamas

Bangladesh

Barbados

Belarus

Belize

Bhutan

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Brazil

Burma

Cambodia

Cameroon

Cape Verde

Colombia

Cote d'lvoire

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

Kyrgyz Republic

Laos

Lebanon

Liberia

Libya

Moldova

Mongolia

Montenegro

Morocco

Nepal

Nicaragua

Nigeria

North Macedonia

Pakistan

Republic of the Congo

Russia

Rwanda

Saint Kitts and Nevis

Saint Lucia

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Senegal

Sierra Leone

Somalia

South Sudan

Sudan

Syria

Tanzania

Thailand

Togo

Tunisia

Uganda

Uruguay

Uzbekistan

Yemen

For now, the pause only applies to immigrants seeking permanent status in the U.S. through a U.S. Consulate overseas. The pause does not currently apply to applicants for temporary status, or to applicants who are applying for status from inside the U.S. 

While this pause can sound scary, it does not mean that getting your immigrant visa will be impossible. The important thing to remember is that this is a pause. According to the State Department official website, immigrant visa applicants from the countries listed above can still submit visa applications and attend their interviews. The department will continue to schedule appointments for immigrant visa applicants; they just will not be issuing visas during this pause.

Many applicants looking to obtain an immigrant visa may still benefit from submitting their application during this pause period. Applying at this time will likely ensure that you are higher on the list of applications to be processed once the pause is lifted. The State Department has yet to announce when this pause will be lifted, but the team and Bennett & Harker will continue to provide information and guidance to anyone seeking help during this challenging time. If you or a loved one have any questions about applying for an immigrant visa, please contact us to schedule a consultation.