U.S. Immigrant Visa Pause Explained: 75 Countries Affected

If you are from one of dozens of countries and planning to move permanently to the United States, your plans may have just changed.

The United States government has announced a pause in immigrant visa processing for nationals of seventy-five countries. The announcement has triggered confusion, anxiety, and conflicting headlines across the world. Many people are asking the same urgent question. What does this actually mean for my case?

The first twist is this. Not all visas are affected.

The pause applies only to immigrant visas, meaning visas that lead to permanent residence and a green card. This includes family based immigrant visas and employment-based immigrant visas.

By contrast, nonimmigrant visas are still being processed. These include tourist visas such as the B-1 and B-2 visitor visas, student visas such as the F-1 student visa, and several employment-related nonimmigrant categories. Importantly, investment visas like the E-2 treaty investor visa are not included in this pause.

In many cases, interviews may still take place, and applications may continue to move forward. In other cases, processing may be temporarily paused while additional review occurs. Knowing which visa category applies to your situation makes a meaningful difference.

Another detail often missed in early coverage is how this policy is being carried out. This is not a single-line order that shuts everything down. It is being implemented through internal State Department instructions sent to United States embassies and consulates. Those instructions guide officers on when to pause a case, when to continue reviewing it, and when an applicant may still qualify.

That distinction is critical.

This article breaks down what the government announced, what the internal guidance actually says, and how it affects real applicants. You will find the full list of affected countries, clear explanations of who is impacted and who is not, and what happens to applications already in progress. Most importantly, you will see what options may still exist and what steps applicants should consider next.

The headlines tell part of the story. The details tell the rest.

Immigrant visa pause: What was announced and what was not

The State Department announced that immigrant visa processing would be paused for nationals of seventy-five countries. That is the core fact. Everything else depends on how that pause is understood and applied.

What was announced is a change in how certain immigrant visa cases are handled at United States embassies and consulates abroad. Officers have been instructed to temporarily stop issuing immigrant visas in cases where applicants are determined to present a public charge concern under existing law. This instruction applies only to immigrant visas and only to applicants from the listed countries.

What was not announced is just as important.

This is not a blanket visa ban. The government did not shut down embassies. It did not cancel all interviews. It did not revoke visas that were already issued. It did not end immigration from these countries altogether.

Another point that often gets lost is timing. A pause does not mean every case stops at the same moment. Some applications may continue moving through the system. Others may reach a point where processing cannot move forward until additional review takes place. The outcome depends on the individual case and the stage it is in.

There is also no automatic denial built into this policy. The pause is implemented through administrative procedures that allow consular officers to hold a case while reviewing whether an applicant meets the public charge standard. In practical terms, this means some applicants may be asked for more evidence. Others may be told their case cannot move forward right now. Very few cases are decided instantly.

This distinction matters because it separates fear from fact.

At first glance, the announcement sounds final. In practice, it opens a review process that varies from case to case. To understand how that process works and why outcomes may differ even among applicants from the same country, it is necessary to look at the internal guidance sent to consular officers.

What the State Department memo actually changes

According to the internal guidance the United States State Department sent to embassies and consulates, the focus of this policy is procedural rather than political. The memo explains how consular officers must handle immigrant visa cases when public charge concerns are identified for applicants from the affected countries.

The guidance makes clear that officers are expected to continue their normal eligibility review. Interviews, document checks, and background assessments still take place. If concerns remain at the end of that review, the case is placed into an administrative holding status instead of moving forward to visa issuance.

This detail matters. A case placed on hold is not closed. The application remains active. Officers can request additional evidence, and applicants may still respond. 

The memo also draws firm boundaries around the policy. It does not apply to nonimmigrant visa categories such as tourist, student, or investment visas. It does not affect adjustment of status applications filed inside the United States. And it does not direct officers to withdraw visas that have already been issued.

In practical terms, the memo creates a holding mechanism, not a shutdown of the system. To understand who may be affected by this guidance, the next step is to review the specific countries named in the directive.

Full list of countries affected by the immigrant visa pause

Based on the State Department guidance distributed to United States embassies and consulates, immigrant visa issuance is being paused for nationals of the following seventy-five countries. The list reflects the countries specifically named in the internal directive used by consular officers when applying the policy.

Being included on this list does not mean an automatic denial. Each application is still reviewed individually. However, applicants from these countries may see their immigrant visa cases placed on hold if public charge concerns are identified at the final stage of review.

Countries covered by the guidance

• Afghanistan
• Albania
• Algeria
• Antigua and Barbuda
• Armenia
• Azerbaijan
• Bahamas
• Bangladesh
• Barbados
• Belarus
• Belize
• Bhutan
• Bosnia
• Brazil
• Burma
• Cambodia
• Cameroon
• Cape Verde
• Colombia
• Cote d’Ivoire
• Cuba
• Democratic Republic of the Congo
• Dominica
• Egypt
• Eritrea
• Ethiopia
• Fiji
• Gambia
• Georgia
• Ghana
• Grenada
• Guatemala
• Guinea
• Haiti
• Iran
• Iraq
• Jamaica
• Jordan
• Kazakhstan
• Kosovo
• Kuwait
• Kyrgyzstan
• Laos
• Lebanon
• Liberia
• Libya
• Macedonia
• Moldova
• Mongolia
• Montenegro
• Morocco
• Nepal
• Nicaragua
• Nigeria
• 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

Visa categories affected and not affected

Whether a case is impacted by the visa pause depends entirely on the type of visa, not just the applicant’s country of nationality. This distinction has caused widespread confusion, especially in early reporting. The policy targets only visas that lead directly to permanent residence. Temporary visas follow a different legal framework and are not part of this action.

The table below shows how the policy applies across the main visa categories.

Immigration alternatives during the pause

Even with immigrant visa processing paused for some applicants, this does not mean all paths to the United States are closed. In fact, several visa options remain available because they sit outside the immigrant visa system.

One of the most common alternatives is the E-2 treaty investor visa. This visa is based on nationality. Some countries on the affected list have an active E-2 treaty with the United States, which means their citizens can still apply. 

In other situations, a person may hold citizenship from more than one country. If one of those countries qualifies for the E-2 program, the applicant may use that nationality when applying. In those cases, E-2 applications continue to be processed by United States consulates as usual.

The E-2 visa allows an investor to live and work in the United States by owning and operating a qualifying business. Because it is a temporary visa that does not lead directly to a green card, it is not included in the current pause.

Another option is the O-1 visa, which is available to individuals who can show a high level of achievement in their field. This category is not tied to nationality. 

Instead, it focuses on professional track record and recognition. Entrepreneurs, executives, scientists, and other experienced professionals often qualify. Like the E-2, the O-1 remains available during this period.

How long the pause may last

At this point, the State Department has not announced a specific end date for the immigrant visa pause. The guidance describes it as remaining in effect until further notice while procedures related to public charge screening are reviewed.

This type of administrative measure is not permanent by design. Similar pauses in the past have lasted for months rather than years, depending on internal reviews and policy adjustments. However, timelines can change, and there is no guaranteed schedule.

For applicants, the key takeaway is this. The pause is not a final decision on eligibility. It is a temporary measure tied to process, not a permanent change to immigration law.

Frequently asked questions

Which countries are affected by the immigrant visa pause?

The pause applies to nationals of seventy-five countries listed earlier in this article. The list is based on State Department guidance used by consular officers.

Does the pause apply to tourist or student visas?

No. Visitor visas such as B-1 and B-2 and student visas such as F-1 are not included.

Is the E-2 treaty investor visa affected?

No. The E-2 visa is a nonimmigrant visa and continues to be processed.

Is the O-1 visa affected by this policy?

No. The O-1 visa is not tied to nationality and is not part of the pause.

Are immigrant visa interviews canceled?

Not automatically. Some interviews may still take place depending on the consulate and the case.

What happens to immigrant visa cases already in progress?

Some cases may be placed on hold at the final stage of review. Others may continue moving forward.

Does this policy affect adjustment of status inside the United States?

No. Applications filed with United States Citizenship and Immigration Services are not covered.

Are visas that were already issued being revoked?

No. The guidance does not call for revoking visas that have already been granted.

Is this the same as a visa ban?

No. This is an administrative pause related to public charge review, not a ban.

Can applicants submit additional documents if asked?

Yes. In some cases, officers may request more financial or supporting evidence.

What applicants should do next

If you are affected by the immigrant visa pause, the first step is to understand where your case stands. That means confirming your visa category, your current stage in the process, and whether your application is being handled by a United States consulate abroad or inside the country.

It is important not to rely on headlines alone. This policy does not automatically end all immigrant visa cases, and many applications remain open even when final issuance is paused. Some applicants may be asked to provide additional documents. Others may need to wait while internal procedures are reviewed.

It is also worth considering whether a nonimmigrant option may fit your situation during this period. For some applicants, temporary pathways such as the E-2 or O-1 can offer a way to move forward while immigrant processing is delayed. These visas are not affected by the pause and continue to be adjudicated by consular officers.

At Visa Franchise, we have focused on E-2 investor visas since 2015, working primarily with entrepreneurs and families looking to build businesses in the United States. Over the years, more than 1,200 families have gone through this process with our team.

Alongside E-2 cases, we also work closely with O-1 applications for founders and professionals whose experience and track record support that category.

If you would like to better understand what options may be available to you, or whether you qualify under one of these pathways, you can explore your situation further by completing our eligibility checker. It is designed to help applicants assess their possibilities based on background, nationality, and goals.

Above all, focus on accurate information and careful preparation. Immigration policies often change through internal guidance rather than public announcements. Understanding your options now can help you respond calmly and strategically as the situation evolves.