US Pauses Immigrant Visas for 75 Countries Over Public Charge Rule
The United States has paused immigrant visa processing worldwide as the Trump administration intensifies vetting of applicants deemed likely to depend on public assistance.
The State Department confirmed the move on Tuesday, saying it had in early August directed all embassies and consulates to adjust visa appointment schedules to allow for in-depth training of consular officers.
The agency said the exercise was to ensure officers are fully equipped to evaluate every applicant comprehensively and consistently under the public charge rule.
Under the directive, which forms part of the updated Immigrant Visa Processing Updates for Nationalities at High Risk of Public Benefits Usage revised on January 14 and effective from January 21, 2026, consular posts will continue to accept applications and conduct interviews but will not issue immigrant visas during the review period.
Immigrant visas already issued remain valid, and non-immigrant visas for tourism and business are not affected.
The government says the pause is intended to prevent entry of foreign nationals who could become a financial burden on the United States. In U.S. immigration law, a public charge refers to a non-citizen likely to depend primarily on government support.
A November 2025 cable instructed officers to widen checks to include age, health, financial position, English proficiency and potential need for long-term care. The list covers 75 countries including Nigeria, Pakistan, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Russia, Bangladesh, Sudan, Syria, Somalia and Yemen.
Applicants whose interviews were already scheduled have received emails cancelling their appointments, with promises of new dates to be communicated later. The action is part of a broader immigration crackdown targeting both legal and undocumented migration.
It follows a separate announcement that the administration, working with the Department of Homeland Security, will identify and revoke visas of individuals who entered the U.S. as temporary visitors and later applied for asylum, a step described by the White House as potentially the largest mass visa revocation in history, affecting up to 200,000 visas. The State Department said revocations would be carried out on a rolling basis.
The latest pause follows an earlier 75-country restriction on similar public charge grounds that was struck down by a federal court after a judge found officers were refusing applicants based solely on nationality rather than individual assessment of finances, health, skills and family circumstances.
Immigration lawyers said the move has created immediate disruption for families, with applicants having spent thousands of dollars and made travel arrangements for interviews now cancelled at short notice. The State Department has not said when rescheduling will begin, while additional measures such as social media vetting and higher processing fees remain in effect. #US Pauses Immigrant Visas for 75 Countries Over Public Charge Rule# U.S. to Revoke 200,000 Visas
