U.S. Department of State (DOS) recently announced it will pause the issuance of immigrant visas at U.S. consulates worldwide starting Jan. 21, 2026 for nationals of 75 countries that DOS deems “at high risk of public benefits usage.” That said, the pause impacts only immigrant visa issuance and does not affect nonimmigrant visas such as B tourist visas, F student visas, J exchange visitor visas, and H-1B work visas.
In other words, there’s no reason to panic.
It also helps when your best buddy is President of the United States.
“President Trump has made clear that immigrants must be financially self-sufficient and not be a financial burden to Americans,” officials wrote in Wednesday’s announcement. “The Department of State is undergoing a full review of all policies, regulations, and guidance to ensure that immigrants from these high-risk countries do not utilize welfare in the United States or become a public charge.”
Here’s a list of the affected 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’Ivoire, 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, and Yemen.
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