On January 14, the Department of State under Trump’s administration stated that they will pause immigrant visa processing from 75 countries starting on January 21, 2026.
"The State Department will pause immigrant visa processing from 75 countries whose migrants take welfare from the American people at unacceptable rates. The freeze will remain active until the U.S. can ensure that new immigrants will not extract wealth from the American people.
The pause impacts dozens of countries – including Somalia, Haiti, Iran, and Eritrea – whose immigrants often become public charges on the United States upon arrival.
The Trump Administration will always put America First."
According to this statement on the official Department of State X account, this pause will be used to tighten the screening and vetting process to ensure that immigrants coming to the US will not be a burden to the country’s resources.
F-1 Student Visa is NOT an immigrant visa
It is important to note that this temporary pause is only for immigrant visas, non-immigrant visas which include travel, business, and student visas are not affected. The F-1 Visa that is required by international students going to the U.S. for education will still be processed normally.
Our advice for students who will be applying for the F-1 Visa this year is to stay calm, keep yourself updated, and plan ahead. Read more about our advice on preparing for the F-1 Visa here.
Here is the full list of 75 countries stated on the Department of State’s website:
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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