Update, August 24, 2026: On August 21, 2026, a federal judge in the Southern District of New York struck down this policy, ruling that it exceeded the State Department’s authority and violated federal law. The freeze described below is no longer in effect, and immigrant visa applications refused solely because of it must be reviewed again. The country list below remains accurate as a record of who was affected. Read our full report on the ruling striking down the immigrant visa pause.
In a sweeping directive issued in January 2026, the Trump Administration ordered an immediate freeze on the issuance of U.S. immigrant visas for nationals of 75 countries. This significant expansion of immigration restrictions left thousands of applicants in limbo and raised urgent questions about the future of their green card journeys.
While the Department of State confirmed that consular operations would continue to some extent, the final step of the actual issuance of the visa stamp was halted for these specific nationals. Below, we answer the most frequently asked questions about the policy as it stood and what it meant for applications.
Understanding the Scope of the Freeze
The guidance explicitly targeted green cards only (immigrant visa applicants) who were nationals of the 75 affected countries. Unlike previous travel bans that often stopped all entry, this policy created a unique status where applications were processed but immigrant visas were not issued. This distinction was critical for applicants in the pipeline. Non-Immigrant visas (TN, E-2, E-1, H-1B, L-1 and B-1 among others) were not impacted by this policy change.
What Happened to Interview Appointments?
According to the Department of State, the freeze did not stop the administrative machinery entirely. The Department confirmed that applications were still being accepted, meaning applicants could still submit the visa application (DS-260) and supporting civil documents. Furthermore, the Department continued to schedule applicants for interviews at U.S. Consulates and Embassies.
However, the critical bottleneck was the final issuance. Applicants could attend the interview and have the case adjudicated, but no immigrant visa would be issued to nationals of the affected countries during the pause. Cases were effectively placed in a “refused” status pending administrative processing while the freeze remained in place.
List of Affected Countries
The list included U.S. allies and adversaries alike, spanning the Americas, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Africa. Nationals from the following countries were subject to the immigrant visa freeze:
The Americas
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Bahamas
- Barbados
- Belize
- Brazil
- Colombia
- Cuba
- Dominica
- Grenada
- Guatemala
- Haiti
- Jamaica
- Nicaragua
- St. Kitts and Nevis
- St. Lucia
- St. Vincent and the Grenadines
- Uruguay
Europe
- Albania
- Belarus
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Kosovo
- Moldova
- Montenegro
- North Macedonia
Asia-Pacific
- Afghanistan
- Armenia
- Azerbaijan
- Bangladesh
- Bhutan
- Cambodia
- Fiji
- Georgia
- Iran
- Iraq
- Jordan
- Kazakhstan
- Kuwait
- Kyrgyzstan
- Laos
- Lebanon
- Mongolia
- Myanmar
- Nepal
- Pakistan
- Russia
- Syria
- Thailand
- Uzbekistan
- Yemen
Africa
- Algeria
- Cameroon
- Cape Verde
- Côte d’Ivoire
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Egypt
- Eritrea
- Ethiopia
- Ghana
- Guinea
- Liberia
- Libya
- Morocco
- Nigeria
- Republic of the Congo
- Rwanda
- Senegal
- Sierra Leone
- Somalia
- South Sudan
- Sudan
- Tanzania
- The Gambia
- Togo
- Tunisia
- Uganda
Key Exemptions and Clarifications
Amidst the confusion, the administration carved out specific exceptions and clarifications to ensure that not all travel was halted.
Dual Nationals Exemptions
There was a significant exemption for dual citizens. A national of one of the 75 affected countries who also held a valid passport from a country not on the list was exempt from the pause, and could proceed with the application using the non-affected passport.
Impact on Current Visa Holders
The guidance was prospective, meaning it applied to new issuances. No existing immigrant visas were revoked as part of the guidance. An immigrant visa stamp already in a passport remained valid for travel.
It is important to note that questions regarding actual admission at the port of entry fall under the jurisdiction of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). However, a valid and unexpired visa generally permits you to travel to the U.S. border to seek admission.
Tourist and Non-Immigrant Visas
Crucially, the freeze was specific to immigrant visas, which are for people moving to the U.S. permanently. It did not apply to non-immigrant visas. Categories such as B-1/B-2 tourist visas, F-1 student visas, H-1B skilled worker visas, and E-2 investor visas were not affected. Applicants for a tourist visa or another temporary category continued under standard processing.
Strategic Advice During the Freeze
While the freeze was in effect, our firm advised clients not to cancel their appointments if they were scheduled. Because the Department continued to process applications up to the point of issuance, attending the interview preserved the applicant’s place in line, so that a case would be ready to issue rather than stuck at the beginning of the scheduling queue.
Moving Forward
This policy was fluid and subject to change and potential legal challenges. If you are a national of one of the 75 affected countries, it is vital to stay informed and prepared.
If you have questions about how this freeze affected your specific case, or about where your application stands now, schedule a consultation with us today to discuss your strategy.
