Trump Suspends Immigrant Visas for 75 Countries: Full List

The United States will suspend the processing of immigrant visas for nationals of 75 countries from 21 January, instructing its consulates worldwide to halt approvals until further notice.

The State Department said the pause applies to applicants from countries across Latin America, the Caribbean, the Balkans, South Asia, Africa and the Middle East. While applications may continue to be submitted, no immigrant visas will be issued during the suspension. 

Officials have not indicated when processing will resume. According to the department, consular posts have been directed to stop approving immigrant visas for affected nationals as part of a broader review of immigration procedures. 

Exceptions will apply to dual nationals who hold valid passports from countries not included in the suspension. Temporary visas for tourism, business and study are not covered by the measure.

The administration said the decision was taken over concerns that some immigrants could place pressure on public resources. In a statement, the State Department said the pause was intended to prevent entry by individuals who might rely on welfare or other government support. 

The move follows an order issued in November that introduced tighter vetting requirements for immigrant visa applicants. The suspension forms part of a wider set of immigration restrictions introduced over the past year. In June, the US imposed a full travel ban on citizens from 12 countries, including Afghanistan, Iran, Libya and Somalia. 

The list was later expanded to include six more countries, such as Syria and South Sudan, following a security incident in Washington. Refugee admissions have also been reduced. The administration set a cap of 7,500 refugees for the 2026 fiscal year, the lowest level on record. In addition, fees for skilled worker visas were sharply increased, with the cost of an H-1B application raised to $100,000, a change critics say could discourage employers from recruiting overseas staff.

At the same time, deportations have risen significantly. By December, the Department of Homeland Security reported more than 605,000 removals, along with 1.9 million voluntary departures. Analysts at the Brookings Institution said 2025 was the first year in 50 years in which the US recorded net negative immigration.

Supporters of the administration’s approach say the measures will protect jobs and reduce pressure on public services. Opponents argue they risk harming the economy and undermining the country’s standing as a destination for migrants and refugees. The duration of the immigrant visa suspension remains unclear.

The suspension affects a wide range of countries across multiple regions. Those listed include Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, the Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil and Cambodia. 

Others named are Cameroon, Cape Verde, Colombia, Ivory Coast, Cuba, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana and Grenada. 

The list also includes Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Rwanda, Nigeria, Tanzania and Uganda, among others.