The Trump administration announced Wednesday it will indefinitely pause the issuance of immigrant visas to citizens of 75 countries, halting legal immigration channels for roughly 38% of all nations in the world.
— CBS News (@CBSNews) January 15, 2026
The suspension, officials said, does not affect temporary visas… pic.twitter.com/7uIQcoCOs4
The Trump administration yesterday announced it will indefinitely suspend the issuance of immigrant visas for nationals of 75 countries, a move that will halt pathways to permanent residence for individuals sponsored by US relatives or employers, while leaving temporary travel unaffected.
The State Department said the pause applies only to immigrant visas and “does not affect temporary visas requested by would-be tourists and travelers seeking to come to the U.S. on a short-term basis,” allowing visits for tourism, business, and other non-immigrant purposes to continue as usual.
Officials said the suspension, which is expected to take effect on January 21, will impact citizens of countries across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean, accounting for roughly 38 percent of nations worldwide.
According to the State Department, the measure is aimed at preventing the entry of immigrants deemed likely to become a public charge, as authorities review immigration procedures during the pause.
“The State Department will pause immigrant visa processing from 75 countries whose migrants take welfare from the American people at unacceptable rates,” the department said, adding that “the freeze will remain active until the U.S. can ensure that new immigrants will not extract wealth from the American people.”
While the full list has not been formally published, officials confirmed that countries including Nigeria, Ghana, Haiti, Iran, Senegal, Brazil, and Pakistan are affected, underscoring that the suspension targets permanent immigration channels and forms part of a broader effort by the administration to tighten both legal and illegal immigration policies.