what are the 75 countries with visa pause

The Trump administration has announced a pause in the processing of immigrant visas for 75 nations, effective January 21, 2026. This directive, issued by the State Department, aims to ensure that new immigrants do not depend on government aid or "extract wealth" from the American people. The suspension specifically targets immigrant visas (such as employment-based or family reunification visas) and does not currently affect non-immigrant visitor visas for tourism or business.

List of Impacted Countries

While a single official "master list" has not been published in a single government portal, internal memos and reports from major news agencies like Reuters, Time, and CNN have identified the following 75 countries:

Region| Featured Countries
---|---
Africa| Algeria, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Ivory Coast (Cote d’Ivoire), Liberia, Libya, Morocco, Nigeria, Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda 179
Asia & Middle East| Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burma (Myanmar), Cambodia, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Syria, Thailand, Uzbekistan, Yemen 1710
Americas & Caribbean| Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, Dominica, Grenada, Guatemala, Haiti, Jamaica, Nicaragua, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Uruguay 178
Europe & Eurasia| Albania, Armenia, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Russia 17
Oceania| Fiji 17

Policy Rationale

The administration stated that the freeze is necessary to reassess screening procedures and prevent the entry of foreign nationals likely to become "public charges". This follows a November 2025 directive requiring visa applicants to prove financial independence. Officials noted the pause would remain until the U.S. can guarantee that immigrants will not utilize taxpayer-funded welfare at "unacceptable rates".

Exceptions and Travel

It is important to note that this policy is distinct from a total travel ban.

• Visitor Visas: Temporary visitor visas for tourism and business remain active, which is particularly relevant for upcoming international events like the 2026 World Cup.

• Duration: The pause is described as "indefinite" while procedures are reviewed.

• Exemptions: Specific exemptions for certain categories or emergency cases may be clarified as the January 21 start date approaches.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here. TL;DR: Starting January 21, 2026, the U.S. will pause immigrant visa processing for 75 countries—including Russia, Brazil, Nigeria, and Thailand—to curb potential use of public benefits by new arrivals. Non- immigrant visitor visas are currently unaffected.