Updated: September 2026
The U.S. Department of State has announced an important change to immigrant visa processing that may affect thousands of applicants worldwide.
According to the Department of State, the January 2026 pause on immigrant visa issuance for nationals of 75 countries is no longer in effect as of August 21, 2026.
The policy had temporarily paused immigrant visa issuance for applicants from countries the U.S. government identified as presenting a potentially higher risk of future reliance on public benefits.
The affected nationalities included Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Brazil, Egypt, Ghana, Nepal, Thailand, Jordan, Morocco, Jamaica, Colombia, and many others.
For applicants whose immigrant visa cases were affected by the previous policy, the August 2026 announcement represents a significant development.
What Changed?
The Department of State originally implemented the immigrant visa issuance pause on January 21, 2026.
However, following a court order in CLINIC et al. v. Rubio, et al., the Department confirmed that the January pause ceased to be in effect on August 21, 2026.
This means that nationality alone under this particular 75-country policy should no longer prevent an otherwise eligible applicant from being issued an immigrant visa.
However, the end of the pause should not be interpreted as automatic visa eligibility or approval.
All applicants remain subject to the normal requirements of U.S. immigration law, including eligibility review, admissibility screening, security checks, medical requirements, financial documentation, and applicable public-charge considerations.
Which Countries Were Covered by the Pause?
The January 2026 policy applied to nationals of 75 countries, including:
- Afghanistan
- Albania
- Algeria
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Armenia
- Azerbaijan
- Bahamas
- Bangladesh
- Barbados
- Belarus
- Belize
- Bhutan
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Brazil
- Burma
- Cambodia
- Cameroon
- Cape Verde
- Colombia
- Côte 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
- Yemen
Applicants from these countries may therefore want to review the latest status of any immigrant visa case that may have been affected by the previous policy.
Are Immigrant Visa Interviews Continuing?
Yes.
Even while the earlier issuance pause was in effect, the Department of State stated that affected immigrant visa applicants could continue submitting applications and attending scheduled immigrant visa interviews.
The Department also continued scheduling immigrant visa appointments.
Now that the January 2026 issuance pause itself has ended, applicants should continue following instructions provided by the National Visa Center (NVC) or their designated U.S. embassy or consulate.
Does the Change Mean Every Visa Will Now Be Issued?
No.
The removal of the 75-country pause does not guarantee approval of an immigrant visa.
A consular officer must still determine whether an applicant meets all requirements under U.S. immigration law.
Depending on the immigration category and individual circumstances, this may include evaluation of:
- Visa-category eligibility
- Financial circumstances
- Sponsorship documentation
- Affidavit of Support requirements
- Employment and income history
- Education and professional qualifications
- Medical admissibility
- Criminal and immigration history
- Security and background screening
- Public-charge considerations
- Other grounds of inadmissibility
The Department of State has also emphasized that it is conducting a broader review of its screening and vetting policies, particularly concerning whether immigrants may become dependent on U.S. government assistance.
Why Is “Public Charge” Still Important?
Although the visa issuance pause has ended, the broader issue of public-charge inadmissibility remains important.
Under U.S. immigration law, certain applicants may be found inadmissible if the government determines that they are likely to become a public charge.
Public-charge determinations generally involve consideration of an applicant's overall circumstances rather than a single factor.
Depending on the case, officers may consider information relating to an applicant's:
- Age
- Health
- Family circumstances
- Assets and financial resources
- Financial condition
- Education
- Professional skills
- Employment prospects
- Sponsorship arrangements
For family-based immigration cases requiring Form I-864, Affidavit of Support, applicants and sponsors should pay particular attention to the accuracy and completeness of their financial documentation.
What Does This Mean for Pakistani Immigrant Visa Applicants?
Pakistan was specifically included among the 75 nationalities affected by the January 2026 policy.
For Pakistani nationals pursuing immigrant visas, the August announcement means that the specific 75-country immigrant visa issuance pause is no longer in effect.
This may be particularly relevant for applicants pursuing:
- Family-sponsored immigrant visas
- Employment-based immigrant visas
- Diversity Visa cases
- Certain fiancé or family immigration pathways that ultimately involve immigrant processing
- Other qualifying immigrant visa categories
However, each applicant's case remains individually adjudicated.
Applicants should therefore not assume that the removal of the pause eliminates financial, security, documentation, public-charge, or other eligibility requirements.
Are Tourist, Student, or Other Nonimmigrant Visas Affected?
The January policy specifically addressed immigrant visas.
The Department of State explicitly clarified that tourist visas are nonimmigrant visas and were not covered by this particular immigrant visa issuance pause.
Therefore, categories such as:
- B-1/B-2 visitor visas
- F-1 student visas
- H-1B visas
- O-1 visas
- Other nonimmigrant classifications
are governed by their own rules and any separate visa policies that may apply.
Applicants should always check the latest guidance applicable to their specific visa classification.
What Should Applicants Do Now?
If your immigrant visa case was affected or delayed during the January-August 2026 period, consider taking the following steps:
- Check your case status. Review your case through the appropriate Department of State, National Visa Center, embassy, or consulate system.
- Review recent correspondence. Check whether the NVC or consular post requested additional documents or provided updated instructions.
- Make sure financial documents are current. Applicants relying on a petitioner, sponsor, or joint sponsor should make sure income and supporting financial documentation are accurate and up to date.
- Prepare for detailed screening. Applicants should ensure that information relating to their employment, education, travel, immigration history, family circumstances, and financial position is consistent throughout the application.
- Respond carefully to document requests. Administrative processing or requests for additional evidence should be addressed accurately and completely.
The Bigger Picture: Stronger Screening May Continue
While the lifting of the immigrant visa issuance pause is positive news for affected applicants, it does not necessarily indicate a broader reduction in immigration screening.
The Department of State has stated that it continues to review its screening and vetting procedures concerning immigrants who may become a public charge or improperly rely on public benefits.
Applicants should therefore expect detailed documentation and careful scrutiny to remain an important part of the immigrant visa process.
Preparing a complete, consistent, and well-organized application can help reduce avoidable complications.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the 75-country U.S. immigrant visa pause still in effect?
No. According to the U.S. Department of State, the January 2026 pause is no longer in effect as of August 21, 2026.
Was Pakistan included in the immigrant visa pause?
Yes. Pakistan was one of the 75 countries covered by the January 2026 policy.
Can Pakistani applicants now receive immigrant visas?
The particular January 2026 nationality-based issuance pause has ended. However, applicants must still independently qualify for their visa and satisfy all applicable immigration, financial, security, and admissibility requirements.
Were tourist visas included in the 75-country pause?
No. The Department of State stated that tourist visas are nonimmigrant visas and were not affected by this particular pause.
Does lifting the pause guarantee visa approval?
No. Visa issuance continues to depend on an individual applicant's eligibility and admissibility under U.S. immigration law.
Disclaimer
This article is provided by Immigration Horizons for general informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered legal advice. Immigration laws, regulations, executive policies, court decisions, and agency procedures may change. Applicants should consult the latest official U.S. government guidance or a qualified U.S. immigration attorney when legal advice is required.
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