United States Suspends Immigrant Visa Issuance for Nationals From 75 Countries Indefinitely

The pause is indefinite. Immigrant visas are essentially grants of permanent residence. Once a foreign national receives an immigrant visa, they can come to the United States and receive their green card. Thus, this pause only affects those in the green card process. It does not affect anyone applying for a temporary visa (ex: H-1B, E-3, O-1, B-1/B-2 -2, spousal visas, etc.).

It does not affect anyone whose immigrant visa has already been issued. Those will not be revoked under this new guidance. In addition, if an immigrant visa applicant is a dual national with a passport from a country that is not on this list, then they can proceed with their immigrant visa application under the unaffected nationality. During the pause, immigrant visa interviews, scheduling, and processing will continue. However, the ultimate visa will not be issued.

Many of the countries listed here are also subject to the travel ban issued by the United States effective January 1. Thus, there may not be many options for nationals from these countries to come to the United States in other visa categories while waiting for their green cards. If the foreign national is not subject to the earlier travel ban, then there may be options to apply for a temporary visa to live or work in the United States and possibly pursue a green card through an alternate route.

The suspension affects nationals of:

Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Burma, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Colombia, Cote 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, and Yemen.

If you have any questions, please contact Berin S. Romagnolo or Nancy A. Noonan.