State Department Pauses Green Card Processing for 75 Countries

The U.S. Department of State announced Jan. 14 that it will indefinitely pause processing for employment-based green card visas, as well as other immigrant visas, from 75 countries whose nationals the Trump administration has deemed likely to require public assistance while living in the country.

The pause reportedly takes effect Jan. 21 and will halt visa issuance to people looking to immigrate permanently, typically through marriage, family ties, or work sponsorship. It does not affect people seeking temporary business, tourist, student, or work visas.

Many of the countries are already on either a full or partial travel ban list, limiting the impact of the processing suspension on those countries.

The action builds on earlier immigration and travel bans by the administration on nearly 40 countries and is part of President Donald Trump’s ongoing efforts to tighten U.S. entry standards for foreign nationals.

“The State Department will pause immigrant visa processing from 75 countries whose migrants take welfare from the American people at unacceptable rates,” according to the announcement published on X. “The freeze will remain active until the U.S. can ensure that new immigrants will not extract wealth from the American people.”

Consular officials are directed to determine whether visa applicants they are evaluating might become a “public charge” if admitted to the U.S. — meaning the person would likely need welfare or other public assistance. Most immigrants are barred from using programs such as Medicaid or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program until they have been a permanent resident for at least five years, though there are narrow exceptions, and the rules don’t apply to state-funded programs.

Specialty Credential: U.S. Employment Immigration

A separate notice sent to U.S. embassies and consulates said that temporary worker visa applicants should also be screened for the possibility that they might seek public benefits in the U.S., according to the Associated Press.

“This development represents a significant expansion of the Trump administration’s efforts that include more intensive screening and review of overseas visa applicants,” said Minnie Fu, an attorney in the Washington, D.C., regional office of Jackson Lewis.

“The government reportedly is undertaking a wide‑ranging reassessment of consular processing procedures, including fraud‑prevention practices, national‑security vetting, and public‑charge review standards,” she said. “Consular posts within these jurisdictions will likely suspend scheduling and adjudication of immigrant visa interviews until new protocols are finalized.”

The total list of countries affected by the latest suspension announcement includes:

Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Bosnia, Brazil, Burma, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Colombia, Congo, Cuba, Dominica, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, 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.