On January 14, EIG reported that effective January 21, 2026, the US State Department would pause the issuance of immigrant visas to applicants who are nationals of designated “high‑risk” countries for potential public benefits usage. According to the announcement, the agency is conducting a broader review of policies and procedures to ensure alignment with the administration’s focus on financial self‑sufficiency among intending immigrants.
This pause applies to immigrant visa applicants from the following countries:
Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Burma (Myanmar), 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, and Yemen.
On February 2, 2026, plaintiffs, represented by National Immigration Law Center, Democracy Forward Foundation, the Legal Aid Society, the Center for Constitutional Rights, the Western Center on Law & Poverty, and Colombo & Hurd, filed a complaint in the Southern District of New York, arguing that the immigrant visa freeze violates the Administrative Procedure Act and equal protections under the Constitution.
The case is Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc. v. Rubio, S.D.N.Y., No. 1:26-cv-00858, complaint filed 2/2/26.
Erickson Insights & Analysis
Erickson Immigration Group will continue monitoring developments and sharing updates as more news is available. Please contact your employer or EIG attorney if you have questions about anything we’re reporting above or if you have case-specific questions.