The United States has officially announced a US immigrant visa suspension for Pakistan and 74 other countries, starting January 21, 2026. The decision was confirmed by the US State Department and affects immigrants from Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas.
According to officials, the move is based on concerns that immigrants from these countries may rely heavily on US public welfare and benefit programmes. The suspension will remain in place until immigration procedures are reviewed and strengthened.
The State Department will pause immigrant visa processing from 75 countries whose migrants take welfare from the American people at unacceptable rates. The freeze will remain active until the U.S. can ensure that new immigrants will not extract wealth from the American people.
— Department of State (@StateDept) January 14, 2026
Why the US Took This Decision
The State Department said the step is part of the government’s America First policy, aimed at protecting American taxpayer resources. Officials stated that the US wants to ensure future immigrants can financially support themselves and do not become a public charge.
Spokesperson Tommy Piggott explained that the department is using its legal authority to temporarily block immigrant visas for applicants likely to depend on government aid.
Which Visas Are Affected
The US immigrant visa suspension applies to all immigrant visa categories, including:
- Family-based visas
- Employment-based visas
- Diversity (Green Card lottery) visas
Countries affected include Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Somalia, Haiti, Iran, and Eritrea, among others.
Thousands of Pakistanis could delay their plans of travelling, working, studying, and reuniting their families with this decision annually. In the US, Pakistani consulates are supposed to provide guidance to applied people soon.
There has been no schedule given when the suspension is to be lifted. Nonetheless, the State Department added that nations would be told after the review process was over and the visa services would restart.
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