State Department Suspends Immigrant Visas for 75 Countries Over 'Public Charge' Concerns

On January 14, 2026, the State Department announced it would suspend immigrant visa processing for nationals of 75 countries effective January 21, pending a review of whether applicants are likely to become a "public charge" reliant on U.S. public benefits. The list included Afghanistan, Brazil, Egypt, Iran, Nigeria, Russia, Somalia and Yemen. Non-immigrant visas for tourism and business were unaffected, and World Cup travelers were exempted. A later notice expanded the list to 81 countries.

The suspension operates as a categorical bar by nationality rather than the individualized determination the public charge provision otherwise contemplates. Because immigrant visas are the route for family reunification and employment-based permanent residence, the pause halted approved petitions mid-process for applicants from a quarter of the world's countries.

Somalia drew particular attention, coming a day after DHS terminated Somali Temporary Protected Status and amid contested fraud allegations in Minnesota that state and local officials disputed.