Warning: This article was last updated on January 29, 2026.
Recent immigration announcements have caused confusion amongst foreign nationals especially with terms like “bans,” “visa pause,” and “country list.”
The U.S. government has different immigration agencies that are impacting immigration cases in different ways. We explain the differences below.
Department of State
On January 14, 2026, the Department of State released a list of 75 countries that would be subject to a pause or “visa ban.”
U.S. citizens and permanent residents may still file immigrant petitions for qualifying relatives, and employers may still pursue employment-based immigrant petitions. The restriction arises at the final stage of the process, which is the visa issuance by the Department of State.
- What are they pausing?
- Immigrant visas only. This does not include non-immigrant visas like tourist or student visas.
- Are there exceptions?
- Only if you hold a passport for a country not listed. This means you can apply at a different U.S. consulate.
- Will this affect my case?
- It depends. If you have an appointment, you may still attend but the Department of State will NOT issue a visa until this pause is lifted. Consult with an immigration attorney before deciding to apply and/or attend a consular immigrant visa appointment.
- When does it end?
- No date has been shared.
- Why is this happening?
- The Administration claims that these are high-risk countries for public charge. Meaning that citizens of these countries may depend on “welfare” or public benefits in the United States.
- We will share updates regarding a new public charge analysis but for the time being, the analysis remains the same.
COUNTRY LIST: 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
Note: Individuals are concerned that this pause will affect their naturalization, green card, work permit, or other applications. This pause does not affect applications processing at a different immigration agency, like USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services). However, please take note of the country lists below.
USCIS
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) has issued memorandums regarding additional security vetting for immigration-related benefits. The most recent memo was released on January 1, 2026. The memo refers to two Presidential Proclamations that subject countries to various restrictions. The list expanded from 19 to 39 countries.
This means that individuals from countries subject to either Proclamation (listed below) may experience delays in the processing of their immigration-related applications with USCIS. While some of these countries are also impacted by the Department of State announcement, not all are. The countries listed below will be subject to additional security vetting by USCIS.
Some applications may be placed on hold for additional review, subject to enhanced background checks, or scheduled for re-interviews. In some cases, even applications that were previously approved may be reopened for further examination. These delays can significantly extend processing times and create uncertainty for applicants, but they do not amount to a formal ban.
Presidential Proclamation 10949
COUNTRY LIST: Afghanistan, Burma, Burundi, Chad, Cuba, Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, Equitorial Guinea, Haiti, Iran, Laos, Libya, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Togo, Turkmenistan, Venezuela, Yemen
Presidential Proclamation 10998
COUNTRY LIST: Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Dominica, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Palestinian Authority Documents, Senegal, South Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Tonga, Zambia, Zimbabwe
USCIS has indicated that the enhanced review and adjudication holds do not apply to the following applications:
- Form I-90 – Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card
- Form N-600 – Application for Certificate of Citizenship
- Form N-565 – Application to Replace Naturalization/Citizenship Document
- Certain limited Form I-765 categories, including:
- (c)(8) asylum-based employment authorization
- Select parole- or law-enforcement-related EAD categories
All other benefit applications—including Adjustment of Status (Form I-485) and naturalization (Form N-400)—remain subject to potential holds, enhanced security screening, and extended adjudication timelines.
Conclusion
While these policies are often discussed together, they operate independently and can affect applicants in very different ways. The immigrant visa pause applies only to visa issuance at U.S. consulates abroad, while USCIS’s high-risk country screening affects how certain applications are reviewed inside the United States. Understanding which policy applies depends on both the type of benefit being sought and where the applicant is located. Because these country-based measures are evolving and can create delays or uncertainty, individuals impacted by either policy should seek case-specific guidance before making travel, filing, or relocation decisions.
