Effective January 21, the State Department has paused issuing immigrant visas for nationals of 75 countries out of concern that these immigrants will use welfare programs in the United States.
An immigrant visa is a permanent visa that allows an individual to enter the country and automatically become a lawful permanent resident (green card holder) upon admission. The pause does not apply to H-1B temporary work visas or to L-1, O-1, F-1, and J-1 visas.
The affected countries include Brazil, Colombia, Ghana, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Russia. The full list can be found in the State Department notice. Individuals from these 75 countries may still attend scheduled immigrant visa interviews, but no immigrant visas will be issued during the pause. Existing valid immigrant visas are not revoked.
Temporary work visa processing continues uninterrupted, and employers may rely on extensions, amendments, and changes of employer for H-1B, L-1, O-1, and other nonimmigrant categories.
Members of the Center for Workplace Compliance (CWC), our affiliated nonprofit membership association, can read more here.