The US has indefinitely suspended immigrant visa processing for citizens of 75 countries, including Pakistan, as it reassesses screening rules and public-charge criteria.
Indefinite Freeze on Immigrant Visas for 75 Countries
The United States has announced an indefinite suspension of immigrant visa processing for citizens of 75 countries, including Pakistan. The move follows an internal US State Department directive instructing consular officers worldwide to pause the issuance of immigrant visas while the department carries out a broad reassessment of its screening and vetting procedures.
According to the directive, the freeze is scheduled to take effect on 21 January and will remain in place until further notice. The decision affects applicants who seek to move permanently to the United States through family reunification, employment-based immigration, diversity visas and certain special categories.
Countries Facing Suspension of Immigrant Visas
The suspension covers a wide range of countries across Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Latin America and Eastern Europe. Pakistan appears on the list alongside states such as Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Egypt, Iran, Nigeria and Russia.
The list of countries named for the suspension of immigrant visas is reproduced below as provided in the internal directive:
| Afghanistan | Cambodia | Grenada | Libya | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines |
| Albania | Cameroon | Guatemala | Macedonia | Senegal |
| Algeria | Cape Verde | Guinea | Moldova | Sierra Leone |
| Antigua and Barbuda | Colombia | Haiti | Mongolia | Somalia |
| Armenia | Cote d’Ivoire | Iran | Montenegro | South Sudan |
| Azerbaijan | Cuba | Iraq | Morocco | Sudan |
| Bahamas | Democratic Republic of Congo | Jamaica | Nepal | Syria |
| Bangladesh | Dominica | Jordan | Nicaragua | Tanzania |
| Barbados | Egypt | Kazakhstan | Nigeria | Thailand |
| Belarus | Eritrea | Kosovo | Pakistan | Togo |
| Belize | Ethiopia | Kuwait | Republic of the Congo | Tunisia |
| Bhutan | Fiji | Kyrgyzstan | Russia | Uganda |
| Bosnia | Gambia | Laos | Rwanda | Uruguay |
| Brazil | Georgia | Lebanon | Saint Kitts and Nevis | Uzbekistan |
| Burma | Ghana | Liberia | Saint Lucia | Yemen |
Stricter Screening and ‘Public Charge’ Concerns
The policy targets applicants who US authorities believe are more likely to rely on government assistance after arriving in the country. Under the new guidance, consular officers have been told to refuse immigrant visa applications using existing legal provisions related to public-charge grounds, while updated evaluation criteria are being finalised.
A memo circulated to US embassies and consulates in November 2025 set out expanded screening standards. Visa officers are instructed to take into account a wide range of personal factors, including age, health, financial stability, English-language ability, employment prospects and potential long-term medical needs.
Applicants who are elderly, living with chronic illnesses, or who have previously relied on public assistance may face a higher risk of refusal under the tougher interpretation. Even limited income or a history of institutionalisation could now weigh heavily against approval.
Impact on Pakistani Families and Immigrants
For Pakistanis, the suspension is likely to affect families who were in the process of sponsoring relatives, as well as applicants in employment-based and other immigrant categories. Cases already in the pipeline may experience significant delays, with interviews postponed or decisions placed on hold until the State Department completes its review.
Community advocates warn that the policy will add uncertainty and emotional stress for families that have spent years navigating the US immigration system. Many have already cleared background checks and medical examinations and were only waiting for final visa issuance when the freeze was announced.
US State Department spokesperson Tommy Piggott has defended the move, saying the department will use its legal authority to prevent individuals from becoming a financial burden on the American public. Critics argue that broad suspensions risk painting entire countries with the same brush, regardless of individual qualifications or support networks.
What Affected Applicants Can Do Next
Immigration lawyers advise affected applicants from Pakistan and other listed countries to stay in close contact with their legal representatives and to monitor official communications from US embassies and consulates. At this stage, the suspension is administrative rather than legislative, meaning it could be revised, narrowed or extended depending on the outcome of the policy review.
Applicants are being cautioned not to make irreversible travel or financial decisions based on assumptions about future approvals or rejections. Instead, they are encouraged to gather updated financial documentation, medical records and evidence of family or community support that may be relevant once processing resumes under any new rules.
For now, the only certainty is that immigrant visa processing for citizens of the 75 listed countries, including Pakistan, will be paused from 21 January until the US government announces further guidance on its revised screening framework.
