Breaking: Only 318 Visas Approved as 43,000+ Applications Remain Delayed After 75-Country Pause

The Trump administration's 75-country immigrant visa pause was struck down by a federal court on August 21, 2026, but the aftermath has left tens of thousands of applicants in prolonged uncertainty. An October 5, 2026 court filing in CLINIC v. Rubio revealed that between August 21 and September 30, only 706 previously refused applications were adjudicated—resulting in just 318 approvals or visa issuances and 388 additional refusals under separate immigration provisions. These figures are strikingly low against the backdrop of more than 43,000 applications that were refused solely due to the pause policy. The State Department has acknowledged that no firm deadline exists for completing the review of all affected cases, meaning applicants who were refused months ago may continue to wait indefinitely despite the court ruling. For EB-3 applicants and other employment-based immigrant visa seekers who were caught in the pause, this slow processing pace has direct consequences. Consular posts are reviewing cases individually, which may involve requests for updated documents, additional interviews, or new inadmissibility assessments—adding further delays to already lengthy timelines. Federal litigation has emerged as one of the most effective tools for affected applicants. The October 5 filing confirmed that consular posts were instructed to prioritize cases involving named plaintiffs in CLINIC v. Rubio, and several of those plaintiffs had interviews scheduled or received individualized decisions as a result. A writ of mandamus—a federal lawsuit compelling government action—may be a viable option for applicants facing unreasonable delays. Applicants are advised to first confirm whether their refusal was solely due to the pause or involved other grounds, address any outstanding document requests promptly, contact their consular post for a status update, and consult an immigration attorney about the viability of individual or group federal litigation.