DOS Confirms China Excluded from 75-Country Immigrant Visa Processing Pause

The U.S. Department of State (DOS) has officially confirmed that Chinese nationals are not affected by the 75-country immigrant visa processing pause that took effect on January 21, 2026. The clarification came after a mistaken alert appeared on the Travel Docs website for China on February 10, 2026, falsely suggesting that immigrant visa processing for Chinese nationals would be suspended indefinitely. The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) played a key role in resolving the confusion. After multiple immigration practitioners reported the erroneous alert, AILA's Department of State Liaison Committee promptly contacted the State Department to seek clarification. DOS confirmed the information was posted in error and subsequently had the alert removed from the Travel Docs website. For EB-3 applicants from China, this is significant news. China is a high-demand country for employment-based immigration, and any suspension of visa processing would have caused major disruptions for skilled workers, professionals, and unskilled workers pursuing permanent residency through the EB-3 category. The 75-country pause, which remains in effect, applies to countries including Somalia, Russia, Afghanistan, Brazil, Iran, Iraq, Egypt, Nigeria, Thailand, and Yemen. Chinese nationals are explicitly excluded and may continue applying for and receiving immigrant visas without interruption. EB-3 applicants from China should proceed normally with their visa applications. However, this incident serves as a reminder to verify information through official DOS communications and consult qualified immigration counsel when unexpected alerts appear on government websites.