U.S. Suspends Immigrant Visa Issuance for 75 Countries Over Public Charge Review

The U.S. State Department has implemented an indefinite suspension of immigrant visa issuance for nationals of 75 countries, effective January 21, 2026. The pause applies to all immigrant visa categories, including employment-based green cards such as EB-3, and will remain in effect while the government establishes a revised process for evaluating "public charge" risk among applicants. The public charge ground of inadmissibility allows consular officers to deny a visa when an applicant is deemed likely to become financially dependent on the U.S. government. The current reassessment broadens the factors officers must weigh, including an applicant's health, age, education, employment history, and overall financial stability. This represents a significant tightening of the standard compared to recent years. For EB-3 applicants from affected countries, the practical impact is direct: while U.S. consulates will continue to schedule and conduct visa interviews, no immigrant visa can be printed or issued during the suspension period. This creates an uncertain waiting period for workers who may have already completed the lengthy PERM labor certification and I-140 petition process and were expecting final visa issuance. One important exception exists for dual nationals. Applicants who hold a valid passport from a country not on the list of 75 may apply under that nationality and are exempt from the suspension. Additionally, national interest exemptions may be available in very limited circumstances, consistent with existing travel ban policies. EB-3 applicants from the listed countries should monitor official State Department communications closely and consult with an immigration attorney to understand their individual options. The duration of this suspension is currently unknown, and no timeline has been provided for when the revised public charge review process will be finalized and the pause lifted.