CIS & Eastern Europe: U.S. Visa Updates
The U.S. Department of State has announced a suspension of U.S. immigration visas for citizens of 75 countries, effective January 21, 2026.
According to the official statement from the Department of State, this decision is motivated by a review of policies, regulations, and guidance to ensure that “immigrants from these high-risk countries will not utilize welfare in the United States or become public charges.”
Which countries are on the list? Click here
What are “Immigration visas”?
An immigration visa is a type of authorization that grants the holder the right to permanently reside in the United States. Immigration visas are more commonly known as a “Green Card.” The most popular grounds for obtaining an immigration visa include (but not limited to) family reunification, the diversity lottery, refugee status, investment, employment of highly skilled professionals, and talent visas.
What happens next?
According to the Department of State, the submission of applications for immigration visas and the conduct of interviews will not be suspended, but the visas themselves will not be issued for the time being. The duration of the suspension has not been specified.
The Department also emphasizes that currently valid immigration visas will not be revoked, and individuals holding dual or multiple citizenships are not subject to the new restrictions if their alternative citizenship is not from a country on the list.