01/21/2026
🛎️ Important Notice for All KAG Applicants
** Please read carefully. **
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/News/visas-news/immigrant-visa-processing-updates-for-nationalities-at-high-risk-of-public-benefits-usage.html
Effective January 21, 2026, the Department of State is pausing all visa issuances to immigrant visa applicants who are nationals of the following countries: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Burma, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Colombia, Cote d’Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, The Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyz Republic, Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Pakistan, Republic of the Congo, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, and Yemen
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Kennedy Access Group is well aware of the recent development with the immigrant visas being paused from 75 countries. The Department of State is undergoing a full review of all policies, regulations, and guidance to ensure that immigrants from these high-risk countries do not utilize welfare in the United States or become a public charge, which public may interpret as that immigrants must be financially self-sufficient and not be a financial burden to Americans.
This whole review process may take some time; but please remember that this may be just a temporary policy measure, not a permanent change in immigration policies or laws.
** Please note that the EB-3 program and any other employment-based immigration should not be affected by this decision as the program is strictly based on the job offer by the US sponsoring employers with the guaranteed employment upon their arrivals. Therefore, any of the job applicants through EB-3 program should be considered financially self-sufficient and not be a financial burden to fellow Americans.
According to this update, immigrant visa applicants who are nationals of affected countries may continue to submit visa applications and attend scheduled interviews, and the Department of State will continue to schedule appointments. However, no immigrant visas will be issued to these nationals during the current pause. In other words, applicants are expected to attend their scheduled immigrant visa interviews.
Administrative processing has already been implemented on multiple occasions, mainly to assess the immigration visa programs and the practices, and the Visa processing always returned to normal after the administrative program assessments, according to our experiences. From the recent Visa interview cases from those affected countries, we are witnessing conflicting results with some being approved and some being placed on “Administrative Processing”. Administrative Processing is NOT a denial or rejection of the Visa application, but just a pause and delay in adjudication for further assessment. Just like what Department of State publishes, it is highly likely that the Visa processing will resume immediately after their assessment is complete. Since we have no way of knowing what results may be in this time, we suggest that immigrant visa applicants who are nationals of affected countries should pay close attention to further development and make decisions if they may wish to postpone the Visa interview or continue with their scheduled interviews and wait for the Department of State’s decision.
** If you may wish to postpone the Visa Interview
Despite the Department of State’s suggestion that applicants may continue to submit visa applications and attend scheduled interviews, if they wish to postpone their Visa interviews by their choice and at their own risk, Certain countries are included in an online Applicant Service Center (https://ais.usvisa-info.com/). If applicable, applicants can attempt to reschedule or postpone interviews using the ASC.
If the option does not work, they will need to email their respective Immigrant Visa processing U.S. Embassy or Consulate, using the contact information found on their interview letter.
Does this affect my current valid visa?
- No immigrant visas have been revoked as part of this guidance.
Does this apply to tourist visas?
- No, this pause is specifically for immigrant visa applicants. Tourist visas are non-immigrant visas.
