US Freeze on Visa Processing for 75 Countries

[sava.jake1987 4]

It looks more like a blanket immigrant visa ban to me.

[yuna628 9,959]

2 hours ago, milimelo said:

Well K-1s were exempt from COVID shots but immigrant ones were not so perhaps K-1 will be exempt with this as well? But then they could hold them up at AOS... 

One lawyer I spoke to believed this would apply to both spouses and K1s.

[yuna628 9,959]

I have reviewed the cable which has been leaked. That document states that officers must refuse all immigrant applicants. They may still conduct interviews and are not instructed to cancel them, in order to assess if the applicant may be denied under some other ineligibility. Exceptions to this new determination will be limited in nature. If the officer can find no other reason to refuse them, they are instructed to refuse anyway, while the department basically 'figures out additional vetting regulations'. There is no instruction as to what those are or when they will ever happen. They are instructed to refuse even if the applicant has all proper evidence and can overcome any public charge concerns. 

 

Dual nationals that have a passport that is not subject to this 'pause' are allowed to be processed as normal. If the visa has been approved but not yet printed the applicant must be informed that they will be denied. If the applicant's visa has been printed but not left the consular section yet, they must still be refused. Visas that have been issued previously will not be revoked.

[Janelle03 1]

I had my spousal immigration visa interview on Monday in Barbados (I'm also from Barbados), got "tenative approval" and received notice today from DHL that they have my passport.

 

I'm not able to track it for 24 hours.

 

Could this suspension endanger my chances to enter the US? Should I leave as soon as I get my passport back?

 

We were planning my entry into the US for end of February, but our lawyer is advising we move asap.

Edited 23 hours ago by Janelle03

[speedster 74]

18 minutes ago, yuna628 said:

I have reviewed the cable which has been leaked. That document states that officers must refuse all immigrant applicants. They may still conduct interviews and are not instructed to cancel them, in order to assess if the applicant may be denied under some other ineligibility. Exceptions to this new determination will be limited in nature. If the officer can find no other reason to refuse them, they are instructed to refuse anyway, while the department basically 'figures out additional vetting regulations'. There is no instruction as to what those are or when they will ever happen. They are instructed to refuse even if the applicant has all proper evidence and can overcome any public charge concerns. 

 

Dual nationals that have a passport that is not subject to this 'pause' are allowed to be processed as normal. If the visa has been approved but not yet printed the applicant must be informed that they will be denied. If the applicant's visa has been printed but not left the consular section yet, they must still be refused. Visas that have been issued previously will not be revoked.

 

If this is true, $20 says USCIS will take the same actions against AOS/I130 applicants too soon enough.

 

Pro-immigration government y'all!

[Ban Hammer 14,894]

3 posts removed, one for posting a document marked as SBU, one for quoting that post.

"SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED INFORMATION (SBU)"

posting any pictures of leaked documents with any classification, protective markings, etc puts this website at risk.

reference:  https://fam.state.gov/fam/12fam/12fam0540.html

Edited 23 hours ago by Ban Hammer

[yuna628 9,959]

Just now, Ban Hammer said:

3 posts removed, one for posting a document marked as SBU, one for quoting that post.

"SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED INFORMATION (SBU)"

posting any pictures of leaked documents with any classification, protective markings, etc puts this website at risk.

reference:  https://fam.state.gov/fam/12fam/12fam0540.html

That's what I figured. Thanks for removing it as I wasn't sure. I hope paraphrasing the contents of the memo is okay, but again feel free to remove if that is needed too. I imagine that is why the document has been reviewed by many news organizations but they aren't being very detailed as to the contents.

[ladyhelena 0]

My parent has an interview first week of February for a country recently added to the list. So, if they attend, the office will issue a 221(g) and… then what? Has anyone seen cases like that being discussed here on VJ on how that progresses?

 

I’m expecting my first baby in July. Should my parent not attend and instead renew their tourist visa to come be here for the birth and we pick this whole thing back up later?

Edited 22 hours ago by ladyhelena

[Coco8 1,067]

15 minutes ago, ladyhelena said:

My parent has an interview first week of February for a country recently added to the list. So, if they attend, the office will issue a 221(g) and… then what? Has anyone seen cases like that being discussed here on VJ on how that progresses?

 

I’m expecting my first baby in July. Should my parent not attend and instead renew their tourist visa to come be here for the birth and we pick this whole thing back up later?

 

 

It only applies for IMMIGRANT visas. A tourist visa is NOT an immigrant visa.

 

Just FYI: They should only say they are planning to visit to meet their grandkid once is born. If they mention they are coming to help, they will get into trouble because it can be considered 'work' and many people get denied or turned back at the border for saying that.

 

Edited 22 hours ago by Coco8

[ladyhelena 0]

3 minutes ago, Coco8 said:

 

 

It only applies for IMMIGRANT visas. A tourist visa is NOT an immigrant visa.

 

Just FYI: They should only say they are planning to visit to meet their grandkid once is born. If they mention they are coming to help, they will get into trouble because it can be considered 'work' and many people get denied or turned back at the border for saying that.

 

I understand that. Thank you.

 

It’s just they have a pending IR5 (parent of US citizen) interview already. I’m wondering if we cancel that interview and focus on a visitor visa while we wait for the situation to resolve. They’ll come meet baby and leave (assume they have plenty of proof of life back home to come back to).

[ProbeGT 48]

I wonder if one uses a K3 would that count?  Technically it is a non-immigrant visa.

 

And yes, I know they are "obsolete", but maybe they will now have a purpose 

[tahm 19]

I think I know the answer for the question I'm about to ask... But does anyone know if it's going to affect legal residents and applications like I-751 and N-400? I have a pending I-751 application and I was planning on apply to citizenship which I am eligible for (OR would have been if it wasn't for the ban).

[speedster 74]

2 minutes ago, tahm said:

I think I know the answer for the question I'm about to ask... But does anyone know if it's going to affect legal residents and applications like I-751 and N-400? I have a pending I-751 application and I was planning on apply to citizenship which I am eligible for (OR would have been if it wasn't for the ban).

For ROC and N-400. No. (Unless you were already part of the 39 countries originally)

This is Dept of State processing for immigrant visas (plus the possible K1s, tracking their past actions)

But my 2 cents pay very close attention because once Dept of State does something USCIS/DHS likes to lock step as of late.

[speedster 74]

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/News/visas-news/immigrant-visa-processing-updates-for-nationalities-at-high-risk-of-public-benefits-usage.html

 

There it is folks. The official hit of 75 countries banned. Effective January 21, 2026, the Department of State is pausing all visa issuances to immigrant visa applicants

What happens to my immigrant visa interview appointment?
Immigrant visa applicants who are nationals of affected countries may submit visa applications and attend interviews, and the Department will continue to schedule applicants for appointments, but no immigrant visas will be issued to these nationals during this pause.  

Are there any exceptions?
Dual nationals applying with a valid passport of a country that is not listed above are exempt from this pause.  

 

Pro-immigration administration folks! No spousal exemptions as of now. Surely there's people that think this is positive.

Edit: I pity and feel awful for the people that now have to deal with this. The people that voted for this and support this? They are not victims.  They created their own issues and now are suffering the consequences of poor decisions.

Edited 20 hours ago by speedster

[ladyhelena 0]

24 minutes ago, speedster said:

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/News/visas-news/immigrant-visa-processing-updates-for-nationalities-at-high-risk-of-public-benefits-usage.html

 

There it is folks. The official hit of 75 countries banned. Effective January 21, 2026, the Department of State is pausing all visa issuances to immigrant visa applicants

What happens to my immigrant visa interview appointment?
Immigrant visa applicants who are nationals of affected countries may submit visa applications and attend interviews, and the Department will continue to schedule applicants for appointments, but no immigrant visas will be issued to these nationals during this pause.  

Are there any exceptions?
Dual nationals applying with a valid passport of a country that is not listed above are exempt from this pause.  

 

Pro-immigration administration folks! No spousal exemptions as of now. Surely there's people that think this is positive.

Edit: I pity and feel awful for the people that now have to deal with this. The people that voted for this and support this? They are not victims.  They created their own issues and now are suffering the consequences of poor decisions.

What do we all think? Is this changing any time soon or should we all just imagine this is a forever thing?