US Pauses Immigrant Visas for 75 Nations Including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh

Key Takeaways:

• The US has temporarily halted most immigrant visa issuance for applicants from over 75 countries.
• The pause, effective from July 19, is due to a technical glitch in the Department of Homeland Security’s system.
• Nonimmigrant visas like tourist and business visas are not affected.

The United States has suspended the processing of most immigrant visas for applicants from more than 75 countries, including major nations like India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. The temporary halt, which began on July 19, is a result of a technical failure within the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) immigration systems and is expected to last for several weeks.

What Caused the Visa Pause?

The issue originates from the DHS’s Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) system, a critical platform for processing and approving visa applications. The State Department confirmed it is collaborating with DHS to fix the problem urgently.

“We are aware of the issue and are working to resolve it as quickly as possible,” a State Department spokesperson said. “We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.”

Which Visas Are Affected?

The suspension impacts most categories of immigrant visas, which are for those seeking permanent residence. This includes:

• Family-based visas (for spouses, children, parents of US citizens/residents).
• Employment-based visas (for skilled workers, professionals).

Importantly, nonimmigrant visas—such as those for tourism (B1/B2), business, and student travel—continue to be processed normally. The State Department has assured that applications from countries not on the list will also continue without interruption.

Full List of Affected Countries

The US immigrant visa pause applies to applicants from the following 75 countries:

Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d’Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

The department has stated that normal visa issuance will resume as soon as the technical issue is resolved. Applicants are advised to monitor official channels for updates.