State Department Pauses Immigrant Visa Processing for 75 Countries

The State Department has indefinitely paused immigrant visa processing for nationals of 75 countries, citing welfare-program utilization rates the administration calls "structurally incompatible with the American compact."

The pause, ordered through internal cable and effective immediately at consular posts worldwide, suspends issuance of immigrant (permanent residence) visas. Tourist, student, and most temporary work visas are unaffected.

Administration officials argue the suspension is a temporary measure pending the rollout of a new "fiscal screening" framework that will assess applicants by their statistical likelihood of using means-tested federal benefits within five years of arrival.

Net migration goes negative

The State Department action follows last quarter's milestone: the United States posted negative net migration for 2025, the first time in at least a half-century. More foreign-born residents left or were removed than arrived legally.

Civil-liberties groups say the visa pause is a thinly disguised national-origin ban that will face immediate constitutional challenge. Administration lawyers counter that immigrant-visa issuance has always been discretionary and that "the welfare nexus is a permissible, race-neutral criterion."

A federal lawsuit is widely expected within the week.