The direct answer
Is the 75-country immigrant-visa pause still in effect?
No. The Department of State states that, as of August 21, 2026, the January 2026 pause is no longer in effect. This does not automatically approve a visa, restore a canceled appointment, overcome public-charge concerns, or eliminate other country-specific restrictions.
What changed?
The Department of State states that the immigrant-visa issuance pause affecting nationals of 75 countries is no longer in effect as of August 21, 2026.
The affected list included Iran, Afghanistan, Armenia, Bangladesh, Brazil, Colombia, Egypt, Guatemala, Haiti, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Russia, Syria, Thailand, and numerous other countries.
The State Department had paused immigrant-visa issuance to nationals of the listed countries beginning January 21, 2026. Its August 28 update states that the pause ended following a court order in CLINIC et al. v. Rubio, et al.
Ending the pause removes that particular blanket restriction. It does not mean every affected visa must now be issued.
Who may be affected?
Applicants should verify whether their case remains active with the National Visa Center or consular post and whether a new interview, document, medical examination, or fee is required.
- Family-sponsored immigrant-visa applicants
- Employment-based immigrant-visa applicants
- Applicants whose interviews were canceled or postponed
- Applicants interviewed but not issued visas during the pause
- U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and employers sponsoring affected applicants
What has not changed?
Every applicant must still establish individual eligibility. Public-charge inadmissibility, document deficiencies, security screening, prior immigration violations, criminal issues, and other grounds of inadmissibility may still affect a case.
Other presidential proclamations or country-specific visa restrictions may also apply independently. The end of this pause should therefore not be described as a guarantee of visa issuance.
خلاصه فارسی
وزارت امور خارجه اعلام کرده است که توقف صدور ویزای مهاجرتی برای اتباع ۷۵ کشور، از جمله ایران، از تاریخ ۲۱ اوت ۲۰۲۶ دیگر اجرا نمیشود. این تغییر به معنی تأیید خودکار ویزا یا حذف سایر محدودیتهای احتمالی نیست.
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers
Does this mean Iranian immigrant visas can be issued again?
The blanket pause described in the January policy is no longer in effect. Iranian applicants may nevertheless remain subject to individual eligibility requirements and other applicable restrictions.
Will a canceled interview automatically be rescheduled?
Not necessarily. Applicants should follow instructions from the National Visa Center or assigned consular post and confirm whether additional action is required.
Does the end of the 75-country immigrant-visa pause change Visa Bulletin availability?
No automatic change follows from ending the pause. The State Department states that this pause ended on August 21, 2026. For numerically limited family-sponsored and employment-based preference categories, visa availability remains a separate issue governed by the applicable Visa Bulletin.
Important qualification: Immediate-relative cases are treated differently from numerically limited preference categories. A current priority date also does not guarantee immediate scheduling or visa approval. Other applicable requirements or restrictions may still need review.
| Check | What it tells you |
|---|---|
| Visa category, chargeability and priority date | Which Visa Bulletin Final Action Date applies, if the category is numerically limited. |
| Date NVC found the case documentarily complete | Where the case fits in the document-completion sequence. This is different from the priority date. |
| Assigned consulate and its scheduling status | Whether the post is scheduling comparable cases; it does not promise an appointment. |
Before requesting a case review, gather the petition approval, NVC completion notice, latest consular correspondence and any interview or refusal notice. An attorney can help distinguish a visa-number issue from a document, scheduling or other legal issue. Explore our family and consular immigration services or use the existing consultation request.
Sources: State Department pause update; NVC processing; IV Scheduling Status Tool; Visa Bulletin
Does the update affect tourist or student visas?
The January pause addressed immigrant visas. The State Department states that tourist visas were not covered by that pause.
Sources and further reading
Use these links to review the reporting, official guidance or underlying rule.
U.S. Department of State: Immigrant Visa Processing Update