U.S. State Department to Halt Immigrant Visa Issuance for 75 Nations Starting January 21

On Wednesday, January 14, 2026, the United States Department of State issued a formal announcement regarding the temporary suspension of immigrant visa processing for citizens of 75 different countries, including Brazil. This restrictive measure is scheduled to take effect on January 21 and will remain in place until the federal government can verify that incoming immigrants will not "extract wealth from the American people."

This policy shift represents a core component of the Donald Trump administration’s broader migration strategy, which seeks to prevent the entry of foreign nationals who might become a "public charge" to the United States. The suspension is strictly limited to immigrant visa categories that grant permanent residency, such as those based on family reunification or employment sponsorship. Conversely, non-immigrant visa classes—including B1/B2 business and tourist visas, F/M student visas, and J exchange visitor visas—are not currently subject to this temporary freeze, though they remain under increasingly rigorous screening protocols.

The current directive builds upon more expansive guidelines established in November 2025, which tightened consular regulations to mandate visa denials for applicants deemed likely to depend on government assistance. An internal State Department memorandum, initially reported by Fox News, instructed consular officers to utilize "public charge" statutes to reject applications, specifically highlighting elderly candidates or those with high body mass indexes as high-risk profiles. Beyond Brazil, the list of 75 affected nations includes Russia, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Egypt, Nigeria, Thailand, and Somalia.

This suspension occurs against a backdrop of significant political tension, following the Trump administration's previous revocation of over 100,000 foreign visas during its initial year in office. State Department spokesperson Tommy Piggott clarified that the agency is exercising its long-standing legal authority to disqualify potential immigrants who are viewed as a potential "burden to the United States." Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who has held his position since January 21, 2025, was identified as the official responsible for directing consular staff to implement this service interruption.

The enforcement of "public charge" regulations is rooted in Section 212(a)(4)(A) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, which requires visa seekers to demonstrate sufficient financial resources to avoid future reliance on public welfare. Earlier, in November 2025, consulates were already advised to deny entry to elderly immigrants and individuals with specific health conditions, such as diabetes or obesity, due to their perceived risk of becoming a public charge. For those with immigrant visa applications currently in progress, the process will remain stalled until the State Department chooses to resume these services.