U.S. Freezes Immigrant Visas

The United States government has announced a temporary freeze on the processing of immigrant visas for applicants from 75 countries, according to information released on Wednesday (14) by the U.S. Department of State.

According to a memorandum reportedly obtained by Fox News, Brazil is included among the affected countries, alongside nations such as Iran, Russia, Afghanistan, Iraq, Somalia, and Thailand. As of now, the Department of State has not publicly released the full list of countries.

The Department clarified on the social media platform X that the freeze applies only to immigrant visas. Nonimmigrant visas, such as tourist (B-2) and business (B-1) visas, are not affected, according to reporting by the Associated Press.

In its statement, the Department said it will suspend the processing of immigrant visas from countries whose nationals, according to the government, receive U.S. public benefits at rates considered unacceptable. The freeze will remain in place until the government determines that new immigrants will not become a public charge or rely excessively on taxpayer-funded assistance.

Although the government has not yet fully detailed the scope of the policy, the memorandum cited by Fox News indicates that the measure is expected to take effect on January 21 and does not have a defined end date. Officials described the pause as temporary, allowing the administration to reassess current immigrant visa eligibility standards.

The report also notes that the administration may consider additional screening factors, including age and health-related criteria. In November, the Associated Press reported that the administration was evaluating potential guidance that could restrict entry for individuals considered medically high-risk. Additionally, since June of last year, student visa applicants have been required to make their social media profiles accessible for government review, a measure intended to identify content deemed hostile to the United States, its institutions, or foundational principles.

A Broader Immigration Strategy
These developments align with the new U.S. national defense and foreign policy strategy, released in December 2025 under President Donald Trump, which explicitly called for expanded entry restrictions and tighter immigration controls.

Immigration analysts expect that 2026 will bring increased limitations on legal immigration pathways, particularly through visa processing. According to Shev Dalal-Dheini, Director of Government Relations at the American Immigration Lawyers Association, the administration’s approach could significantly reduce access to legal immigration channels.

As details continue to emerge, immigrants and prospective applicants are strongly encouraged to monitor official government announcements and seek qualified legal guidance to understand how these changes may affect their cases.