What the US Immigrant Visa Pause Could Mean for Global Employers

Official Update (January 21, 2026): The U.S. State Department has officially confirmed the pause on immigrant visa issuances for 75 countries, effective January 21, 2026. This move follows a review of "public charge" vetting protocols. While interviews and applications may still proceed, no new immigrant visas will be issued for affected nationals during this period.

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A significant shift in US immigration policy is reportedly underway. According to media reports citing leaked internal State Department memos obtained by Reuters and Fox News, the State Department has directed consular offices to indefinitely pause the processing of immigrant visas for citizens of approximately 75 countries.

This reported move follows the implementation of Presidential Proclamation 10998, which took effect on January 1, 2026, and already restricted entry for 39 countries. This latest advisory, while not yet formally proclaimed by the White House, indicates a potentially massive expansion of vetting protocols.

The focus: "Public Charge" and vetting

The administration is using the "public charge" provision to justify the pause. Consular officers are reportedly being directed to apply heightened scrutiny to an applicant’s financial status, health, and age to ensure they are not "likely to become a burden on US taxpayers."

Are non-immigrant visas and I-140s affected?

• No Formal USCIS Pause: The State Department’s directive does not legally bind USCIS domestic operations. As of now, employers can still file I-140 petitions, and USCIS has not issued a formal "stop-work" order on processing these forms for the 75 listed countries. While I-140s aren't "paused," petitions for nationals of the original 39 high-risk countries may experience significant "administrative processing" delays or extended "review" periods as USCIS aligns its vetting with the State Department's heightened scrutiny.
• Non-Immigrant Visas Unaffected: The State Department confirmed this pause currently applies only to immigrant visas. Tourist visas and other non-immigrant categories (like H-1B or L-1) remain unaffected by this specific directive, though heightened scrutiny is expected.

Deel’s recommendations

• Business considerations: Because the State Department is still allowing interviews to proceed, we recommend that employers do not cancel pending immigrant visa appointments for their talent. Completing the administrative steps now will minimize further delays once official policy evolves or the pause is lifted.
• Business travel considerations: Reported delays in US immigrant visa processing may lead to increased use of B-1/B-2 visas or ESTA for business travel. Employers should closely track time spent in the US and ensure activities remain within the permitted scope to avoid overstays or potential misclassification as unauthorized work.
• Review dual citizenship status: For employees from affected countries, determine if they hold a secondary citizenship and a valid passport from a non-listed country, as they may be able to proceed with visa issuance under that nationality.

Affected Countries (Confirmed)

The State Department has confirmed that nationals from the following 75 countries are subject to the issuance pause:

Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Bosnia, Brazil, Burma, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Colombia, Cote d’Ivoire, Cuba, DRC, Dominica, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Republic of the Congo, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, and Yemen.

Strategic alternatives: Looking beyond the US

While the US remains a critical market, the current regulatory climate highlights the importance of a diversified global talent strategy. For employers facing uncertainty, maintaining flexibility across jurisdictions can help reduce disruption while US policy evolves.

If hiring or relocation plans for the reported countries are delayed, organizations may consider parallel pathways that allow teams to keep moving while official guidance develops:

• Relocation to economic hubs: Countries like Germany, the UAE, and Singapore continue to offer streamlined "Highly Skilled Migrant" and "Golden Visa" pathways with predictable timelines.
• Digital nomad & remote work: Many nations, including Portugal and Spain, have dedicated visas for remote workers that avoid the traditional complexities of US sponsorship.
• Employer of Record (EOR) mobility: Deel’s EOR model allows you to hire and onboard talent in 150+ countries without needing a local entity, ensuring your team can continue working while US processing is in flux.

Recommended next steps

1. Wait for official confirmation: Monitor official portals (State.gov / USCIS) for a formal Proclamation or 'Fact Sheet.'
2. Audit impacted pipelines: Identify employees from the reported list who have upcoming consular appointments.
3. Communicate early with affected employees: Proactively share what is known, what remains uncertain, and when updates will be provided to help reduce anxiety and confusion during this developing situation.
4. Explore Global flexibility: If US pathways become unviable, speak with your Deel representative about relocating talent to one of the 70+ countries where we provide full immigration support.

Please note, this is a developing situation, and details may change as formal guidance is released.

Deel is actively monitoring updates from the US State Department and USCIS and will continue to share information as it becomes available.

If you have questions about how this may affect your workforce or mobility plans, your Deel representative can help you understand available options while policy clarity continues to unfold.