ISLAMABAD: The United States has introduced a temporary suspension on theissuance of immigrant visas to nationals of Pakistan and 74 othercountries, effective January 21, even as applicants can continue submittingpetitions and attending scheduled consular interviews. The US StateDepartment issued detailed guidance clarifying that the freeze aims toconduct a comprehensive review of immigration policies but does not cancelalready approved visas or impact non-immigrant categories such as tourist,student, or business visas. This development has triggered widespreadconcern among Pakistani families with pending family-based andemployment-based green card applications.
The policy stems directly from President Donald Trump’s repeated emphasison ensuring that all future immigrants demonstrate financialself-sufficiency and do not become a burden on American taxpayers.According to the official question-and-answer document released by theState Department, the pause forms part of a broader executive-drivenexamination of public charge regulations. Officials explained that themeasure seeks to strengthen existing rules which already require manyimmigrant visa applicants to prove they will not rely on certain publicbenefits after arrival.
Despite the suspension on final visa issuance, consular posts worldwidewill maintain normal operations for accepting documents and conductinginterviews during the review period. This partial continuity offers ameasure of relief to thousands of applicants who have waited years fortheir priority dates to become current. However, no immigrant visas will bestamped into passports, meaning successful interviewees will not be able totravel to the United States as permanent residents until the pause islifted.
The affected countries list, numbering over 75 nations, predominantlyincludes developing economies across South Asia, Africa, Latin America, andparts of the Middle East. Pakistan features prominently due to its largevolume of family reunification petitions and employment-based applications.Historical data from previous fiscal years indicate that Pakistanconsistently ranks among the top ten countries for family-sponsoredimmigrant visas, with approximately 18,000 to 22,000 visas issued annuallyin recent normal periods before various administrative slowdowns.
Particularly vulnerable are applicants in the F4 category (siblings of UScitizens), which routinely faces wait times exceeding fifteen years forPakistani nationals. Similarly, employment-based second and thirdpreference categories for skilled professionals and other workers fromPakistan may encounter indefinite delays in final issuance. The StateDepartment stressed that the suspension does not affect diversity visalottery winners who already hold valid visas or those whose cases fallunder immediate relative classifications that are sometimes processeddifferently.
Another important exemption applies to dual nationals who present a validpassport from a non-affected country during their interview. In such cases,the applicant may proceed under the rules applicable to the unaffectedcountry of nationality. The guidance further clarifies that ultimateauthority over actual admission at US ports of entry rests with theDepartment of Homeland Security, not the State Department, creating alayered decision-making process.
The announcement has reignited debate about the public charge rule, firstexpanded during the first Trump administration and later modified under theBiden administration before facing renewed scrutiny. Proponents argue thereview protects American fiscal resources, while immigration advocates warnthat prolonged pauses disrupt family unity, harm businesses reliant onskilled foreign talent, and create humanitarian hardships for applicantswho have already invested substantial time and money.
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Consular processing backlogs already stood at record levels prior to thisannouncement, with some categories experiencing waits measured in decades.The temporary halt in visa printing is expected to exacerbate existingdelays once the review concludes and issuance resumes. Immigrationattorneys advising Pakistani clients have urged applicants to ensure alldocumentation remains current and to prepare for potential extendeduncertainty surrounding their cases.
The State Department has not provided a specific timeline for completingthe comprehensive review or lifting the suspension. Officials indicatedthat the duration will depend on the findings of the policy assessment andany subsequent regulatory changes deemed necessary to reinforceself-sufficiency requirements. Until then, the partial continuation ofprocessing represents the only avenue for applicants to keep their casesactive in the immigration pipeline.
Source: https://www.state.gov
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