In January 2026, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) officially paused the processing of immigration applications for an additional 20 countries, primarily located in Africa.
Details of the January 2026 Expansion
- Action Taken: USCIS has placed an immediate “adjudicative hold” on all pending applications for visas, green cards, citizenship, and asylum from the affected nations.
- Effective Date: The expansion took effect on January 1, 2026, following the issuance of an executive proclamation on December 16, 2025.
- Rationale: The administration cited national security concerns, high visa overstay rates, and significant fraud as the primary reasons for the suspension.
- Re-reviews: The DHS also plans to re-review previously approved applications for individuals from these countries dating back to 2021.
Affected Countries (Total 39 Countries + Palestinian Authority)
The January 1 expansion added 20 new entries to a list of 19 countries already restricted as of June 2025. The restrictions are categorized as either a Full Ban (all visas) or a Partial Ban (immigrant and B, F, M, J visas).
The countries affected by a Full Ban as of January 2026 include Burkina Faso, Laos, Mali, Niger, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Syria, and the Palestinian Authority. Countries with an ongoing full ban from June 2025 include Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Rep. of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.
Countries with a Partial Ban added in January 2026 include Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Cote d’Ivoire, Dominica, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Tonga, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Countries with an ongoing partial ban from June 2025 are Burundi, Cuba, Togo, Venezuela, and Turkmenistan (immigrant only).
Exemptions
Generally, valid visas issued before January 1, 2026, are not revoked. Exemptions may also apply to lawful permanent residents, dual nationals, diplomats, and athletes participating in major upcoming events.
