EditU.S. freezes immigrant visa processing for 75 countries, including most Western Balkans EU hopefuls
As the Trump administration doubles down on restrictive policies, this visa freeze underscores a shift toward isolationism in U.S. immigration
In a sweeping move to tighten legal immigration pathways, the United States Department of State announced on Wednesday an indefinite suspension of immigrant visa processing for nationals from 75 countries, effective 21 January.
This policy expands on previous restrictions and targets applicants deemed likely to become a “public charge” – individuals who might rely on government benefits for basic needs, such as welfare programs.
The freeze affects family-based and employment-based immigrant visas but spares nonimmigrant categories like tourist, student, or business visas.
Among the affected nations are several Western Balkans countries aspiring to join the European Union: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia, and Montenegro.
Notably, Serbia – another regional player with EU ambitions – escapes the ban, highlighting potential geopolitical nuances in U.S. decision-making.
The motivations behind this policy stem from the Trump administration’s broader agenda to curb immigration perceived as burdensome to American taxpayers. According to State Department statements, the pause aims to ensure that “new immigrants will not extract wealth from the American people” by reassessing visa processes to better enforce public charge rules.
Officials argue that migrants from these countries have historically shown higher rates of reliance on public assistance, straining U.S. resources.
This builds on earlier bans affecting 40 countries, now expanding the total restricted nationalities to around 93, covering nearly half of global legal immigrants from 2024.
Critics, including immigration advocates and think tanks like the Cato Institute, contend that the policy disproportionately harms family reunification and economic contributors, labelling it an overreach that ignores immigrants’ long-term benefits to the U.S. economy.
The administration frames it as an “America First” priority, prioritizing self-sufficiency and reducing fiscal burdens amid ongoing debates over welfare reform and border security.
The full list of 75 affected countries spans every major region, including conflict zones, developing economies, and even some U.S. allies. It encompasses nations in Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, Eastern Europe, and the Caribbean.
Here is the complete roster by regions:
- Africa:
Algeria, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Libya, Morocco, Nigeria, Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda
- Asia:
Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Georgia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Syria, Thailand, Uzbekistan, Yemen
- Europe:
Albania, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Georgia, Russia
- Latin America & Caribbean:
Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, Dominica, Grenada, Guatemala, Haiti, Jamaica, Nicaragua, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Uruguay
- Oceania:
Fiji
Exceptions are limited: dual nationals can use a passport from an unaffected country, and waivers may apply if the applicant’s entry advances U.S. national interests.
Pending visas approved but not yet issued will be refused, causing immediate disruptions for thousands in the pipeline.
For the Western Balkans, this freeze carries particular significance. Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia, and Montenegro are all EU candidate countries, actively reforming to meet accession criteria amid regional instability and Russian influence.
These nations have seen growing emigration to the U.S., often through family sponsorships or diversity visas, as citizens seek better opportunities amid economic challenges and political uncertainties.
Serbia’s exclusion is intriguing; as a non-NATO member with closer ties to Russia and China, it might reflect strategic calculations.
Most Western Balkans EU hopefuls – Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, and even Kosovo (whose visa-free access to the Schengen Area took effect on January 1, 2024) – enjoy visa-free travel to the Schengen zone for short stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
Broader implications of the freeze are profound. It affects an estimated 38% of the world’s countries, potentially halting legal immigration for millions and separating families. U.S. businesses reliant on skilled workers from these nations, such as tech firms hiring from Pakistan or agriculture drawing from Guatemala, may face shortages. Humanitarian concerns arise for refugees and asylum seekers from places like Yemen or South Sudan. The indefinite nature – lasting until a full reassessment – introduces uncertainty, with no timeline provided.
The restrictiveness of the Trump administration’s migration policies has been tragically and starkly illustrated by the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old U.S. citizen and mother of three, by an ICE officer in Minneapolis on 7 January – an incident widely perceived by critics as the murder of an innocent woman amid aggressive immigration enforcement operations, sparking nationwide protests, calls to abolish or reform ICE, resignations among federal prosecutors, and intense backlash against what many describe as reckless and militarised tactics.
With agencies.
Caption: Federal immigration agent uses a facial recognition app on a man before detaining him in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA, 13 January 2026. As part of a federal immigration crackdown involving over 2,000 agents from Border Patrol, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), an ICE officer fatally shot US citizen Renee Nicole Good in her vehicle during an operation in South Minneapolis on 7 January 2026. EPA/OLGA FEDOROVA
Updated: January 15, 2026 - 12:38
