U.S. Visa Freeze May Hit 3 Of The Top 20 Overseas Source Markets

The U.S. State Department is preparing to pause immigrant visa processing for roughly 75 countries on January 21, a move first reported by Fox News.

The announcement comes when the U.S. travel economy is already losing Canadian visitors, with fewer travelers crossing the border in response to President Donald Trump’s tariffs.

The visa freeze includes three of the U.S.’ top 20 overseas source markets for tourism: Brazil, Colombia and Guatemala, which together generated more than 3.4 million non-immigrant arrivals in 2025.

While the policy targets immigrant visas, tourism boards have started issuing reassurance statements to limit spillover fears among leisure travelers and airlines.

Inside The State Department Memo

Fox News reported first today that the U.S. State Department is pausing immigrant visa processing for applicants from 75 countries, effective January 21, 2026.

The report refers to an internal memo that instructs consular officers worldwide to refuse visas under the existing public-charge law, while the State Department is reassessing screening and vetting procedures.

The suspension is indefinite and tied to efforts to curb immigration perceived as likely to burden U.S. public benefits systems.

Travelers holding valid visas issued before January 21 can continue using them for entry, as the freeze applies only to new applications and pending cases.

The Fox report does not mention whether non-immigrant visa categories, including tourist and business visas, will face similar restrictions.

Since then, the U.S. State Department also confirmed the news on Twitter, although there is no official press release at the time of publication.

The list of affected nations, in alphabetical order, are 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, Democratic Republic of the Congo, 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.

What The Freeze Means For Travel

According to I-94 data, three of the U.S.’ top 20 overseas source markets for tourism, Brazil, Colombia and Guatemala, are among the 75 affected countries. Together, they sent more than 3.4 million non-immigrant visitors to the U.S. in 2025.

And while the pause applies specifically to immigrant visa processing, countries affected by the U.S. visa freeze are already moving to mitigate any risks the freeze may have on tourism.

Antigua and Barbuda was among the first countries to issue an official statement on January 13, 2026, stressing that there have been no changes to entry or exit requirements for U.S. citizens and that airports and seaports are operating normally.

The Honourable H. Charles Fernandez, Minister of Tourism, Civil Aviation, Transportation and Investment, stated: “Antigua and Barbuda is open for business, and we are delighted to welcome visitors as always with our signature hospitality, world-class beaches, rich culture, and exceptional service. Our tourism sector continues to operate normally, and travellers can plan their visits with complete confidence.”

The statement also noted that, since it is peak season for tourism, the nation aims to keep bookings on track and reassure travel advisors and airlines.