Keeping Score of U.S. Visa Restrictions by Country

The Chicago immigration lawyers of Zneimer & Zneimer are monitoring the evolving immigration restrictions.  In this blog we provide an overview of visa restrictions affecting various countries under current U.S. immigration policy. The restrictions are organized into three categories based on the type and scope of limitations imposed.

Overview of Restriction Types

The United States currently maintains three distinct types of visa restrictions:

1. Full Restrictions: Complete suspension of both immigrant and nonimmigrant visa entry
2. Partial Restrictions: Limited suspension affecting specific visa categories. (in 10998 Sec. 5 countries) suspends immigrant entry and suspends nonimmigrant entry for B 1, B 2, B 1/B 2, F, M, J, with reduced validity for other NIVs to the extent permitted by law.
3. Processing Pause: Temporary suspension of immigrant visa issuance for public charge reassessment. This means the Department of State will keep accepting filings and conducting interviews, but will not issue immigrant visas to listed nationals during the pause.

Comprehensive Restriction Table

Countries Under Full Restriction under INA 212(f).  June 4, 2025, December 16, 2025	Countries Under Partial Restriction under INA 212(f). June 4, 2025, December 16, 2025	Countries Under Processing Pause, Eff. Jan 21, 2026
Afghanistan – Complete suspension of immigrant and nonimmigrant entry. Taliban control, lack of competent central authority, 9.70% B-1/B-2 overstay rate, 29.30% F/M/J overstay rate.	Angola – Immigrant visas and B-1/B-2/F/M/J nonimmigrant visas suspended. 14.43% B-1/B-2 overstay rate, 21.92% F/M/J overstay rate. Other nonimmigrant visa validity reduced.	Albania – Immigrant visa issuance paused effective January 21, 2026, for public charge reassessment. Nonimmigrant visas not affected.
Burma – Complete suspension due to 27.07% B-1/B-2 overstay rate, 42.17% F/M/J overstay rate, and historical non-cooperation with removals.	Antigua and Barbuda – Immigrant visas and B-1/B-2/F/M/J nonimmigrant visas suspended due to Citizenship by Investment program without residency requirements.	Algeria – Immigrant visa issuance paused for public charge reassessment.
Burkina Faso – Complete suspension due to ongoing terrorist activities, 9.16% B-1/B-2 overstay rate, 22.95% F/M/J overstay rate, and refusal to accept removable nationals.	Benin – Immigrant visas and B-1/B-2/F/M/J nonimmigrant visas suspended. 12.34% B-1/B-2 overstay rate, 36.77% F/M/J overstay rate.	Armenia – Immigrant visa issuance paused for public charge reassessment.
Chad – Complete suspension due to 49.54% B-1/B-2 overstay rate and 55.64% F/M/J overstay rate, indicating blatant disregard for U.S. immigration laws.	Burundi – Immigrant visas and B-1/B-2/F/M/J nonimmigrant visas suspended. 15.35% B-1/B-2 overstay rate, 17.52% F/M/J overstay rate.	Azerbaijan – Immigrant visa issuance paused for public charge reassessment.
Republic of the Congo – Complete suspension due to 29.63% B-1/B-2 overstay rate and 35.14% F/M/J overstay rate.	Cote d’Ivoire – Immigrant visas and B-1/B-2/F/M/J nonimmigrant visas suspended. 8.47% B-1/B-2 overstay rate, 19.09% F/M/J overstay rate.	Bahamas – Immigrant visa issuance paused for public charge reassessment.
Equatorial Guinea – Complete suspension due to 21.98% B-1/B-2 overstay rate and 70.18% F/M/J overstay rate.	Cuba – Immigrant visas and B-1/B-2/F/M/J nonimmigrant visas suspended. State sponsor of terrorism, insufficient law enforcement cooperation, 7.69% B-1/B-2 overstay rate.	Bangladesh – Immigrant visa issuance paused for public charge reassessment.
Eritrea – Complete suspension due to questionable passport issuance authority, unavailable criminal records, refusal to accept removable nationals, 20.09% B-1/B-2 overstay rate.	Dominica – Immigrant visas and B-1/B-2/F/M/J nonimmigrant visas suspended due to Citizenship by Investment program without residency requirements.	Barbados – Immigrant visa issuance paused for public charge reassessment.
Haiti – Complete suspension due to 31.38% B-1/B-2 overstay rate, 25.05% F/M/J overstay rate, lack of central authority, and massive illegal influx during previous administration.	Gabon – Immigrant visas and B-1/B-2/F/M/J nonimmigrant visas suspended. 13.72% B-1/B-2 overstay rate, 17.77% F/M/J overstay rate.	Belarus – Immigrant visa issuance paused for public charge reassessment.
Iran – Complete suspension. State sponsor of terrorism, fails to cooperate in identifying security risks, historically refuses to accept removable nationals.	The Gambia – Immigrant visas and B-1/B-2/F/M/J nonimmigrant visas suspended. 12.70% B-1/B-2 overstay rate, 38.79% F/M/J overstay rate, refuses to accept removable nationals.	Belize – Immigrant visa issuance paused for public charge reassessment.
Laos – Complete suspension due to 28.34% B-1/B-2 overstay rate, 11.41% F/M/J overstay rate, and historical failure to accept removable nationals.	Malawi – Immigrant visas and B-1/B-2/F/M/J nonimmigrant visas suspended. 22.45% B-1/B-2 overstay rate, 31.99% F/M/J overstay rate.	Bhutan – Immigrant visa issuance paused for public charge reassessment.
Libya – Complete suspension due to lack of competent central authority for passport issuance and historical terrorist presence.	Mauritania – Immigrant visas and B-1/B-2/F/M/J nonimmigrant visas suspended. 9.49% B-1/B-2 overstay rate, limited government presence creating vetting difficulties.	Bosnia and Herzegovina – Immigrant visa issuance paused for public charge reassessment.
Mali – Complete suspension due to armed conflict between government and armed groups, with terrorist organizations operating freely in certain areas.	Nigeria – Immigrant visas and B-1/B-2/F/M/J nonimmigrant visas suspended. Radical Islamic terrorist groups like Boko Haram operate freely, 5.56% B-1/B-2 overstay rate.	Brazil – Immigrant visa issuance paused for public charge reassessment.
Niger – Complete suspension due to active terrorist planning and kidnapping activities, 13.41% B-1/B-2 overstay rate, 16.46% F/M/J overstay rate.	Senegal – Immigrant visas and B-1/B-2/F/M/J nonimmigrant visas suspended. 4.30% B-1/B-2 overstay rate, 13.07% F/M/J overstay rate.	Cambodia – Immigrant visa issuance paused for public charge reassessment.
Sierra Leone – Complete suspension due to 16.48% B-1/B-2 overstay rate, 35.83% F/M/J overstay rate, and historical failure to accept removable nationals.	Tanzania – Immigrant visas and B-1/B-2/F/M/J nonimmigrant visas suspended. 8.30% B-1/B-2 overstay rate, 13.97% F/M/J overstay rate.	Cameroon – Immigrant visa issuance paused for public charge reassessment.
Somalia – Complete suspension due to lack of competent central authority, government lacks territorial control, persistent terrorist threat, designated terrorist safe haven.	Togo – Immigrant visas and B-1/B-2/F/M/J nonimmigrant visas suspended. 19.03% B-1/B-2 overstay rate, 35.05% F/M/J overstay rate.	Cape Verde – Immigrant visa issuance paused for public charge reassessment.
South Sudan – Complete suspension due to 6.99% B-1/B-2 overstay rate, 26.09% F/M/J overstay rate, and historical failure to accept removable nationals.	Tonga – Immigrant visas and B-1/B-2/F/M/J nonimmigrant visas suspended. 6.45% B-1/B-2 overstay rate, 14.44% F/M/J overstay rate.	Colombia – Immigrant visa issuance paused for public charge reassessment.
Sudan – Complete suspension due to lack of competent central authority, 26.30% B-1/B-2 overstay rate, 28.40% F/M/J overstay rate.	Turkmenistan – Partial restriction modified due to productive engagement and progress. Nonimmigrant B-1/B-2/F/M/J visa suspension lifted, but immigrant visa suspension remains.	Democratic Republic of the Congo – Immigrant visa issuance paused for public charge reassessment.
Syria – Complete suspension due to protracted civil unrest, lack of adequate central authority for passport issuance, inadequate screening measures.	Venezuela – Immigrant visas and B-1/B-2/F/M/J nonimmigrant visas suspended. Lacks competent central authority, inadequate screening measures, refuses to accept removable nationals.	Egypt – Immigrant visa issuance paused for public charge reassessment.
Yemen – Complete suspension due to lack of competent central authority, government lacks territorial control, site of active U.S. military operations.	Zambia – Immigrant visas and B-1/B-2/F/M/J nonimmigrant visas suspended. 10.73% B-1/B-2 overstay rate, 21.02% F/M/J overstay rate.	Ethiopia – Immigrant visa issuance paused for public charge reassessment.
Palestinian Authority Documents – Complete suspension for individuals traveling on PA-issued or endorsed documents due to active terrorist groups, compromised vetting abilities, weak PA control.	Zimbabwe – Immigrant visas and B-1/B-2/F/M/J nonimmigrant visas suspended. 7.89% B-1/B-2 overstay rate, 15.15% F/M/J overstay rate.	Fiji – Immigrant visa issuance paused for public charge reassessment.

Key Exemptions and Exceptions

General Exemptions
All restrictions include exemptions for :.

• Lawful permanent residents of the United States
• Dual nationals traveling on passports from non-designated countries
• Diplomatic visa holders (A-1, A-2, C-2, C-3, G-1 through G-4, NATO classifications)
• Athletes and team members for major sporting events
• Special Immigrant Visa holders for U.S. Government employees
• Ethnic and religious minorities facing persecution in Iran

Case-by-Case Exceptions

Exceptions may be granted by :

• Attorney General for critical Department of Justice interests
• Secretary of State for U.S. national interests
• Secretary of Homeland Security for U.S. national interests

Processing Pause Exemptions

The immigrant visa processing pause includes an exemption for dual nationals applying with valid passports from non-listed countries.
Effective Dates

• Full and partial restrictions: Effective January 1, 2026.
• Processing pause: Effective January 21, 2026.
  The restrictions are subject to periodic review every 180 days, with recommendations for continuation, termination, modification, or supplementation.

If you have any questions regarding the visa restrictions and how it would affect your application, contact the immigration lawyers at Zneimer & Zneimer.