Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo are among 75 countries whose citizens will no longer be granted U.S. immigrant visas until further notice, according to a statement released by the U.S. Department of State.
The suspension will take effect on January 21, 2026 , and no timeline has been provided for when the measure might be lifted. The list includes 26 African countries , as well as several nations from the East African region, including Tanzania, Uganda, Somalia, and South Sudan.
However, individuals who already hold valid immigrant visas will not be affected by the decision.
According to the U.S. Department of State, applicants from the affected countries may still submit visa applications and attend interviews , but no immigrant visas will be issued during the suspension period.
The move is part of the restrictive immigration policy pursued by the administration of President Donald Trump , which says it aims to prevent the entry of migrants who could become a burden on the United States. Since returning to prominence, Trump has consistently pushed for tighter immigration controls, both legal and illegal. Similar restrictions had previously targeted countries such as Brazil, Iran, Russia, and Somalia.
State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said the administration intends to use its authority to deny entry to immigrants who may exploit the goodwill and public resources of the American people .
Under the leadership of Secretary of State Marco Rubio , the Department of State will carry out a comprehensive review of immigrant visa applications , as part of a broader overhaul of the immigration system aimed at safeguarding jobs and social benefits reserved for U.S. citizens.
According to reporting by Associated Press , U.S. embassies and consulates in the affected countries have been instructed not to accept new immigrant visa applications . The directive does not apply to non-immigrant visas , such as those for tourism, business, or short-term study.
The decision follows months of tightening immigration restrictions, particularly against countries deemed by the Trump administration to pose potential security risks, including Russia, Iran, Afghanistan, and several African states.
After an Afghan national was accused of shooting two security officers in Washington, D.C., the U.S. government moved to restrict or limit entry for nationals of 19 countries . In December last year, the list was expanded to include five additional countries as well as holders of travel documents issued by the Palestinian Authority.
Burundi is not among the countries facing a full suspension of immigrant visas, but it remains subject to partial entry restrictions applied to those same 19 countries.
All applications for asylum, naturalization , and participation in the U.S. permanent residency lottery, commonly known as the Green Card , from the affected countries have also been suspended .
Meanwhile, enforcement actions against undocumented migrants inside the United States continue. Officers from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) are conducting operations across several states, triggering public protests in some cities, including Minneapolis.
