Pakistanis planning to move to the United States permanently will face a major setback from 21st January. The US government under President Donald Trump has decided to pause immigrant visa processing for Pakistan and dozens of other countries.
The decision is part of a wider immigration clampdown announced by the US State Department on Wednesday (14th January).
According to the Trump administration, the pause applies only to immigrant visas, which are meant for permanent relocation. Non-immigrant visas, including tourist, business, and other temporary travel visas, will continue to be processed as usual. This means Pakistanis seeking short-term travel to the US are not affected by the new move.
Explaining the reason behind the move, the Trump administration said the pause targets countries whose immigrants, according to the US government, depend heavily on American welfare systems.
The State Department will pause immigrant visa processing from 75 countries whose migrants take welfare from the American people at unacceptable rates. The freeze will remain active until the U.S. can ensure that new immigrants will not extract wealth from the American people.
— Department of State (@StateDept) January 14, 2026
In an official message shared on X, the administration stated that the freeze would stay in place until the US make sure that new immigrants will not become a financial burden on American taxpayers.
Pakistan is among the 75 countries expected to be affected by this decision. Other South Asian nations on the list include Bangladesh and Nepal, while countries like Iran and Russia are also named. The State Department said the move would affect dozens of countries whose immigrants, in its view, often turn into “public charges” after arriving in the United States.
Although the US government has not released an official list so far, a report by the Associated Press has shared details of the countries likely to face the suspension. The list includes Afghanistan, Egypt, Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Sudan, Thailand, Yemen, Somalia, Haiti, Eritrea, and many others across Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Caribbean.
Adding to this, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said on X that Somalia would be included in the affected countries. She referred to recent criticism by President Trump following a funding scandal in Minnesota that involved immigrants from Somalia. Russia and Iran were also named as part of the restrictions.
For Pakistan, the decision is likely to impact families waiting for reunification and individuals planning permanent relocation to the US. While temporary travel remains open, the pause on immigrant visas adds uncertainty for thousands who have been in the process for years. The US government has not said how long the suspension will last, only that it will remain until further review.
