The suspension of U.S. immigrant visa issuance for nationals of 75 countries is no longer in effect as of August 21, 2026. The change followed a federal court ruling that found the policy unlawful. The U.S. Department of State has officially confirmed that the suspension introduced in January 2026 is no longer active.
This decision represents an important development for thousands of people applying for permanent residence in the United States, particularly applicants from Jordan and other Arab countries that were included in the suspension.
What Policy Was Overturned?
On January 21, 2026, the U.S. Department of State paused immigrant visa issuance for nationals of 75 countries. The suspension was based on concerns that some applicants from those countries might become dependent on public benefits after entering the United States.
The policy applied to immigrant visas that generally lead to lawful permanent residence, including:
- Family-sponsored immigrant visas.
- Immigrant visas for spouses, children, and parents.
- Certain employment-based immigrant visas.
- Other permanent residence visa categories processed through U.S. embassies and consulates.
The policy was not a complete entry ban against nationals of the 75 countries. It also did not directly apply to tourist, student, or exchange visitor visas.
Why Did the Court Overturn the Policy?
U.S. District Judge Jeannette Vargas, sitting in the federal court in Manhattan, ruled that the suspension exceeded the statutory authority granted to the U.S. Secretary of State.
The court found that immigrant visas could not be categorically withheld solely because of an applicant’s nationality. Each application must instead be evaluated individually under U.S. immigration law and according to the applicant’s circumstances and eligibility.
Following the ruling, the U.S. Department of State updated its official guidance and confirmed that the suspension was no longer in effect as of August 21, 2026.
Which Arab Countries Were Included?
The list of 75 countries included several Arab countries, such as:
- Jordan.
- Algeria.
- Egypt.
- Iraq.
- Kuwait.
- Lebanon.
- Libya.
- Morocco.
- Somalia.
- Sudan.
- Syria.
- Tunisia.
- Yemen.
Following the removal of the suspension, an immigrant visa may no longer be withheld solely because the applicant is a national of one of these countries. However, every application remains subject to individual eligibility, financial, medical, and security reviews.
What Does the Decision Mean for Jordanian Applicants?
Jordan was one of the countries included in the suspension introduced in January 2026. Following the federal court ruling and the Department of State’s official update, the nationality-based suspension no longer applies to Jordanian immigrant visa applicants.
A Jordanian applying for an immigrant visa through family reunification, marriage, employment, or another immigration category is therefore no longer subject to the blanket suspension based on Jordanian nationality.
However, the ruling does not guarantee approval. Applicants must still satisfy all requirements for their visa category, attend the consular interview, complete the required medical examination and security screening, and submit the necessary financial sponsorship documents.
Will Immigrant Visas Be Issued Immediately?
Legally, the immigrant visa suspension associated with the 75-country list has ended. However, this does not necessarily mean that all pending visas will be issued immediately or that postponed interviews will be rescheduled at the same time.
The Department of State has launched a global training initiative for consular officers. The training focuses on evaluating applicants and determining whether they are likely to rely on public benefits in the United States.
As a result, some immigrant visa appointments may be temporarily adjusted or postponed. Applicants with scheduled interviews may receive an email from the relevant U.S. embassy or consulate informing them of a new appointment date.
It is therefore important to distinguish between two separate developments:
- The immigrant visa issuance suspension affecting nationals of 75 countries has been lifted.
- Temporary administrative delays may continue because of consular training and revised screening procedures.
Does This Affect Tourist and Student Visas?
No. The 75-country suspension applied specifically to immigrant visa applicants.
B-1/B-2 visitor visas, F and M student visas, and J exchange visitor visas are nonimmigrant visa categories and were not covered by this particular suspension.
These applications remain subject to their usual requirements, including demonstrating a temporary purpose of travel, sufficient financial resources, and strong reasons to leave the United States after the authorized visit or study period.
What About Diversity Visa Applicants?
The removal of the 75-country suspension should not be confused with the separate policy affecting the Diversity Visa Program.
The Department of State issued separate guidance pausing the issuance of Diversity Visas to applicants of all nationalities while it reviews the program’s security screening and vetting procedures.
According to the official guidance, Diversity Visa applicants may continue to submit applications and attend scheduled interviews. U.S. embassies may also continue scheduling appointments. However, Diversity Visas will not be issued while the current pause remains in effect, and no exceptions have been announced.
Therefore, lifting the 75-country suspension does not automatically resume Diversity Visa issuance.
Have All U.S. Travel Restrictions Been Lifted?
No. The federal court ruling overturned a specific policy that suspended immigrant visa issuance for nationals of 75 countries based on nationality and concerns about potential reliance on public benefits.
Security restrictions and visa limitations imposed under separate presidential proclamations or other legal authorities may remain in effect for certain nationalities.
A consular officer may also refuse an individual application if the applicant fails to meet the requirements of the requested visa category or is inadmissible for reasons involving security, health, misrepresentation, public charge concerns, or another provision of U.S. immigration law.
What Should Affected Applicants Do Now?
Applicants whose cases were affected by the previous suspension should take the following steps:
- Monitor the status of the case through the National Visa Center or the relevant U.S. embassy.
- Check email regularly for any change to the interview appointment.
- Do not cancel the application or submit a new case unless officially instructed to do so.
- Renew any expired civil, medical, or financial documents.
- Confirm that the sponsor meets the applicable financial requirements and that all sponsorship documents are complete.
- Attend the interview as scheduled unless an official postponement notice is received.
- Review the legal basis of any previous refusal to determine whether it resulted from the 75-country suspension or another issue in the case.
Conclusion
The suspension of U.S. immigrant visa issuance for nationals of 75 countries, including Jordan and several other Arab countries, has not been in effect since August 21, 2026, following a federal court ruling that found the policy unlawful.
The decision is a positive development for family-sponsored, marriage-based, and employment-based immigrant visa applicants. However, it does not guarantee visa approval or remove the security screening, financial sponsorship, medical, and eligibility requirements applicable to each case.
Some applicants may experience temporary interview delays due to a global consular training initiative. The separate pause affecting Diversity Visa issuance also remains distinct from the removal of the 75-country suspension.
Last updated: September 1, 2026.
Sources: U.S. Department of State and the federal court ruling in CLINIC et al. v. Rubio et al.