U.S. Indefinitely Suspends Immigrant Visa Processing for Brazil and 74 Other Countries Starting January 21, 2026
The U.S. indefinitely suspends immigrant visa processing for Brazil and 74 countries from January 21, 2026, citing public charge concerns under a broader immigration crackdown by the Trump administration.
- • U.S. suspends immigrant visa processing for Brazil and 74 other countries starting January 21, 2026.
- • Suspension affects immigrant visas but not non-immigrant visas such as tourism and student visas.
- • Measure aims to prevent potential immigrants who might become public burdens under the public charge clause.
- • Brazilian authorities surprised and awaiting formal communication about the decision.
Key details
The United States government has announced an indefinite suspension of immigrant visa processing for citizens of 75 countries, including Brazil, effective January 21, 2026. This decision targets immigrant visas such as work permits, while non-immigrant visas like student, tourist, and business visas remain unaffected. Brazilian government officials expressed surprise over the announcement, indicating they were not informed prior and are awaiting formal communication to clarify the measure.
This suspension is part of a broader immigration crackdown under the Trump administration, which resumed presidential duties earlier in January 2026. The move follows a directive from the Department of State that mandated stricter scrutiny of visa applications under the public charge clause of immigration law. The main intent is to prevent potential immigrants deemed likely to become financial burdens on the U.S. public assistance programs from entering the country.
Tommy Pigott, spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State, emphasized the department’s long-standing authority to disqualify applicants expected to exploit these social welfare initiatives. The countries affected alongside Brazil include Colombia, Egypt, Haiti, Somalia, Russia, Iran, Afghanistan, Nigeria, and Thailand among others.
A memo obtained by U.S. media outlets such as Fox News detailed that the suspension will remain until the U.S. government can ensure new immigrants will not impose excessive costs on American taxpayers. Discussions are ongoing regarding tightening entry requirements, potentially barring older individuals and those with obesity, reflecting public health concerns intertwined with immigration policy.
Importantly, this suspension specifically excludes non-immigrant visas, ensuring that Brazilians traveling for tourism, business, education, or events like the World Cup will not be impacted. Additionally, starting January 21, a new bond requirement for tourist visas will take effect, requiring certain applicants to post financial guarantees to prevent visa overstays.
The Brazilian government continues to seek further clarification as this development unfolds, which represents a significant shift in U.S. immigration policy directly affecting Brazilian citizens and many others worldwide.
This article was translated and synthesized from Brazilian sources, providing English-speaking readers with local perspectives.
Source articles (4)
Source comparison
Countries included in the suspension
Sources disagree on the list of countries affected by the visa suspension.
forbes.com.br
"Among the countries affected are Brazil, Somalia, Russia, Iran, Afghanistan, Nigeria, and Thailand."
cnnbrasil.com.br
"The suspension also applies to other countries, including Colombia, Egypt, Haiti, Somalia, and Russia."
cnnbrasil.com.br
"Countries like Colombia, Egypt, Haiti, Somalia, and Russia are also included in this suspension."
g1.globo.com
"The Department of State indicated that the countries included in this freeze are those whose immigrants are perceived to receive social benefits at unacceptable rates."
Why this matters: One source mentions Iran, Afghanistan, Nigeria, and Thailand as affected countries, while others do not include these and instead list Colombia, Egypt, and Haiti. This discrepancy affects the understanding of the scope of the visa suspension.