March 3, 2026
DHAKA – The United States Department of State has paused the issuance of immigrant visas for nationals of 75 countries, including Bangladesh, the US Embassy in Dhaka has said.
However, the suspension does not apply to visitor visas.
The information was shared in a post on the official Facebook page of the US Embassy Dhaka today.
According to the post, effective January 21, 2026, the Department of State paused all immigrant visa issuances to nationals of countries, including Bangladesh, “whose immigrants have a high rate of collecting public assistance at the expense of the US taxpayer”.
“Immigrant visa applicants who are nationals of impacted countries may submit visa applications and attend interviews, and the Department of State will continue to schedule visa interviews.”
Apart from Bangladesh, the 74 other countries include Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Burma, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Colombia, Cote d’Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, The Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyz Republic, Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Pakistan, Republic of the Congo, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, and Yemen.