The United States has announced an indefinite suspension of immigrant visa processing for citizens of 75 countries beginning January 21, 2026, in one of the most sweeping visa actions in recent years under the Trump administration. Regarding the freeze, there were questions that confused applicants, especially those from India, who wanted to know their status following the crackdown. India was not mentioned in the list, but here are some clear answers, based on official reports and government statements, to some of the most asked questions.
1. Is India on the list of affected countries?
No. India is not included among the 75 countries whose immigrant visa processing will be paused, meaning Indian nationals applying for green cards or other permanent residency categories will not be directly affected by this specific suspension. The list does include many of India’s neighbours, including Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Nepal.
2. Does the pause affect non-immigrant visas?
No. The suspension applies specifically to immigrant visas (permanent residency). Non-immigrant visa categories such as B1/B2 tourist visas, H-1B work visas and F-1 student visas are not part of this pause, although normal processing delays and visa interview backlogs could still affect applicants.According to US State Department data, India continues to be the largest source country for H-1B approvals and one of the top contributors of international students to US universities along with China.
3. Why was India excluded while some neighbours are included?
Officials have not publicly explained why some nations are on the list and others are not. However, immigration lawyers and experts do agree with the fact that exclusions may relate to differences in documentation systems, greater compliance with US immigration standards, economic ties, and lower public charge concerns. India’s dominant position in high-skilled visa categories like H-1B and its longstanding cooperation with US consular services are likely factors in its exclusion. Indian-origin people make up a huge amount of high-skilled labours in crucial sectors like tech and defence, and that too for a lower price than the average American working in the same field. This factor has been called out by MAGA experts as unfair and the main reason that Americans are getting “replaced” in their own country,
4. Could this policy be expanded to include India later?
There is concern among many applicants that the pause could broaden in the future. Immigration experts note that policy shifts under the same “public charge” or national security rationale could lead to changes in eligibility criteria or an expansion of the country list. While no such move has been announced, applicants are advised to closely monitor updates from the US State Department and American consulates.These concerns come amid growing ‘anti-Indian’ rhetoric around immigration in the US and other developed countries, which has contributed to stricter rules for foreign nationals. Indian applicants have already faced challenges such as long processing delays, higher government filing fees, and backlogs in employment-based visas like the H-1B. According to official US data, wait times for certain green card categories for Indians already stretch into decades.
5. What should affected applicants do now?
Those from the 75 countries should be prepared for delays in immigrant visa interviews and approvals. If possible, applicants can consult immigration attorneys for case-specific advice and stay updated through official State Department channels. Applicants from unaffected countries, including India, can continue processing their visas as usual, but should continue to meet all legal requirements so as to not get flagged or falsely noticed by authorities and prepare for potential future policy changes.
