US says its January 2026 immigrant-visa pause for 75 nationalities is no longer in effect
The State Department says that, from 21 August 2026 and in line with a court order, it no longer applies the pause on immigrant-visa issuance that covered St Kitts & Nevis and 74 other nationalities. It is reviewing its vetting policies.
By Beyond Borders Editorial Team
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Key points
- The State Department said on 28 August 2026 that, as of 21 August 2026 and in accordance with the court's order in CLINIC et al. v. Rubio, the January 2026 pause of immigrant-visa issuance to nationals of 75 countries is no longer in effect.
- The pause took effect on 21 January 2026. St Kitts & Nevis was on the list. The page says tourist visas were not affected and no immigrant visas were revoked.
- In February 2026 the St Kitts & Nevis government said, after engaging the US Embassy in Barbados, that applications were being refused under section 221(g) while the pause applied.
- The State Department says it is undergoing a full review of its screening and vetting policies.
What the State Department says
On 28 August 2026 the State Department updated its page on immigrant-visa processing for 75 nationalities. It says that as of 21 August 2026, in accordance with the court’s order in CLINIC et al. v. Rubio, et al., the January 2026 pause of immigrant-visa issuance to nationals of 75 countries is no longer in effect.
The pause had applied from 21 January 2026. St Kitts & Nevis was on the list, alongside other Caribbean states. The full list is on the official page.
The same page states that:
- the Department is “undergoing a full review of all screening and vetting policies”;
- no immigrant visas were revoked under the guidance; and
- tourist visas, which are nonimmigrant visas, were not affected.
What St Kitts & Nevis said during the pause
On 13 February 2026 the St Kitts & Nevis Citizenship Unit (CIU) published a government statement. It said that, after engaging the US Embassy in Barbados, it had been told that immigrant-visa applications were still accepted but were being refused under section 221(g), a procedural refusal. Nonimmigrant visas (tourism, business, study) were not affected. The statement also said the measure did not apply to dual nationals travelling on a passport of an unlisted country.
What this does not mean
The end of the pause does not mean an application will be approved, or decided by any date. Normal eligibility rules still apply. This piece is not legal, tax or immigration advice.
What this does not mean
- This is not a prediction about the outcome or timing of any immigrant-visa application.
- It does not settle the litigation; the position could change again after an appeal.
- It does not affect the separate visitor-visa bond list.
Official sources
U.S. Department of State — Bureau of Consular Affairs
Immigrant Visa Processing Updates for Nationalities at High Risk of U.S. Public Benefits RelianceVerifiedGovernment28 Aug 2026accessed 21 Oct 2026St Kitts & Nevis Citizenship Unit (CIU)
St. Kitts and Nevis provides clarity on US immigrant visa suspensionsVerifiedGovernment13 Feb 2026accessed 21 Oct 2026
Evidence labels: Verified — we checked this against the official source; Reported — from a named press report, not an official statement; Analysis — our reading of the sources.
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