Immigration Corner | What is the status of the US visa pause?

Dear Mrs Walker-Huntington

If you are aware, please provide an update about individuals whose application was successful but the interview was scheduled after the effective date of the ban in January 2026.

Regards.

PD

Dear PD:

We remain in the indefinite immigrant visa pause in Jamaica and 74 other countries that was instituted by the United States government on January 21, 2026.  This pause applies only to Green Cards for persons who are outside the United States and are being processed by the US Department of State. A lawsuit was filed against the Secretary of State in Federal Court in New York in February, 2026, but the hearing on the merits of the suit has not been heard. 

The pause is purportedly on countries whose immigrants utilise a high percentage of public assistance in the United States. That rationale does not square with the fact that new immigrants are ineligible for public assistance as their sponsors and joint financial sponsors (via the Affidavit of Support), are liable for their financial support until they become US citizens or for 10 years – whichever is sooner. The sponsors and joint sponsors can be sued by the US government to repay any funds expended on the new immigrants; and also by the new immigrants for the pledged support.

 If you are in the United States and filed to adjust your status (for a Green Card), you will be granted your Green Card – once you qualify on all other aspects. The pause does not apply to adjustment of status applicants.

For those who are outside the United States and have applied for an immigrant visa, the processing continues just the same. For anyone considering a Green Card filing, please go ahead and apply now, do not wait for the pause to be lifted, as you will have wasted valuable time. All visa applications are being processed, and interviews are being scheduled at the US Embassy in Kingston.  Once an applicant is interviewed and all documents are in order, the applicant will be advised that the visa cannot be granted because of the pause.  At that stage, one must wait for the pause to be lifted before the visa can be issued.

The advice, notwithstanding the Affidavit of Support, to anyone scheduled for an immigrant visa interview is to take evidence of their ability to support themselves once they are in the United States.

However, once the pause is lifted, the applicants will be notified, and family members will be able to reunite.

Dahlia A. Walker-Huntington, Esq. is a Jamaican-American attorney who practises immigration law in the United States as well as  family, criminal and international law in Florida.  She is a mediator and former Special Magistrate and Hearing Officer in Broward County, Florida. info@walkerhuntington.com

Caption: The Department of Homeland Security logo. AP