This Week in Immigration: January 16, 2026

U.S. Halts Immigrant Visa Processing for 75 Countries

The Trump administration will pause immigrant visa processing for nationals of 75 countries starting January 21. The suspension affects family- and employment-based immigrant visas processed abroad, but not tourist, student, or business visas. Countries affected include Brazil, Colombia, Egypt, Haiti, Nigeria, Somalia, Iran, Iraq, Cuba, and Russia. State Department officials said the suspension will remain in place while immigrant visa screening procedures are reviewed. No timeline has been given for when processing may resume. For more details and the full list of countries, check out our detailed blog post. 

February 2026 Visa Bulletin Shows Limited Green Card Movement

The U.S. Department of State (DOS) has released the February 2026 Visa Bulletin, outlining green card wait times. For this month, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is requiring applicants in the United States to use the “Dates for Filing” chart for both family- and employment-based cases. Movement was modest overall. In family categories, F-2A advanced one month across all countries, while Mexico moved forward three months in F-1 and F-2B. On the employment side, EB-3 advanced three months for most countries, while EB-1 slipped back slightly for China and India.

USCIS Premium Processing Fees to Increase March 1, 2026

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has finalized a rule raising premium processing fees for several immigration forms, effective March 1, 2026. The increase applies to all premium requests filed with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) on or after that date. Officials say the changes reflect a required inflation adjustment, based on a 5.72 percent rise in consumer prices. Fees for H-1B, L-1, O-1, employment-based green cards, and certain student benefits will all increase modestly.

U.S. Sees Negative Net Migration for First Time in 50 Years, Report Finds

The United States recorded negative net migration in 2025 for the first time in at least half a century, according to a new report from the Brookings Institution. Researchers estimate net migration fell by 10,000 to nearly 300,000 people, driven largely by a sharp drop in arrivals rather than removals. The report links the shift to Trump administration policies, including cuts to humanitarian programs and fewer temporary visas, and warns the decline could weigh on economic growth in 2025 and 2026.

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