U.S. Issued 626 Immigrant Visas in a Single Month to Applicants Charged to or Born in Countries Covered by Pause, State Department Statistics Show
The U.S. Department of State issued 26,483 immigrant visas worldwide in February 2026, including 626 to applicants charged to or born in 75 countries whose nationals are subject to an administration policy pausing most immigrant visa issuances, according to monthly statistics released Thursday.
The February figures provide the first full-month snapshot of immigrant visa issuance after the policy took effect Jan. 21. The data show that immigrant visas continued to be recorded for applicants whose foreign state of chargeability or place of birth was in countries covered by the pause, including Nepal and several other affected countries.
The State Department categorizes its monthly statistics by foreign state of chargeability or place of birth, as well as by immigrant visa class. The department says the reports contain preliminary data that are subject to change. The figures therefore do not necessarily establish applicants’ nationality, citizenship, residence, or the country where they were physically present when visas were issued.
Immigrant visa issuances decline sharply
The 26,483 immigrant visas issued in February represented a decrease of 8,116 visas, or 23.5%, from January, when the State Department issued 34,599 immigrant visas.
The decline was even larger compared with December 2025, the month before the pause took effect. The department issued 46,478 immigrant visas in December, meaning February’s total was 19,995 visas lower, a decline of about 43%.
Compared with October 2025, when the State Department issued 52,400 immigrant visas, February’s total was down by 25,917 visas, or 49.5%.
The monthly totals were 52,400 immigrant visas in October 2025, 42,720 in November, 46,478 in December, 34,599 in January 2026 and 26,483 in February.
626 visas recorded for affected chargeability or birth countries
Of the 26,483 immigrant visas issued worldwide in February, 626 were recorded in the State Department statistics under foreign states of chargeability or places of birth associated with countries whose nationals are covered by the administration’s immigrant visa pause.
The policy took effect Jan. 21 and applies to immigrant visa applicants from countries identified by the State Department as presenting a high risk of becoming dependent on public benefits in the United States.
Immigrant visas generally allow foreign nationals to enter the United States as lawful permanent residents.
Brazil, Cuba and Pakistan recorded highest totals
Brazil accounted for the largest number of immigrant visas recorded in February among the covered chargeability or birth-country categories, with 74 visas.
Cuba followed with 64, while Pakistan recorded 63 and Nigeria recorded 59. Colombia and Iran each accounted for 38 immigrant visas.
Other countries with comparatively higher numbers included Bangladesh, with 23 visas; Jamaica, with 21; Russia, with 19; Jordan, with 18; Moldova, with 17; and Egypt, with 15.
The State Department recorded 10 immigrant visas each under Lebanon and Syria. Iraq and Afghanistan each recorded nine issuances, while Haiti accounted for eight.
Several other countries recorded only a small number of immigrant visa issuances, while some recorded none.
The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Côte d’Ivoire, Dominica, Grenada, Mongolia, Montenegro, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, South Sudan and Togo each recorded zero immigrant visas in February.
Seven visas recorded under Nepal
The State Department reported that seven immigrant visas were issued in February to applicants whose foreign state of chargeability was Nepal or whose place of birth was Nepal.
Nepal is among the 75 countries affected by the immigrant visa pause. However, the statistics alone do not establish that all seven recipients were Nepali nationals, lived in Nepal, or were subject to the pause in the same way.
The February data show that the seven visas recorded under Nepal included visas for spouses of U.S. citizens, parents of adult U.S. citizens, spouses and children of lawful permanent residents, and employment-based applicants.
According to the State Department’s “Immigrant Visa Issuances by Post” data, the applicants were not physically present in Nepal when they received their visas. They may have applied through U.S. consular posts in other countries.
Editor’s note: This article has been updated to clarify that the State Department’s monthly immigrant-visa statistics classify issuances by foreign state of chargeability or place of birth. The data do not necessarily identify recipients’ nationality, citizenship, country of residence or physical location at the time of visa issuance.