US makes exception for Hungary, Poland in immigrant visa freeze

The US has resumed processing immigrant visa applications from Hungary and Poland, while a temporary pause remains in place at US missions elsewhere, according to people familiar with the matter.

The White House directed US missions in the two countries to prioritise immigrant visas, four people told Reuters. It was not immediately clear why Hungary and Poland had been singled out.

The move comes after the State Department paused immigrant visa interviews at missions around the world following a federal court ruling against a policy that had suspended processing for applicants from 75 countries.

The department said the global pause was linked to a new training programme for consular staff on assessing whether visa applicants could support themselves in the US without relying on public benefits.

The State Department had told a court that interviews would be temporarily rescheduled through 31 August. However, the wider suspension could last for months because of the structure of the training programme, according to a person familiar with the matter.

Missions must conduct training using materials sent from Washington, after which a consular officer must visit each post to certify that the training has been completed.

The State Department did not comment on why immigrant visa processing had resumed in Hungary and Poland. A spokesperson said appointments were being adjusted to accommodate the new training.

"When there are updated instructions for visa applicants or changes to visa interview appointments, embassies and consulates communicate this information directly to visa applicants," the spokesperson said.

The January suspension was one of the Trump administration's most extensive efforts to restrict legal migration. It affected applicants from countries including Brazil, Colombia, Uruguay, Bosnia, Albania, Pakistan and Bangladesh.

On August 21, US District Judge Jeannette A. Vargas struck down the policy as "patently unlawful."

The US issued about 600,000 immigrant visas in 2024, with most going to relatives of US citizens or permanent residents.

People affected by the wider suspension have reported cancelled appointments through September. On Reddit, one person wrote: "We were at the finish line and now this."

By Aghakazim Guliyev