US suspends immigrant visa issuance for Uzbek citizens

The United States has suspended the issuance of immigrant visas to citizens of certain countries, including Uzbekistan, starting on January 21 2026, according to a message released by the US Embassy in Uzbekistan. 

The suspension applies to countries whose nationals are assessed by US authorities as having a high rate of reliance on public assistance funded by US taxpayers, Caliber.Az reports. 

Under the policy, applicants from the affected countries will still be able to submit immigrant visa applications and attend scheduled interviews. However, the US State Department will not issue immigrant visas to these applicants for the duration of the suspension period, the embassy said.

Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated earlier that US visa applications for Uzbek citizens are currently being processed as normal and that no new restrictions have yet been implemented. The United States has previously suspended visa processing for citizens of 75 countries, a list that included Uzbekistan as well as Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Iran, Pakistan, Egypt, Brazil and Nigeria.

By Sabina Mammadli