The US Department of State has issued a decision to suspend the issuance of immigrant visas for citizens of 75 countries, including the Arab Republic of Egypt.
Scheduled to take effect on January 21, the measure is seen as an extension of President Donald Trump’s immigration policy—a cornerstone of his electoral platform. His agenda remains focused on reducing immigration levels and tightening enforcement against undocumented individuals within the United States, with the ultimate goal of repatriation to their countries of origin.
In December 2025, President Trump issued Presidential Proclamation 10998, which activated the Public Charge rule. This measure aims to safeguard national security and alleviate the burden on American taxpayers. Under this rule, US consular officers are authorized to deny immigrant visas to any applicant deemed likely to become primarily dependent on government assistance, such as subsidized healthcare programs or food aid.
Under this new directive, the freeze specifically targets certain categories of applicants. Foremost among these are winners of the Diversity Visa Program (the “Lottery”), of which Egypt is a primary beneficiary.
In 2025 alone, 5,529 Egyptians were selected in the lottery, with 3,644 successfully securing immigrant visas to the US. The suspension also extends to family reunification visas—covering spouses and children of US residents—as well as immigrants with permanent employment contracts.
This American policy shift comes as other nations pursue starkly different trends. At the start of 2026, several countries announced sweeping visa facilitations designed to attract professional talent and address growing labor shortages. This international competition for skills and expertise increasingly allows for immigration without the requirement of a prior job offer in many cases.
