(WASHINGTON DC) – South Sudanese applicants seeking visas, green cards, citizenship, or asylum in the United States are facing increased uncertainty after United States authorities paused the review of immigration cases from South Sudan and dozens of other countries, widening restrictions that came into effect at the start of 2026.
The United States Department of Homeland Security confirmed that immigration applications from an additional group of countries are now subject to a processing pause. United States Citizenship and Immigration Services said it would temporarily halt decisions on pending applications, including employment based visas, family based green cards, asylum claims, and naturalisation requests from affected countries.
South Sudan is listed among the countries facing full or partial restrictions. Others include Somalia, Sudan, Eritrea, Congo, Nigeria, Tanzania, and several states in West and Central Africa, as well as parts of the Middle East and the Caribbean. The move has raised concern among South Sudanese families, students, and workers with pending cases in the United States.
According to the agency, applications will continue to be processed administratively, but approvals or refusals will not be issued until the pause is lifted. The agency also said it may reopen and re examine applications approved as far back as January 2021, creating the possibility of renewed scrutiny for migrants already living and working in the United States.
Immigration lawyers say the practical effect is that many applicants could remain in legal uncertainty for an extended period. While cases are not automatically rejected, they may remain pending indefinitely, and some applicants could be called for interviews years later, including family reunification cases involving spouses, parents, and children.
United States authorities said the decision is driven by security and compliance concerns. In its internal memo, the agency stated that the pause is intended to ensure that migrants from countries with high visa overstay rates, fraud concerns, or security risks do not pose threats to public safety or national security.
Limited exemptions have been outlined, including athletes and support staff participating in major international events such as the World Cup and the Olympic Games. However, most civilian and family related applications remain affected.
The expansion of the restrictions follows increased security reviews by the current administration, including a broader reassessment of refugee admissions and an existing indefinite pause on the processing of asylum applications due to a large backlog.
For South Sudan, the decision has economic and social implications. Remittances from the South Sudanese diaspora play an important role in household income, education, and small business activity. Prolonged immigration delays could disrupt family support systems and limit labour mobility at a time when foreign based income remains important to the country’s fragile economy.
Legal experts note that some applicants may challenge excessive delays through court action, though such options are not automatic and depend on the length of delay and individual circumstances.
As the policy unfolds, South Sudanese applicants and businesses that rely on cross border labour and family migration are expected to closely monitor any changes. The outcome of the review process may influence future migration flows and diaspora engagement with South Sudan’s economy.
Countries Included in US Immigration Application Pause
| Region | Selected Countries Affected |
|---|---|
| East Africa | South Sudan, Somalia, Eritrea, Sudan |
| West Africa | Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo |
| Central Africa | Congo, Chad, Equatorial Guinea |
| Other Regions | Afghanistan, Iran, Haiti, Venezuela |
The pause is expected to remain in place until further notice from United States immigration authorities, with no clear timeline for resolution announced.
