WASHINGTON — The 75-country immigrant visa pause is legally over, but for most of the people refused under it, the wait has barely moved. In an October 5 court filing in CLINIC v. Rubio, the U.S. State Department said only 706 affected applications were adjudicated between August 21 and September 30, with 318 approved for issuance or issued and 388 refused under other provisions of immigration law.

Source: Visa Lawyer Blog / State Department court filing in CLINIC v. Rubio

The department separately acknowledged that more than 43,000 applications had been refused solely under the pause. The pause, which began in January 2026, covered nationals of 75 countries including Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Colombia and many others — India was not on the list — and a federal judge ruled on August 21 that the suspension was unlawful and ordered reconsideration of applications refused solely under the policy.

The ruling set no specific deadline for finishing every case. According to the filing and legal analyses of it, cases are being reviewed individually, consular officers may ask for updated documents or new interviews, and applicants are not guaranteed automatic reconsideration within a set timeframe. The filing also said consular posts were instructed to prioritize cases involving named plaintiffs in the litigation.

NPR reported on October 26 that the delay is separating families. Dustin Hoffman, a U.S. Army veteran who served in Iraq, is waiting for a visa for his wife Gloria, from Colombia, while their 5-year-old daughter and his 12-year-old stepson remain in Argentina. Attorneys representing migrants told NPR the administration is not complying with the court order and is slow-walking processing — an allegation, not a court finding. Alexis Axelrad, president-elect of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, told NPR that while technically the ban no longer exists, practically people still cannot get their interviews finished or their visa stamps.

Source: NPR via WHRO

NPR also reported, citing a Cato Institute analysis, that the ban had affected more than 280,000 immigrants who had applied by the time it took effect, including thousands of close family members of U.S. citizens and permanent residents. The State Department declined to comment to NPR, saying the matter is subject to pending litigation, and its website acknowledges the ban is no longer in effect because of the court ruling. The department told NPR in August it had paused processing while it launched a training program for embassies and consulates on public-charge screening.

For families still waiting, lawyers cited in the October 26 update advise confirming the exact reason for refusal, responding promptly to requests for updated documents or interviews, asking the consular post for a case update, and speaking with an immigration attorney about whether litigation, including a mandamus action seeking action on a delayed case, is appropriate. A mandamus case can seek to compel action on a duty, but it cannot require a consular officer to approve a visa.