Visa Lawyer Blog
The Trump administration’s 75-country immigrant visa pause may be over following a federal court ruling, but thousands of previously refused applications remain unresolved.
In an October 5, 2026 court filing, the State Department revealed that only 706 affected applications were adjudicated between August 21 and September 30. Of those, just 318 were approved for visa issuance or resulted in visas being issued.
These figures highlight the slow progress in addressing more than 43,000 applications previously refused solely under the pause.
With no firm deadline for reconsideration, federal litigation may be an important option for applicants seeking to move their cases forward.
Key Highlights
- The 75-country immigrant visa pause was struck down on August 21, 2026.
- More than 43,000 applications were previously refused solely under the policy.
- Between August 21 and September 30, only 706 affected applications were adjudicated, with 318 approved for issuance or issued and 388 refused under other immigration provisions.
- Applicants whose visas were previously refused are not guaranteed automatic reconsideration within a specific timeframe.
- Federal lawsuits, including mandamus actions, may offer a way to challenge unreasonable delays and seek action on previously refused applications.
What Do the Latest Visa Processing Statistics Reveal?
The State Department’s October 5 court filing in CLINIC v. Rubio provides a clearer picture of how slowly visa processing has progressed since the pause was lifted.