U.S. Immigrant Visa Suspension Remains in Effect Despite Faster Processing in Dhaka

The suspension on U.S. immigrant visa issuance remains in effect, affecting applicants from Bangladesh and 75 other countries, even as new procedural changes have been introduced at the U.S. Embassy in Dhaka.

According to official policy references cited in ongoing legal discussions, immigrant visa issuance has been suspended since January 21, 2026, following an announcement by the Trump administration. The suspension continues to be enforced while related legal challenges are pending in a federal court in New York.

Despite the suspension, the U.S. Embassy in Dhaka has reportedly introduced a new system beginning June 1 to speed up immigrant visa application processing. Under the updated procedure, applications are processed within two working days, and applicants can still submit documents and attend interviews as usual.

However, due to the continued suspension, visa issuance remains blocked even after processing is completed, meaning applicants are not receiving immigrant visas in their passports.

The U.S. Department of State has defended the policy, arguing that certain immigrants from designated countries may be more likely to rely on public assistance in the United States, a classification referred to as the “public charge” standard.

Immigration advocates and legal organizations have strongly disputed this justification, arguing that blanket restrictions based on nationality may violate core principles of U.S. immigration law. A federal case, CLINIC v. Rubio, filed in the Southern District of New York on February 2, 2026, is currently challenging the policy.

The lawsuit includes plaintiffs such as the National Immigration Law Center, Democracy Forward, the Legal Aid Society of New York, and the Center for Constitutional Rights, along with U.S. citizens affected by delays in family reunification.

The plaintiffs are seeking a court ruling to declare the suspension unlawful, permanently overturn it, and restore individualized visa processing under previous standards. The case is currently at the summary judgment stage, with a final decision pending.

Analysts say that without either a court ruling or policy reversal from the administration, the situation is unlikely to change in the near term.

Officials also clarified that the suspension applies only to immigrant visas. Non-immigrant categories such as tourist (B-1/B-2), student (F-1), and work visas (H-1B) remain unaffected, although additional financial requirements, including a reported security bond of up to $15,000 for certain applicants, have been introduced for some visa categories.

As a result, while processing times in Dhaka have accelerated, uncertainty remains for applicants seeking permanent residency in the United States, with no clear timeline for when normal immigrant visa issuance will resume.