The United States has resumed issuing immigrant visas to citizens of Bangladesh and 74 other countries following the end of a suspension introduced earlier this year.

The US Department of State had paused immigrant visa issuance for nationals of 75 countries in January 2026.

The policy was linked to screening of applicants considered more likely to rely on public benefits after entering the United States.

The suspension came to an end on August 21 following a ruling by US District Judge Jeannette Vargas of the Southern District of New York.

The case was brought by the Catholic Legal Immigration Network against US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

The court found that refusing immigrant visas solely on the basis of an applicant’s nationality went beyond the Secretary of State’s authority under the Immigration and Nationality Act.

Following the ruling, the State Department updated its public information on the visa policy.

An update dated August 28 states that the pause on immigrant visa issuance is no longer in effect.

The change means Bangladeshi nationals are once again able to receive immigrant visas under the applicable US immigration procedures, subject to the normal eligibility, documentation, screening and processing requirements.

Bangladesh was among 75 countries affected by the earlier suspension.

Other countries on the list included Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Brazil, Cambodia, Cameroon, Colombia, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, India-neighbouring Nepal and Pakistan, as well as Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Nigeria, Russia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Thailand, Uganda, Uzbekistan and Yemen.

The policy also covered a number of countries in the Caribbean, Africa, Europe, Asia and Latin America.

The lifting of the suspension removes the nationality-based pause that had affected applicants from those countries since January.

It does not, however, mean that immigrant visas will be issued automatically.

Applicants will still have to meet the requirements of their respective immigrant visa categories and complete the standard US visa application and screening process.