Saint Lucia has been named among 75 countries whose immigrant visa processing will be indefinitely suspended by the United States, a move announced by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on January 14, 2026. The suspension is set to take effect January 21, 2026, and is part of a broader U.S. policy shift towards tighter immigration controls.
The decision specifically affects immigrant visas, which are used by individuals planning to settle permanently in the United States through family sponsorship, employment opportunities, or other lawful permanent residence pathways.
Non-immigrant visas, such as tourist, business, and student visas, are not part of the suspension and will continue to be processed under existing protocols.
The U.S. State Department has framed the policy as an effort to reinforce visa screening procedures and limit entries by individuals deemed likely to rely on public assistance after migration. According to the administration, the freeze will remain in place while consular procedures are reassessed.
Saint Lucia is one of 11 CARICOM member states affected by the temporary halt in immigrant visa processing. Other Caribbean nations on the list include Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.