The United States has resumed processing immigrant visa applications from Hungary and Poland while keeping a broader temporary pause on immigrant visa appointments elsewhere, according to people familiar with the matter.
The selective resumption began last week, with the directive to prioritise immigrant visa processing at US missions in the two European countries reportedly coming from the White House. The reason for singling out Hungary and Poland has not been officially explained.
The development comes as the Trump administration continues to overhaul US immigration policy, affecting both illegal and legal migration.
Wider immigrant visa pause remains in place
The US State Department announced in January that it was temporarily suspending immigrant visa processing in 75 countries, citing concerns about applicants becoming a public charge.
After a federal judge struck down that policy in August, the State Department paused immigrant visa interviews at its missions worldwide while new training was introduced for consular staff.
The training is intended to help officers assess whether applicants can support themselves in the United States without relying on public benefits. The State Department has said appointments are being adjusted as the training is implemented.
The pause has caused uncertainty for applicants in several countries, with reports of appointments being cancelled or rescheduled into September.
Hungary and Poland receive special treatment
The decision to resume processing in Hungary and Poland has attracted attention because of President Donald Trump’s political relationships with leaders and nationalist figures in both countries.
Trump has publicly backed former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Poland’s nationalist President Karol Nawrocki. The reasons for giving the two countries priority, however, have not been confirmed by the White House or State Department.
Officials in Hungary and Poland did not immediately respond to requests for comment, according to Reuters.
Policy affects families seeking to settle in US
Immigrant visas allow people to move permanently to the United States. They are commonly issued to relatives of US citizens and permanent residents, making delays particularly significant for families waiting to reunite.
The US issued around 600,000 immigrant visas in 2024, the final year of Joe Biden’s presidency. The January suspension affected applicants from countries including Brazil, Colombia, Uruguay, Bosnia, Albania, Pakistan and Bangladesh.
The federal government’s new training process could take months to complete because individual missions must undertake training and then have their readiness certified by consular officials.
For applicants outside Hungary and Poland, the latest development therefore offers little immediate clarity. While processing has restarted in the two countries, the wider suspension remains in place as the United States reshapes how immigrant visa applications are assessed.