South Asian Immigrants and the 2026 Travel Ban

The Expanded Travel Restrictions

The 2026 expanded travel ban and 75-country visa processing pause have significantly impacted immigrants from South Asian countries including Pakistan, Bangladesh, and several others in the region. While India is not on the travel ban list, processing delays at Indian consulates have created similar practical challenges for Indian nationals.

Pakistan: Dual Impact

Pakistani nationals face some of the most severe restrictions, with both the travel ban's heightened vetting and the immigrant visa processing pause applying simultaneously. Nonimmigrant visa wait times at the Islamabad embassy stretch months, and immigrant visa processing has been effectively frozen. For Pakistanis already in the U.S. on valid status, the priority should be maintaining status and pursuing adjustment of status inside the U.S. rather than relying on consular processing.

Bangladesh and Nepal

Bangladeshi and Nepali nationals face similar challenges. As "All Other Countries" for Visa Bulletin purposes, their priority dates are typically current for employment-based categories — meaning the backlog is not the issue. The issue is consular processing delays and heightened scrutiny at visa interviews. Both communities have significant representation in the DV Lottery program, which has also been affected by processing pauses.

Practical Strategies

For South Asian immigrants currently in the U.S.: file I-485 adjustment of status whenever possible (avoiding consular processing entirely), apply for Advance Parole for emergency travel rather than relying on visa stamps, consider EB-2 NIW to self-petition without employer dependency, and use our Green Card Calculator to check if your dates are current — for most South Asian countries, employment-based dates are fully current in April 2026.