The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Moldova has issued clarifications for citizens regarding the administrative decision announced by the authorities of the United States, which provides for the temporary suspension of immigrant visa issuance for nationals of several countries, including the Republic of Moldova, starting 21 January 2026, TRIBUNA reports.

The measure is administrative in nature, part of an ongoing review of criteria related to the use of public assistance (“public charge”), and does not constitute a general travel ban or restriction on entry into the United States.

In this context, the MFA highlights the following key points:
• Immigrant visas already issued remain valid and are not revoked;
• Non‑immigrant visas (tourist, study, work, business, etc.) are not affected and continue to be processed as usual;
• Applications for immigrant visas may still be submitted and interviewed, but the actual issuance of visas is temporarily suspended;
• The impact on Moldovan citizens is limited, given that the number of immigrant visas issued annually in Chișinău has consistently been low.

Immigrant visas are official documents that allow a person to permanently settle in the United States. They differ from non‑immigrant visas, which are issued for temporary stays such as tourism, studies, or fixed‑term employment.

For official and up‑to‑date information, citizens are encouraged to consult the website of the U.S. Embassy in Chișinău and the platform travel.state.gov.