A US federal court has overturned the Trump administration's decision to suspend the issuance of immigration visas to citizens of 75 countries, which included Kazakhstan. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Reuters.
The ruling was made by federal judge Jeanette Vargas in Manhattan. She deemed the State Department's policy "clearly unlawful" and concluded that Secretary of State Marco Rubio exceeded his legal authority.
The restrictions had been in effect since January 21, 2026, when the State Department fully suspended immigration visa issuance for citizens of 75 countries deemed by US authorities to be at high risk of relying on social benefits after moving to the US. Kazakhstan was officially on that list.
Russia, Belarus, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Georgia, and Moldova were also affected. In total, the decision impacted countries across Europe, Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Latin America, and the Caribbean.
"A policy that categorically prohibits the issuance of immigration visas based on an applicant's nationality directly violates the statutory system," the court ruling stated.
For Kazakhstanis, this decision is particularly important because it concerns immigration visas—visas for permanent relocation to the US. The January restriction did not apply to ordinary tourist visas.
The lawsuit against the State Department's policy was filed by human rights organizations, immigration visa applicants, and US citizens who sponsored the relocation of their relatives.
In 2026, US visa policy has become significantly stricter. However, the court-overturned decision on 75 countries should not be confused with separate entry and visa restrictions imposed by the Trump administration on citizens of certain countries for national security reasons.