People from Macedonia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina affected by the Trump administration’s suspension of immigrant visa processing could once again have their applications processed after a U.S. federal judge overturned the policy covering citizens of 75 countries. The decision was issued by U.S. District Judge Jeannette Vargas in Manhattan, who ruled that the policy introduced by Secretary of State Marco Rubio exceeded his legal authority and was unlawful under U.S. immigration law. The suspension, introduced in January 2026, affected people seeking immigrant visas, including those pursuing family based immigration and other permanent immigration routes.
The policy did not represent a general ban on all U.S. visas, but it prevented immigrant visa processing for nationals of the affected countries. Among them were Macedonia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania and Kosovo, making the ruling particularly important for families across the Western Balkans waiting to continue the U.S. immigration process. The Trump administration had argued that applicants from the affected countries presented a greater risk of becoming dependent on public benefits in the United States. Judge Vargas rejected the approach, finding that the State Department had effectively prevented consular officers from conducting the individual assessments required under federal immigration law.
The ruling does not mean that everyone from the 75 countries will automatically receive an immigrant visa. Applicants must still meet all standard U.S. immigration requirements and complete the required screening and consular procedures. However, the nationality based suspension itself has been overturned, allowing affected cases to move forward through the normal immigration process. The decision could be especially important for families who had already spent months or years waiting for reunification or pursuing permanent residence through other legal immigration pathways.
For Macedonian, Montenegrin and Bosnian families with relatives in the United States, the decision could therefore bring significant relief after months of uncertainty. The U.S. government could still appeal the ruling, meaning the legal dispute may continue, but for now the court decision removes the 75 country suspension. The case also represents a legal setback for the Trump administration’s broader immigration policy, while making clear that applicants must still qualify under existing U.S. immigration rules. For thousands of people across the Western Balkans, the decision means their immigration cases can once again move forward rather than remaining blocked by the suspended policy.
