Brazilians frustrated by US visa suspension but try to remain hopeful

The Trump administration on Wednesday suspended immigrant visa processing for Brazil and 74 other countries, citing concerns that nationals from these nations would likely require government assistance while in the United States. The suspension immediately halted processing of thousands of Brazilian applications for permanent residency, sparking frustration among applicants who said they remained hopeful the measure would prove temporary. The suspension builds on earlier Trump administration immigration restrictions affecting citizens across Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America.

The Suspension Takes Effect

The Trump administration suspended immigrant visa processing for Brazil and 74 other countries on Wednesday, immediately halting thousands of visa applications from people seeking permanent residency in the United States. According to the U.S. State Department, the suspension affects countries including Afghanistan, Iran, Russia, and Somalia.

Brazil has been a major source of U.S. immigrants. In 2023, 28,050 Brazilian citizens received permanent U.S. residency, ranking Brazil 10th among countries with the highest number of approved immigration applications, according to data cited by AG Immigration law firm.

Officials said the step was necessary because nationals from these countries would likely require government assistance while living in the United States. The suspension builds on immigration and travel restrictions the administration announced affecting nearly 40 countries in recent weeks.

How Processing Will Work

The U.S. Embassy in Brazil stated on its website that applicants can continue to submit visa applications and attend interviews during the suspension period. However, no visas will be issued to citizens of affected countries, including Brazil, while the suspension remains in effect. The measure does not affect people seeking temporary entry to the United States, such as tourists and students.

Brazilians Grapple with Uncertainty

Rodrigo Perenha, a 44-year-old co-founder and senior executive at fintech company Kamino, had been preparing for months to apply for an EB-2 NIW visa — a category reserved for professionals whose work is considered to be in the national interest of the United States. His first application in that category had been rejected the previous year. When news of the suspension broke, he described the experience as frustrating.

“Doing this process takes a lot of work. You must look for references, you ask for help with letters… It’s a very long process,” Perenha said. “The feeling is sadness for everything that was done and then, eventually, having it frozen without knowing what’s going to happen.”

Despite the setback, Perenha submitted an application on Tuesday, before the suspension officially took effect, holding onto the possibility that his case would be approved.

“What I try to hold on to is the hope that my case is well prepared, solid, that I have a story to defend it, and that we’ll be able to move forward,” he said.

Pedro Zava, an immigration attorney with AG Immigration law firm, said he has heard the same refrain repeatedly from clients affected by the suspension.

“The phrase I heard the most was: ‘We’re doing everything right, and they’re doing this to us,’” Zava said.

He noted that while the initial shock of the announcement has faded among his clients, a feeling of anxiety persists. Many have expressed frustration that legal immigration pathways are being restricted even as they follow all established rules.

Pedro Drummond, an immigration attorney and partner at Drummond Advisors, predicted that when the suspension is eventually lifted, the Trump administration will impose stricter criteria for evaluating visa applications.

“There is a sense that it will be the same — a short suspension with some relevant changes in the criteria of the public charge,” Drummond said, referring to the standard used by immigration officials to determine whether an applicant might become dependent on government assistance.

“Most likely the criteria will be stricter now than it was before, although it’s hard to speculate what the details will be,” he added.

Drummond noted that immigrants applying for permanent residency already undergo medical examinations screening for communicable diseases and are required to disclose any history of health conditions, drug or alcohol use. The stricter criteria, he said, would likely affect how officials weigh such factors in their decisions.

Persistence Despite Uncertainty

Elcio Vieira, a project manager based in São Paulo state, is also seeking an EB-2 NIW visa and hopes to relocate with his wife and four children to Texas or Florida. When he learned of the visa suspension, he said he initially felt “tense and full of uncertainty.”

But Vieira said he understood the Trump administration’s stated rationale for the measure.

“I see it in a positive light,” Vieira said. “They’re creating barriers to prevent flaws in the process, to prevent people from bypassing it.”

Vieira said he remained committed to pursuing a path to permanent residency despite the suspension and uncertainty about when processing might resume.

“The U.S. is a country of opportunities and I’m going after them,” he said.