La suspensión de visados de 2026: qué países se ven afectados y qué deben hacer ahora los solicitantes

Josephine Franz • May 22, 2026

 Click here to read this article in English


En un lapso de unas cinco semanas, la política de visados de EE. UU. sufrió cambios que afectan a cerca de 100 países. Una proclamación presidencial emitida el 16 de diciembre de 2025 amplió una prohibición de viaje anterior para incluir a 39 países, con vigencia a partir del 1 de enero de 2026. Dos semanas después, el Departamento de Estado anunció una suspensión administrativa independiente de la emisión de visas de inmigrante para ciudadanos de 75 países, con efecto a partir del 21 de enero de 2026. Las dos políticas se superponen en algunos aspectos, divergen en otros y, juntas, crean una de las restricciones más amplias a la emisión de visas estadounidenses en la historia reciente.


Para los solicitantes y empleadores que intentan entender la noticia, el punto más importante es este: las reglas difieren dependiendo de (a) de qué país sea el solicitante, (b) qué categoría de visa esté solicitando, y (c) dónde se encontraba el 1 de enero de 2026. A continuación se presenta una guía práctica sobre lo que está vigente, lo que aún está disponible y qué hacer a continuación.


Dos políticas distintas, un titular confuso


Lo que la prensa ha denominado a menudo «la congelación de visados» son en realidad dos políticas separadas, con fundamentos jurídicos y alcances diferentes.


Proclamación presidencial 10998: la prohibición de viajar para 39 países. Firmada el 16 de diciembre de 2025 y vigente a partir del 1 de enero de 2026, esta proclamación sustituye y amplía la prohibición de viajar de junio de 2025. Invoca los artículos 212(f) y 215(a) de la INA —la misma autoridad legal que la Corte Suprema confirmó en Trump v. Hawaii (2018)— y divide a los países afectados en dos niveles.


La suspensión de visados de inmigrante para 75 países por parte del Departamento de Estado. Anunciada el 14 de enero de 2026 y con vigencia a partir del 21 de enero de 2026, se trata de una política interna del Departamento de Estado, no de una proclamación presidencial. Congela la emisión de visados de inmigrante para los nacionales de 75 países con el argumento declarado de preocupaciones sobre la carga pública. Ha sido impugnada ante los tribunales (CLINIC contra el Departamento de Estado de EE. UU., S.D.N.Y., presentada el 2 de febrero de 2026) por motivos que incluyen la prohibición de la INA de la discriminación basada en la nacionalidad en la emisión de visas de inmigrante.


Dado que las políticas operan de manera independiente, un solicitante de un país que aparece en ambas listas se enfrenta a restricciones superpuestas, mientras que un solicitante de un país que figura en una sola lista se enfrenta a un conjunto más limitado.


Nivel 1: Suspensión total en virtud de la Proclamación 10998 (19 países)


Los nacionales de estos 19 países están sujetos a una suspensión total de la emisión de visas de inmigrante y de no inmigrante: Afganistán, Birmania, Burkina Faso, Chad, República del Congo, Guinea Ecuatorial, Eritrea, Haití, Irán, Laos, Libia, Malí, Níger, Sierra Leona, Somalia, Sudán del Sur, Sudán, Siria y Yemen. La proclamación también se aplica a las personas que viajen con documentos emitidos o refrendados por la Autoridad Palestina.


Para los solicitantes de este nivel, por lo general no se emitirán visas de turista, estudiante, trabajo o inmigrante, con sujeción a un conjunto limitado de excepciones que se analizan a continuación.


Nivel 2: Suspensión parcial en virtud del Decreto 10998 (19 países + Turkmenistán)


Los nacionales de estos 19 países están sujetos a una suspensión parcial: Angola, Antigua y Barbuda, Benín, Burundi, Costa de Marfil, Cuba, Dominica, Gabón, Gambia, Malaui, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Venezuela, Zambia y Zimbabue.

Para estos países, la proclamación suspende:


  • Todas las visas de inmigrante, y

  • Las visas de visitante B-1/B-2, las visas de estudiante F y M, y las visas de visitante de intercambio J.

Es fundamental destacar que las categorías basadas en el empleo y otras categorías de no inmigrantes, incluidas las visas H, L, O, P y R, siguen estando disponibles para los nacionales de estos países, aunque se ha ordenado a los funcionarios consulares que reduzcan el período de validez de dichas visas al mínimo permitido por la ley. Para los numerosos clientes de nuestra firma en el ámbito de la inmigración relacionada con el entretenimiento, los deportes y los negocios, esta distinción suele marcar la diferencia entre una carrera en pausa y un plan viable.


Turkmenistán ocupa una posición única: en virtud de la proclamación de diciembre, solo se suspende la emisión de visas de inmigrante; las categorías de no inmigrantes siguen estando disponibles.


La suspensión independiente del Departamento de Estado (75 países)


La política del Departamento de Estado del 21 de enero de 2026 suspendió la emisión de visas de inmigrante solo para los nacionales de 75 países. La lista es más amplia que la de la Proclamación 10998 e incluye, en particular, países con una importante población de clientes para nuestra firma, como Brasil, Colombia, Egipto, Guatemala, Líbano, Marruecos, Nicaragua, Pakistán y muchos otros.


Hay dos puntos prácticos esenciales:


  1. La suspensión se limita a las visas de inmigrante. Las visas de no inmigrante, incluyendo las B-1/B-2, F-1, J-1, H, L, O, P y R, no se ven afectadas por esta política. Un artista brasileño que solicite una O-1, un ejecutivo colombiano que solicite una L-1 o un profesional libanés que solicite una H-1B, por lo general, pueden seguir presentando su solicitud.

  2. La política está siendo impugnada en los tribunales. Los demandantes en el caso CLINIC contra el Departamento de Estado argumentan que la suspensión viola la prohibición de la INA § 1152 sobre la discriminación basada en la nacionalidad en la emisión de visas de inmigrante, la Ley de Procedimiento Administrativo y la Quinta Enmienda. El resultado no es predecible, y los solicitantes no deben retrasar la planificación estratégica mientras esperan un fallo.

Quiénes están exentos o no se ven afectados


Varias categorías de personas no están cubiertas por la Proclamación 10998, incluso cuando su país de nacionalidad aparece en la lista:


  • Residentes permanentes legales de los Estados Unidos. Los titulares de la tarjeta verde pueden seguir viajando y reingresando, aunque el reingreso aún puede implicar una inspección secundaria más minuciosa.

  • Personas físicamente presentes en los Estados Unidos el 1 de enero de 2026. La proclamación se aplica únicamente a quienes se encontraban fuera de los EE. UU. y carecían de una visa válida a la fecha de entrada en vigor.

  • Titulares de visas válidas emitidas antes del 1 de enero de 2026. Ninguna visa emitida antes de la fecha de entrada en vigor ha sido ni será revocada en virtud de la proclamación. Estas visas pueden seguir utilizándose para viajar.

  • Personas con doble nacionalidad que puedan presentar su solicitud con el pasaporte de un país no sujeto a la suspensión.

  • Titulares de visas A, G y de la OTAN, ciertos solicitantes de visas especiales de inmigrante y excepciones limitadas por interés nacional, incluyendo casos específicos relacionados con la adopción.

Cabe destacar que la exención de la prohibición de entrada no equivale a la exención de las suspensiones de tramitación relacionadas impuestas por el USCIS. No obstante, algunos residentes permanentes legales procedentes de los países afectados han sufrido retrasos en la tramitación de sus solicitudes de naturalización (N-400) y de peticiones familiares (I-130) en virtud de directivas administrativas independientes.


Qué deben hacer los solicitantes ahora


Dada la rapidez con la que cambian las normas y lo específicas que son las consecuencias para cada caso, aconsejamos a nuestros clientes que tomen las siguientes medidas:


  1. Identifique qué lista (o listas) se aplica a su caso. Un ciudadano de Irán o Siria se enfrenta a una situación fundamentalmente diferente a la de un ciudadano de Brasil o Colombia, aunque ambos hayan oído hablar de la «suspensión de visados» en las noticias.

  2. Fíjese en las categorías, no solo en los países. Para los países de Nivel 2 y la pausa de los 75 países, las categorías de no inmigrantes basadas en el empleo siguen siendo una vía viable. Muchas de las vías O-1, P-1, H-1B, L-1 y EB-1A que nuestra firma maneja habitualmente no se ven afectadas por la congelación de visas de inmigrante.

  3. Tenga en cuenta su ubicación física. Los solicitantes que se encuentran actualmente en los Estados Unidos tienen opciones de planificación que los solicitantes en el extranjero tal vez no tengan. Salir del país en el momento equivocado puede convertir un inconveniente en un problema que dure años.

  4. No dé por sentado que las visas válidas actuales siguen siendo una garantía de admisión. Si bien no se están revocando las visas válidas, el escrutinio en los puertos de entrada ha aumentado, y las decisiones discrecionales de admisión las toma, en última instancia, la Oficina de Aduanas y Protección Fronteriza.

  5. Busque asesoramiento antes de viajar al extranjero si es de algún país afectado, tiene algún tipo de estatus condicional o pendiente, o tiene alguna inquietud sobre su historial migratorio anterior.

Cuándo consultar a un abogado


La combinación de la prohibición de viajar de la Proclamación 10998, la suspensión de las visas de inmigrante para 75 países, los litigios en curso y las retenciones adicionales de USCIS sobre ciertas solicitudes de beneficios ha creado un panorama en el que la respuesta correcta rara vez es obvia solo a partir de las noticias. Hablar con un abogado es especialmente importante cuando:


  • Su país aparece en cualquiera de las listas y tiene una solicitud de visa pendiente o prevista.

  • Está sopesando salir de los Estados Unidos para una entrevista consular.

  • Es un empleador con personal extranjero y necesita entender qué categorías siguen siendo viables.

  • Tiene doble nacionalidad y está considerando qué pasaporte usar.

  • Tiene una visa válida anterior al 1 de enero de 2026 y no está seguro de si viajará.

En Santos Lloyd Law Firm, representamos a clientes de todos los países incluidos en las listas afectadas, incluyendo un número considerable de casos en los ámbitos del entretenimiento, los deportes, los negocios y la inmigración familiar, y estamos monitoreando activamente tanto el litigio como las orientaciones cambiantes del Departamento de Estado. Si tiene preguntas sobre cómo se aplican las restricciones actuales a su caso o a su empresa, nuestros abogados están disponibles para ayudarle a elaborar un plan.

Este blog no pretende ser una asesoría legal y nada aquí debe interpretarse como el establecimiento de una relación abogado-cliente. Programe una consulta con un abogado de inmigración antes de actuar sobre cualquier información que aquí lea.

Josephine Franz


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You are already striving for excellence in your career, to maximize the impact of these awards on your potential EB-1A eligibility, be prepared to document them as fully as possible. 2. Membership in Elite Associations USCIS looks for memberships in organizations that require outstanding achievements of their members, as judged by recognized national or international experts. What counts: Selection to a National Team, an invitation-only elite training pool, or membership in a prestigious international sports federation with strict performance entry barriers. A basic club membership, or membership in a players’ union for all players in your league is unlikely to move the needle here. How to maximize your chances: Actively pursue national team call-ups or qualify for top-tier athletic federations. Keep copies of the official selection criteria for these organizations to prove that entry is based strictly on elite athletic performance, not just paying a membership fee. 3. Published Material About You in Major Media This involves press coverage detailing your athletic career, your achievements, and your impact on the sport. What counts: Feature articles, profile pieces, and match reports in major media outlets (e.g., ESPN, Sky Sports, major national newspapers, or highly regarded websites that cater to your specific sport). How to maximize your chances: Don't shy away from the press. When journalists ask for interviews, take them. Make sure that video interviews or other video-based features include a written text element as well. Crucially, maintain a digital press portfolio . Save screenshots, URLs, and physical copies of print articles. Track the circulation or web traffic metrics of the publications featuring you to prove they qualify as "major media" - they will need to average at least 3,000 viewers or subscribers per month. 4. Participation as a Judge of the Work of Others This criterion requires you to have evaluated the performance of other athletes or professionals in your field. What counts: Serving as a licensed referee or umpire at high-level competitions, acting as a technical judge at a national tryout, or being invited to sit on a selection panel for a prestigious youth draft combine. How to maximize your chances: As you gain seniority in your sport, accept invitations to judge. Offer to serve as a panelist or evaluator for academy tryouts, state tournaments, or specialized sports combines. Ensure your participation is documented with official invitations and judging schedules. 5. Original Contributions of Major Significance to the Sport This means you have introduced something to your sport that has shifted the way the game is played, trained, or analyzed. What counts: Developing a brand-new training methodology or tactical system that is widely adopted by other clubs, setting a long-standing national or international record, or introducing a new technique to your sport such as a new grappling hold in combat sports or a new putting technique in golf. How to maximize your chances: If you innovate a specific technique or coaching program, document its widespread impact. Secure testimonial letters from independent coaches, sporting directors, and analysts testifying to how your unique contribution has materially advanced the sport. 6. Authorship of Scholarly Articles This requires writing deeply technical or academic pieces for major professional or trade publications. What counts: Publishing tactical breakdowns in recognized coaching journals, writing a column for a sports science publication, or authoring an authoritative textbook on modern athletic training. How to maximize your chances: Use the off-season or injury downtime to co-author articles with sports scientists or write deep-dive tactical pieces for established athletic journals or coaching magazines. The experience and insight of an elite athlete is a valuable academic resource; you don’t need to be an accomplished scholar yourself to contribute to academic work. 7. Display of Work at Artistic Exhibitions or Showcases While primarily designed for painters, sculptors, and actors, this can occasionally be adapted for athletes under very specific circumstances. What counts: Having your athletic gear, memorabilia, or historical achievements featured in a major sports museum, or being a primary feature in an athletic showcase with a large audience such as participating in a testimonial match for a retiring superstar, or a skateboarding demo attached to a popular festival. How to maximize your chances: If your athletic career intersects with media, exhibitions, or major historical displays, keep records of the venue’s prestige, attendance numbers, and promotional materials. 8. Performing in a Leading or Critical Role for Distinguished Organizations You must prove that you played a vital part in the success of a team or organization with an eminent reputation. What counts: Serving as the team captain, being the star player/top scorer who led a top-tier club to a championship, or acting as the foundational head coach of a highly reputable academy. This could also apply to leading your boxing or MMA gym to a tournament title, your motorsport team to a season trophy, or contributing to your country’s success in an international competition. How to maximize your chances: Leadership matters. Strive for roles like captaincy or leading tactical positions. Keep records of statistics that indicate your impact on your team or group’s success. When you leave a club or team, secure a letter from the head coach, general manager, or sporting director detailing exactly how your specific presence and leadership directly caused the organization's success or ranking surge. 9. High Salary or Significantly High Remuneration This requires proving that your compensation is substantially higher than what the average athlete in your sport and country earns. What counts: Playing contracts, performance bonuses, endorsement deals, and prize money that place you in the top tier of earners in your league or nation. How to maximize your chances: Keep meticulous financial records. Save all player contracts, prize money receipts, and tax returns. Work with your immigration attorney to gather objective labor data (like national statistics or league averages) to clearly demonstrate that your income dwarfs the baseline average for your profession. 10. Commercial Successes in the Performing Arts For athletes, this criterion is increasingly satisfied through the modern commercialization of sports, specifically focusing on box office draws and merchandise. What counts: Major pay-per-view (PPV) draws in combat sports or extreme sports, ticket sales or attendance spikes directly attributed to your presence, or substantial jersey/merchandise sales carrying your name. How to maximize your chances: Work closely with your agency, club, or promotion to track your commercial impact. Request data regarding streaming viewership peaks during your matches, box office revenue for events you headlined, or official merchandise sales reports. As with each criteria, the more objective support materials you can provide, the stronger your argument becomes. Summary: Building Your EB-1A Timeline The EB-1A Green Card requires extraordinary ability by its very name; planning and preparation alone cannot manifest eligibility if you are not an outstanding athlete in your chosen sport. But for those high achieving athletes who may wish to pursue this desirable pathway to lawful permanent residency, being proactive early in your career can make all the difference. By understanding these criteria today, you can make intentional career choices that pay off down the road. Treat your visa strategy like your training regimen: consistency, documentation, and aiming for the highest platforms will ultimately secure your win. If you think you may qualify for an EB-1A visa on the basis of your athletic talent, please contact our office and we would be happy to help guide you through this complex but rewarding process.
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