Albania remains on the list of 75 countries for which the US State Department has suspended the issuance of immigration visas, arguing this measure as a way to limit the use of social assistance by immigrants seeking permanent residence in the US.

Immigration expert, Lorenc Mansaku, invited to News24, explained that the legal basis for the suspension is the I-864 financial guarantee, which requires the person who is bringing the family reunion to guarantee that the applicant will have an income above 125% of the poverty level. If the applicant receives social assistance, the US state can demand the return of the funds from the US citizen or green card holder who made the guarantee. Mansaku emphasized that this practice has not worked for a long time and only recently has USCIS begun to demand compensation for the funds used.

He added that the criterion used by the US administration for including countries on the list is the percentage of misuse of social assistance by citizens of those countries, including Albania, Kosovo, Macedonia and Montenegro. Mansaku stressed that Albanians are aware and many of them are contacting experts to understand the legal obligations that arise for the financial guarantee.

The US Embassy in Tirana has clarified that the suspension only includes immigrant visas, for permanent residence, while tourist and student visas continue to be issued. Mansaku explained that family reunification processes continue normally until the day of the interview, but visas will not be issued until further notice, creating a practical suspension of procedures.

The expert added that this situation creates periods of anxiety for Albanians waiting for Green Cards, as there is no set date for the resumption of visa issuance, while several new measures, such as the establishment of a $1,000 public guarantee for immigration visas, are being considered as a possible solution.

According to Mansaku, there are also legal challenges to the suspension, as civil rights organizations have filed federal lawsuits calling the measure unfounded and discriminatory. He added that interview processes may continue to avoid creating a large volume of applications, but visa issuance remains suspended for affected countries, including Albania.