Moving to the USA from Algeria: Visas, Green Cards and Where to Apply

Algeria is not among the 39 countries restricted by Proclamation 10998, which took effect on January 1, 2026. But several other 2026 measures affect Algerian nationals:

• Visa bonds for visitors. Algeria was added to the State Department's visa bond list on January 21, 2026. A consular officer can require you to post a bond as a condition of a B-1/B-2 visa. Since August 3, 2026, the amounts are $10,000, $15,000, or $20,000 (as of September 2026), refunded if you follow the visa rules and leave on time.
• Algeria was also on the list of 75 countries whose immigrant visas were paused starting January 21, 2026. A federal court vacated that pause on August 21, 2026 (CLINIC v. Rubio), and the government has appealed, so the situation can still change.
• Since August 25, 2026, the State Department has paused immigrant visa interviews at US embassies and consulates worldwide while consular officers are trained on public charge reviews. Scheduled interviews were moved to later dates, and no restart date has been announced as of September 2026. Visitor, student, and temporary work visas are not part of this pause. Details: immigrant visa pause.

Algeria has no E-1 or E-2 treaty with the US, so treaty trader and investor visas are not available to Algerian nationals. Algerians who also hold French citizenship can use their French nationality for an E-2, because France is a treaty country.

For an overview of every route, see our guide to US immigration and how US immigration works.

Yes. Algeria is not in the Visa Waiver Program, so you need a B-2 tourist or B-1 business visa. Complete the DS-160, pay the fee, and attend an interview in Algiers. If the officer requires a bond, pay it only through the official US government system in your instructions, never through an agent. The State Department's guidance is to apply for a visitor or other temporary visa at the US embassy or consulate in the country where you live. Applying elsewhere is possible but can make it harder to show you qualify.

Study. Algerian students often come for master's and PhD programs in engineering, petroleum and energy fields, and computer science. You need an I-20, proof of funding, and an English test score, since many Algerians study in French and Arabic. Student applicants are asked to make their social media accounts public for screening. Since September 15, 2026, new F-1 students are admitted until a fixed date instead of for "duration of status", so you may need to file for an extension if your program runs longer. See F-1 fixed admission period.

Skilled work. Since February 27, 2026, the H-1B lottery gives more entries to higher wage levels. A separate $100,000 fee on some new H-1B petitions (from a September 2025 proclamation) is being fought in court, with judges split as of September 2026. See H-1B $100k fee.

Researchers and doctors. The EB-2 NIW lets researchers and physicians apply for a green card without an employer if their work has national importance. Doctors usually enter US residency on a J-1 or H-1B after passing the USMLE exams.

Family. Spouses, unmarried children under 21, and parents of US citizens have no annual cap. Siblings and married children wait many years. Algerians use rest-of-world dates in the Visa Bulletin.

Diversity Visa. The DV lottery has been one of the main routes for Algerians, and Algerians were eligible for DV-2026. Entrants need a high school education or two years of qualifying work experience. The Diversity Visa (DV) lottery is paused: visa issuance stopped on December 23, 2025, and DV-2027 registration never opened. See DV lottery paused.

The US Embassy in Algiers handles all visa categories for Algeria. Note that the embassy's workweek runs Sunday through Thursday. Book appointments through the embassy's website and read our visa interview guide.

For immigrant visas, the State Department's Algeria page lists:

• Police certificate: a criminal record extract (bulletin no. 3, called kachef al-ahkam assabiqat in Arabic), issued in Arabic only. Get it from the district court where you live, or from an Algerian embassy or consulate if you live abroad. Foreigners who lived in Algeria before 1962 request records from the French Ministry of Justice in Nantes.
• Birth certificate: a birth certificate (Chahadat El Milad in Arabic or Extrait de Naissance in French) from the civil status office (Bureau de l'Etat Civil) of the town hall.
• Marriage and divorce: marriage certificates from the civil status office and divorce judgments from the court.

Arabic and French documents need certified English translations.

Algerian Americans are a smaller community spread across several regions. The largest groups live in the New York and New Jersey area, the Washington, DC area (including Northern Virginia), California (Los Angeles and the Bay Area), Texas (Houston and Dallas), and Florida. Many Algerians connect through North African mosques, cultural associations, and professional networks in engineering and energy.