The U.S. State Department announced Wednesday that it will temporarily stop processing immigrant visas for citizens of 75 countries as part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to tighten standards for who may permanently enter the United States. The announcement from the State Department was first reported by Fox News,
The suspension, set to begin Jan. 21, applies only to immigrant visas for people seeking to live permanently in the U.S. Officials said the pause will not affect non-immigrant visas, including those for tourists, students, temporary workers, or visitors attending major sporting events such as the World Cup. However, applicants from some countries may still face hurdles if other travel restrictions apply.
The countries affected by the immigrant visa suspension include: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, the Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Bosnia, Brazil, Burma, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Colombia, Cuba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Republic of the Congo, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, and Yemen.
According to the State Department, the move is tied to a review of how immigration officials determine whether an applicant is likely to rely on public assistance. Long-standing immigration law bars entry to individuals deemed likely to become a “public charge,” but the administration is working to formalize and broaden how that standard is applied. A post on social media read: “The State Department will pause immigrant visa processing from 75 countries whose migrants take welfare from the American people at unacceptable rates. The freeze will remain active until the U.S. can ensure that new immigrants will not extract wealth from the American people.”
Officials said consular officers have been instructed to halt processing while procedures are reassessed. “The Trump administration is bringing an end to the abuse of America’s immigration system by those who would extract wealth from the American people,” the department said in a separate statement. “Immigrant visa processing from these 75 countries will be paused while the State Department reassess immigration processing procedures to prevent the entry of foreign nationals who would take welfare and public benefits.”
The action follows guidance issued in November by the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services that expanded how officers evaluate whether an applicant could become dependent on government aid. Under the proposal, officials would weigh factors such as age, health, finances, education, job skills, family situation, English proficiency, and any past or potential use of benefits, including Medicaid, SNAP, CHIP, and even some non-cash programs. The threshold for denying applications was also lowered.
Officials said the pause will remain in place until the government determines that new immigrant admissions from the affected countries meet the revised standards.
Editorial credit: Chad Lawhorn Photography / Shutterstock.com
