The U.S. State Department announced on Wednesday that it will temporarily halt the processing of immigrant visas for citizens from 75 nations, including Afghanistan, Iran, Russia, and Somalia. This move targets countries whose citizens are seen by the Trump administration as potential public assistance dependents in the United States.
In line with a directive issued in November, Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s team has instructed consular officers to cease processing these applications. This directive is part of stricter regulations aimed at preventing immigrants who might become financial liabilities, referred to as “public charges,” once in the U.S.
This recent measure extends the administration’s previous immigration and travel restrictions affecting almost 40 countries. It aligns with President Donald Trump’s broader strategy to enforce more stringent entry requirements for foreign nationals.
Starting January 21, this suspension will not impact those applying for non-immigrant visas, such as temporary tourist or business visas, which constitute the majority of visa applications. It is anticipated that the demand for non-immigrant visas will surge in the coming years, coinciding with the U.S. hosting the 2026 World Cup and the 2028 Olympics.
“The Trump administration is putting an end to the exploitation of America’s immigration system by those seeking to drain resources from American citizens,” the department stated. “The processing of immigrant visas from these 75 countries will be suspended while the State Department reviews procedures to block the entry of individuals who might rely on welfare and public benefits.”
“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 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.”
Trump’s administration has already severely restricted immigrant and non-immigrant visa processing for citizens of dozens of countries, many of them in Africa, Asia and Latin America.
The November guidance on which Wednesday’s decision is based directed U.S. Embassy and consulate officials to comprehensively and thoroughly vet visa applicants to demonstrate that they will not need to rely on public benefits from the government any time after their admission in the U.S.
While federal law already required those seeking permanent residency or legal status to prove they wouldn’t be a public charge, Trump in his first term widened the range of benefit programs that could disqualify applicants, and the guidelines in the cable appear to go further in scope.
Immigrants seeking entry into the U.S. already undergo a medical exam by a physician who’s been approved by a U.S. Embassy. They are screened for communicable diseases, like tuberculosis, and asked to disclose any history of drug or alcohol use, mental health conditions or violence. They’re also required to have a number of vaccinations.
The new directive expanded those with more specific requirements. It said consular officials must consider a range of specific details about people seeking visas, including their age, health, family status, finances, education, skills and any past use of public assistance regardless of the country. It also said they should assess applicants’ English proficiency and can do so by conducting interviews in English.
Experts said at the time it could further limit who gets to enter the country at a time when the Republican administration is already tightening those rules.
The countries affected by the suspension announced on Wednesday are:
Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Bosnia, Brazil, Burma, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Colombia, Congo, Cuba, Dominica, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Ivory Coast, 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.
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