The U.S. State Department announced on Wednesday its decision to pause the processing of immigrant visas for nationals from 75 countries, including Afghanistan, Iran, Russia, and Somalia. This move is in response to concerns raised by the Trump administration regarding potential reliance on public assistance by immigrants in the United States.
Under the leadership of Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the State Department has directed consular officers to temporarily suspend immigrant visa applications from the affected countries as part of a broader order issued in November aimed at tightening rules for immigrants deemed likely to become “public charges” in the U.S.
Starting from January 21, the suspension will not impact applicants seeking non-immigrant visas, such as temporary tourist or business visas, which constitute the majority of visa requests. However, there is expected to be a significant increase in demand for non-immigrant visas in the lead-up to the 2026 World Cup and 2028 Olympics, events that the U.S. will host or co-host.
In a statement, the department highlighted its intention to prevent the exploitation of America’s immigration system by individuals seeking to benefit from welfare and public resources. The reassessment of immigration processing procedures for the 75 countries is aimed at strengthening measures to prevent the entry of foreign nationals relying on public benefits.
The Trump administration has already imposed strict restrictions on both immigrant and non-immigrant visa processing for citizens of numerous countries, particularly in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. The recent decision aligns with the November guidelines requiring thorough vetting of visa applicants to ensure they will not require public assistance upon admission to the U.S.
The new guidelines introduced further specifications for evaluating visa applicants, encompassing factors such as age, health, family status, finances, education, skills, and past use of public assistance, regardless of their country of origin. Additionally, consular officials are now tasked with assessing English proficiency through interviews conducted in English.
Experts anticipate that these heightened measures could further restrict entry into the U.S., particularly as the administration continues to tighten immigration rules. The list of countries affected by the visa processing suspension includes a wide range of nations, reflecting the administration’s efforts to enhance scrutiny and prevent potential abuse of public resources.