Starting January 21, the United States will indefinitely suspend immigrant visa processing for nationals from 75 countries. The directive marks a significant expansion of the administration’s immigration enforcement measures, affecting applicants from nations including Brazil, Russia, Colombia, Haiti, and Egypt.
The suspension specifically targets “immigrant visas”—those intended for individuals seeking permanent residency, such as employment-based applicants or those reuniting with family members.
Officials clarified that the pause does not affect non-immigrant visas. International students, tourists, and visitors traveling for major upcoming events, such as the World Cup, remain eligible to apply for entry.
Focus on “Public Charge” Rules
The State Department characterized the move as a necessary step to reassess vetting protocols, specifically regarding the “public charge” provision. This law is designed to identify and exclude applicants deemed likely to rely on government subsistence.
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State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said the pause would remain in effect while procedures are updated to “prevent the entry of foreign nationals who would take welfare and public benefits.”
“The State Department will use its long-standing authority to deem ineligible potential immigrants who would become a public charge on the United States and exploit the generosity of the American people,” Pigott said in a statement Wednesday.
Impacted Nations
The list of 75 countries covers a vast geographic range, impacting nations in South America, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. Several countries on the list were already subject to prior travel restrictions.
According to U.S. officials, the full list of impacted countries includes:
- Americas & Caribbean: Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, Dominica, Grenada, Guatemala, Haiti, Jamaica, Nicaragua, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Uruguay.
- Europe & Eurasia: Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia, Georgia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Russia.
- Middle East & Asia: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burma, Cambodia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Syria, Thailand, Uzbekistan, Yemen.
- Africa: Algeria, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Cote d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji (Pacific), Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Libya, Morocco, Nigeria, Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda.
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