According to U.S. authorities, the indefinite suspension will take effect from January 21. Fox News reported on Wednesday, citing an internal State Department memo, that consular officers worldwide have been instructed to halt visa processing for a total of 75 countries.
The affected nations reportedly include Somalia, Russia, Afghanistan, Brazil, Iran, Iraq, Egypt, Nigeria, Thailand, Yemen, among others.
In a statement, State Department spokesperson Tommy Piggott explained that immigration from the listed countries would be temporarily paused while the department reviews and reassesses its immigration processing procedures. The review aims to prevent the entry of foreign nationals who may rely on welfare and other public benefits.
This decision follows President Donald Trump’s renewed crackdown on immigration, a major focus of his 2024 campaign, which contributed to his re-election to the White House.
The affected countries include:
Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Bosnia, Brazil, Burma, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Colombia, Côte d’Ivoire, 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.
