The United States State Department has declared a suspension of immigrant visa processing for nationals from 75 countries, effective 21 January.
The Trump administration flagged nations such as Afghanistan, Iran, Russia, and Somalia for their citizens’ perceived high likelihood of relying on American welfare systems upon arrival. This step aims to shield public resources from potential overuse.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio directed consular staff to halt these applications, implementing a November order that toughens “public charge” criteria. It extends prior bans on nearly 40 countries and reflects President Donald Trump’s push for stricter entry controls.
“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 stated. “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.”
Temporary tourist and business visas remain exempt, even as demand rises ahead of the 2026 World Cup and 2028 Olympics hosted or co-hosted by the U.S. A Monday cable to embassies mandates screening non-immigrant applicants for benefit fraud risks.
“With the uncovering of massive public benefits fraud across the United States, the Trump administration is laser-focused on eliminating and preventing fraud in public benefits programs,” it noted.
Officers must now scrutinise age, health, finances, skills, prior aid use, and English ability alongside medical checks for diseases and vaccinations. This builds on Trump’s first-term expansions of disqualifying factors, with experts anticipating reduced legal inflows.
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, 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.