US Suspends Immigrant Visa Processing for 75 Countries

The US Department of State has announced an indefinite pause on immigrant visa processing for nationals of 75 countries, effective January 21. This measure aims to reassess entry procedures and visa issuance for the affected nationalities.

https://twitter.com/PressSec/status/2011462060253622616

Broad Scope of the Suspension

The freeze affects a wide range of countries, including Somalia, Russia, Afghanistan, Brazil, Iran, Iraq, Egypt, Nigeria, Thailand, and Yemen. According to an internal US State Department memo, consular officers have been instructed to deny visas under existing law while the administration reviews control methods.

New Screening Criteria for Applicants

The updated entry conditions under the new directive are stringent. Consular officers will assess applicants based on several factors to determine the likelihood of entry denial, including:

• Health and age

• English language proficiency and personal financial means

• Welfare history: prior use of government financial assistance or prior institutionalization will be penalized

A full list of the 75 nationalities has been released. Citizens of the following countries are now subject to the new policy:

Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Myanmar, 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, North Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, 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.