- A US official confirmed that the suspension is scheduled to take effect from January 21.
- The pause applies strictly to immigrant visas such as those for employment and family reunification
- The move comes amid tighter immigration controls and heightened scrutiny of applicants
The United States has announced an indefinite suspension of immigrant visa processing for nationals of 75 countries, marking a further expansion of the Trump administration’s hardline immigration policies.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the suspension will affect countries including Brazil, Colombia, Egypt, Haiti, Somalia, Russia, and Nigeria, among others.
The pause applies strictly to immigrant visas such as those for employment and family reunification, while non-immigrant visas like student, business, and tourist visas remain unaffected, meaning travel for events such as the World Cup will not be impacted.
A US official confirmed that the suspension is scheduled to take effect from January 21. The move comes amid tighter immigration controls and heightened scrutiny of applicants under existing US immigration laws.
According to the State Department, the decision follows directives issued last year to intensify reviews under the “public charge” provision of immigration law, which targets individuals deemed likely to rely on public welfare or government assistance.
State Department spokesperson, Tommy Pigott, said the agency would rely on its long-standing authority to deny entry to potential immigrants considered a burden on public resources.
He noted that the visa pause is intended to allow a reassessment of immigration procedures to prevent the entry of foreign nationals who may depend on welfare and public benefits.
The countries affected by the suspension include;
Africa (27 countries)
Algeria, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Cote d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Libya, Morocco, Nigeria, Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Yemen
Asia (22 countries)
Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burma, Cambodia, Georgia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Syria, Thailand, Uzbekistan
Europe (8 countries)
Albania, Belarus, Bosnia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Russia
North America & the Caribbean (13 countries)
Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Cuba, Dominica, Grenada, Guatemala, Haiti, Jamaica, Nicaragua, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, South America (3 countries), Brazil, Colombia, Uruguay
Oceania (1 country)
Fiji
