list of 75 countries us visa pause: 75 countries visa pause: U.S. freezes visa processing for Russia, Iran, Pakistan, others. Check list, deadline, claim reports
The spokesperson said that the pause, which will affect applicants from countries such as Somalia, Iran, Russia, Afghanistan, Nigeria, Yemen, Thailand and Brazil, will start on January 21. It does not affect visitor visas.
The statement outlining the suspension, first reported by Fox News, instructs U.S. embassies to deny visas under existing law while the department reevaluates its procedures.
“The State Department will pause immigrant visa processing from 75 countries whose immigrants receive unacceptable rates of welfare from the American people,” a post on Department X said. “The freeze will remain active until the United States is confident that new immigrants will not extract wealth from the American people.”
Trump has launched a sweeping immigration crackdown since returning to office in January. His administration has aggressively prioritized immigration enforcement, sending federal agents into major U.S. cities and provoking violent clashes between immigrants and U.S. citizens alike.
In a statement on Monday, it was stated that the State Department has canceled more than 100,000 visas since Trump took office. The administration has also adopted a stricter policy on visa issuance, tightening social media scrutiny and expanding screening.
In November, Trump vowed to “permanently halt” immigration from all “Third World Countries” following a shooting near the White House that left an Afghan citizen killing a National Guard member.
