The State Department announced it will suspend immigrant visa processing for citizens of 75 countries, including Afghanistan, Iran, and Russia, starting January 21. This move, part of the Trump administration's 'public charge' rule, aims to prevent the entry of foreigners deemed likely to require public assistance in the U.S., with non-immigrant visa applicants also facing increased scrutiny.
The State Department, under Secretary of State Marco Rubio, announced the suspension of immigrant visa processing for citizens from 75 countries, effective January 21. This action implements a broader order from November that tightened rules for potential immigrants who might become 'public charges' in the U.S., meaning they could require public assistance. The Trump administration stated this is to end 'abuse of America’s immigration system' and prevent foreign nationals from taking welfare and public benefits. The affected nations include Afghanistan, Iran, Russia, Somalia, and a wide array of countries across Africa, Asia, and Latin America. While the suspension directly applies to immigrant visas, a separate directive instructs U.S. embassies and consulates to also screen non-immigrant visa applicants (temporary tourist/business visas) for their potential to seek public benefits. Consular officers are now required to consider a broad range of personal details, including age, health, family status, finances, education, skills, any past use of public assistance, and English proficiency, with applicants bearing the burden of proving they will not rely on public services. This significantly expands upon existing federal laws and previous administration efforts to restrict entry standards, aiming to prevent 'massive public benefits fraud.' The full list of affected countries includes: 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.
