{"id":"f-e550251d2f-02688e8d-d535-5082-b3ec-64731cb9a8ab","title":"US to pause immigrant visa processing for 75 countries: Full list of affected nations","description":"The US has quietly hit pause on immigrant visas from 75 countries. There’s no timeline for when things will return to normal. Check which countries are affected.","timestamp":1768459714,"category":"international","headline":"US to pause immigrant visa processing for 75 countries: Full list of affected nations","modifiedHeadline":"US Halts Immigrant Visas for 75 Nations","subCategories":["scid_7a1f2a1b"],"region":"IN","bundleMetaData":{"bundleId":"c80449a0-0ad6-472b-8d17-5747dd8f5c83","bundleTitle":"Around the globe","cardData":null},"iabCategoryId":"386","fcSummary":"The US State Department will pause immigrant visa processing for nationals of up to 75 countries starting January 21, citing concerns about new arrivals burdening public benefit systems. The open-ended freeze aims to ensure immigrants won't rely on welfare.","summary":"US suspends immigrant visas for 75 nations, leaving countless dreams in limbo. No clear return date fuels uncertainty and despair.","ctaUrl":"https://trends.glance.com/newz/World_News/IN/en/cnbc-tv18/f-e550251d2f-02688e8d-d535-5082-b3ec-64731cb9a8ab","sourceUrl":"https://www.cnbctv18.com/world/us-pauses-immigrant-visa-processing-for-75-countries-full-list-of-affected-nations-19821413.htm","bannerImage":"https://g-mob.glance-cdn.com/public/fc/image/pSuVRIn-vpN0.webp","content":"

The US Department of State will pause immigrant visa processing for nationals of up to 75 countries starting January 21, a move that further tightens legal

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immigration pathways under the Trump administration. The pause is open-ended and no timeline has been given for when processing may resume.

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What the State Department announced\n
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\n The department says the move is aimed at curbing what it describes as abuse of public benefit systems by new arrivals. In a statement posted on X, the State Department said the goal was to stop “those who would extract wealth from the American people” by relying on welfare and government assistance after entry.\n
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\n “This freeze will remain active until the U.S. can ensure that new immigrants will not extract wealth from the American people,” the department said.\n
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The State Department will pause immigrant visa processing from 75 countries whose migrants take welfare from the American people at unacceptable rates. The freeze will remain active until the U.S. can ensure that new immigrants will not extract wealth from the American people.
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\n — Department of State (@StateDept) January 14, 2026\n

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\n \"The Trump Administration will always put America First,\" it said in another post.\n
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How the public charge rule is being applied\n
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\n According to a State Department memo cited by Fox News Digital, consular offices have been instructed to refuse immigrant visas under existing law while screening and vetting rules are reviewed.\n
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\n The guidance relies on the long-standing “public charge” provision of U.S. immigration law - that rule allows officials to deny visas to applicants deemed likely to depend on public benefits.\n
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\n Tommy Pigott, principal deputy spokesperson for the State Department, said the department will use that authority to “deem ineligible potential immigrants who would become a public charge on the United States.”\n
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\n The memo directs officers to weigh multiple factors while reviewing applications. These include age, health, financial resources, English proficiency, prior use of government assistance, and the likelihood of requiring long-term medical care.\n
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\n Officials say no new law is being created. The department is instead tightening enforcement of existing standards.\n
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Which countries are affected by the US visa freeze\n
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\n The department has said the pause in issuing immigrant visas will apply to nationals from up to 75 countries. These include:\n
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\n Afghanistan\n
\n Albania\n
\n Algeria\n
\n Antigua and Barbuda\n
\n Armenia\n
\n Azerbaijan\n
\n Bahamas\n
\n Bangladesh\n
\n Barbados\n
\n Belarus\n
\n Belize\n
\n Bhutan\n
\n Bosnia and Herzegovina\n
\n Brazil\n
\n Burma\n
\n Cambodia\n
\n Cameroon\n
\n Cape Verde\n
\n Colombia\n
\n Cote d’Ivoire\n
\n Cuba\n
\n Democratic Republic of the Congo\n
\n Dominica\n
\n Egypt\n
\n Eritrea\n
\n Ethiopia\n
\n Fiji\n
\n The Gambia\n
\n Georgia\n
\n Ghana\n
\n Grenada\n
\n Guatemala\n
\n Guinea\n
\n Haiti\n
\n Iran\n
\n Iraq\n
\n Jamaica\n
\n Jordan\n
\n Kazakhstan\n
\n Kosovo\n
\n Kuwait\n
\n Kyrgyz Republic\n
\n Laos\n
\n Lebanon\n
\n Liberia\n
\n Libya\n
\n Moldova\n
\n Mongolia\n
\n Montenegro\n
\n Morocco\n
\n Nepal\n
\n Nicaragua\n
\n Nigeria\n
\n North Macedonia\n
\n Pakistan\n
\n Republic of the Congo\n
\n Russia\n
\n Rwanda\n
\n Saint Kitts and Nevis\n
\n Saint Lucia\n
\n Saint Vincent and the Grenadines\n
\n Senegal\n
\n Sierra Leone\n
\n Somalia\n
\n South Sudan\n
\n Sudan\n
\n Syria\n
\n Tanzania\n
\n Thailand\n
\n Togo\n
\n Tunisia\n
\n Uganda\n
\n Uruguay\n
\n Uzbekistan\n
\n Yemen\n
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What happens to pending visa applications\n
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\n The pause applies only to immigrant visas - not temporary travel or diplomatic visas. The State Department says the review process is ongoing. No timeline has been given for when processing may resume. For now, applications from affected countries will not move forward. Pending cases will remain on hold until further notice.","readDurationInMinutes":"7","author":{"name":"CNBC TV18","logo":"https://glance-mob.glance-cdn.com/public/bubble/jpeg/ecc3d19b-fc52-4a39-881c-5b0936ae723b.jpeg"},"ism":false,"analyticsResponses":[{"measurementId":"383191425","type":"COMSCORE"}],"pointerSummary":["US halts immigrant visas for up to 75 countries, citing welfare abuse concerns.","Open-ended pause affects nations from Afghanistan to Yemen; no timeline given.","Review weighs age, health, finances; targets \"public charge\" risk, not new law."],"tags":["ImmigrantVisas","USImmigration","StateDepartment","PublicChargeRule","TrumpAdministration","VisaFreeze","ImmigrationPolicy","Welfare","DepartmentOfState","TravelBan","Afghanistan","Albania","Algeria","AntiguaAndBarbuda","Armenia","Azerbaijan","Bahamas","Bangladesh","Barbados","Belarus","Belize","Bhutan","BosniaAndHerzegovina","Brazil","Burma","Cambodia","Cameroon","CapeVerde","Colombia","CoteDIvoire","Cuba","DemocraticRepublicOfTheCongo","Dominica","Egypt","Eritrea","Ethiopia","Fiji","TheGambia","Georgia","Ghana","Grenada","Guatemala","Guinea","Haiti","Iran","Iraq","Jamaica","Jordan","Kazakhstan","Kosovo","Kuwait","KyrgyzRepublic","Laos","Lebanon","Liberia","Libya","Moldova","Mongolia","Montenegro","Morocco","Nepal","Nicaragua","Nigeria","NorthMacedonia","Pakistan","RepublicOfTheCongo","Russia","Rwanda","SaintKittsAndNevis","SaintLucia","SaintVincentAndTheGrenadines","Senegal","SierraLeone","Somalia","SouthSudan","Sudan","Syria","Tanzania","Thailand","Togo","Tunisia","Uganda","Uruguay","Uzbekistan","Yemen"],"consent":true,"redirectionEnabled":false}

US to pause immigrant visa processing for 75 countries: Full list of affected nations

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