The U.S. State Department on Wednesday announced it will suspend the processing of immigrant visas for citizens of 75 countries, including Afghanistan, Nigéria, Iran, Ghana , Russia and Somalia, citing concerns that applicants from those nations are more likely to require public assistance while living in the United States.
The directive, issued under Secretary of State Marco Rubio, instructs consular officers worldwide to halt immigrant visa applications from the affected countries beginning Jan. 21. The move follows a broader policy order released in November that tightened screening rules for prospective immigrants deemed at risk of becoming “public charges” in the U.S.
The suspension does not apply to non-immigrant visas, such as tourist, student or business visas, which account for the vast majority of visa applications. U.S. officials expect demand for these temporary visas to increase significantly ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Olympic Games, both of which the United States will host or co-host.
In a statement, the State Department said the measure is aimed at preventing abuse of the immigration system. “The Trump administration is bringing an end to the abuse of America’s immigration system by those who would extract wealth from the American people,” the department said. “Immigrant visa processing from these 75 countries will be paused while the State Department reassesses immigration procedures to prevent the entry of foreign nationals who would take welfare and public benefits.”
The announcement builds on earlier actions by President Donald Trump’s administration, which has already imposed strict limits on immigrant and non-immigrant visa processing for citizens of dozens of countries, many of them in Africa, Asia and Latin America.
Under U.S. law, applicants for permanent residency are required to demonstrate that they are unlikely to become dependent on government assistance. During Trump’s first term, the administration broadened the definition of “public charge” to include a wider range of public benefit programs. The new guidance appears to expand those standards further.
Existing procedures already require immigrant visa applicants to undergo medical examinations by U.S. Embassy-approved physicians. These exams screen for communicable diseases such as tuberculosis and require disclosure of drug or alcohol use, mental health conditions, or a history of violence, as well as proof of required vaccinations.
The updated directive goes further, instructing consular officials to evaluate applicants based on age, health, family status, financial resources, education, job skills and any past use of public assistance, regardless of country of origin. Officials are also directed to assess English-language proficiency, including by conducting interviews in English.
Immigration experts warned that the expanded criteria could further restrict access to immigrant visas at a time when the administration is already tightening entry requirements.
The countries affected by the suspension include Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, the 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, the 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.
