Trump Halts Visa Applications from 75 Countries

The administration of US President Donald Trump is suspending the processing of immigrant visas for applicants from a wide range of countries, a State Department spokesperson announced on Wednesday.

According to information obtained by Reuters, the State Department is undergoing a “comprehensive review” of all policies, rules, and guidelines to ensure the “highest possible level of screening and vetting” for all US visa applicants.

The telegram, which was sent to US missions abroad, states that there are indications citizens from these countries have sought public benefits in the US.

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“Applicants from these countries are at high risk of becoming a public charge and accessing local, state, and federal government resources in the US,” it says.

The measure, which comes into effect on January 21, does not affect US visitor visas, which have been in the spotlight as the US is set to host the 2026 World Cup and 2028 Olympics.

Does Not Want Welfare Recipients

The decision follows a directive from November to American diplomats urging them to ensure that visa applicants are financially self-sufficient and not likely to become dependent on government subsidies during their stay in the US.

“The State Department will use its longstanding authority to deem potential immigrants as inadmissible if they would become a public charge and exploit the generosity of the American people,” said Tommy Pigott, deputy spokesperson at the State Department.

“The processing of immigrant visas from these 75 countries will be paused while the State Department reconsiders immigration procedures to prevent the entry of foreign nationals who would receive welfare and public benefits,” he said.

100,000 Visas Revoked

Since Trump began his second term in the White House, the State Department has revoked more than 100,000 visas. The administration has also adopted a stricter policy for granting visas, with increased scrutiny of social media and expanded background checks.

In November, Trump pledged to permanently pause migration from all third-world countries after a shooting near the White House by an Afghan national that killed a National Guard member.

The list of countries whose citizens will be affected by the suspension:

Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Bosnia, Brazil, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the 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, North Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Myanmar, 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.