The U.S. Department of State said it will suspend immigrant visa processing for citizens of 75 countries, beginning Jan. 21, citing concerns tied to public assistance and related screening used in immigration decision-making. The announcement was made Wednesday, with the State Department instructing consular officers to halt the processing of immigrant visa applications from the affected countries.
The State Department said the pause applies to citizens of countries including Afghanistan, Iran, Russia and Somalia. State Department officials said the instructions were issued in accordance with a broader order the administration announced in November that tightened rules around the likelihood that some people could become “public charges” after entering the United States.
In a statement, the department said, “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,” and added that “Immigrant visa processing from these 75 countries will be paused while the State Department reassess immigration processing procedures to prevent the entry of foreign nationals who would take welfare and public benefits.”
The suspension applies to immigrant visas, not to non-immigrant visas, which include temporary tourist and business travel. The department said non-immigrant visa applicants make up the vast majority of visa applicants, and it said demand for non-immigrant visas is expected to rise in coming months and years due to the 2026 World Cup and the 2028 Olympics, both of which the U.S. will host or co-host.
Alongside the immigrant-visa pause, the State Department sent a separate notice to U.S. embassies and consulates saying that non-immigrant visa applicants should be screened for the possibility that they might seek public benefits in the United States. The Associated Press reported that a cable sent on Monday, a copy of which it obtained, framed the screening as part of an effort to address fraud in public benefits programs.
The cable urged consular officers to ensure that foreigners seeking travel to the U.S. “have been fully vetted and screened” for whether they may rely on public services before a visa is issued, and it said the applicant is responsible for proving they would not apply for public benefits while in the U.S. The cable said that consular officers who suspect a person might apply should require the applicant to fill out a form intended to show financial bona fides.
The State Department’s November guidance, which the department said the Jan. 21 pause is based on, directed embassy and consulate staff to comprehensively and thoroughly vet visa applicants to demonstrate that they will not need to rely on public benefits at any time after admission to the U.S. The Associated Press reported that federal law already required those seeking permanent residency or legal status to prove they would not become a public charge, and that the Trump administration in its first term widened the scope of benefit programs that could disqualify applicants.
In addition, the AP reported that the guidance outlined requirements for consular officials to consider a range of personal details when assessing visa applicants, including age, health, family status, finances, education, skills, and any past use of public assistance regardless of the applicant’s country. The guidance also said officials could assess applicants’ English proficiency by conducting interviews in English.
The Associated Press said immigrants seeking entry already undergo medical exams by physicians approved by a U.S. embassy, where they are screened for communicable diseases such as tuberculosis, and are required to disclose histories related to drug or alcohol use, mental health conditions and violence, while also receiving required vaccinations. Experts, the AP reported, said that the November guidance could further limit who gets to enter the country as the administration tightens entry rules.
The State Department’s Wednesday announcement listed the 75 countries covered by the immigrant visa processing suspension. The countries named ranged from Afghanistan, Albania and Algeria through nations including Brazil, Colombia, Egypt and Ethiopia, and included others such as Iran, Iraq, Russia, Somalia and Syria, as well as additional countries across Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America.