US Pauses Immigrant Visa Processing for Nationals of 75 Countries Over Welfare Concerns

Washington, Jan 2026 : The Trump administration has ordered an indefinite suspension of immigrant visa processing for nationals of 75 countries, citing concerns that some applicants could become a “public charge” by relying on American welfare and public benefits. The directive, issued by the US State Department, will come into effect on January 21 and applies to US consular offices worldwide.

Under the order, consular officers have been instructed to halt the processing of immigrant visas while the administration undertakes a comprehensive reassessment of screening and vetting procedures under existing immigration laws. The move is aimed at strengthening enforcement of provisions that allow authorities to deny entry to individuals deemed likely to depend on public assistance.

State Department Principal Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott said the decision reflects the administration’s commitment to protecting US taxpayers and preserving the integrity 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,” Pigott said. He added that the department would use its long-standing authority to declare ineligible those potential immigrants who could become a financial burden on the United States.

According to Pigott, immigrant visa processing from the affected countries will remain paused while officials review procedures designed to prevent the entry of foreign nationals who may rely on welfare programs or public benefits. A State Department memo, first reported by Fox News Digital, directs consular officers to refuse visas under the “public charge” provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act during the review period. The pause has been described as indefinite and will remain in place until the reassessment is completed.

The White House echoed the announcement through an official statement on social media. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the US was freezing visa processing for 75 countries, naming Somalia, Russia and Iran among those affected.

While the administration has not released a comprehensive list of impacted countries, reports indicate that the pause spans multiple regions, including Africa, Asia, the Middle East, the Caribbean, Europe and Latin America. Countries reportedly affected include Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Egypt, Thailand and Brazil, among others.

Officials said exceptions to the pause would be extremely limited and considered only after applicants have satisfactorily addressed public charge concerns.

Immigrant visas, which grant permanent residence, include family-based green cards, employment-based visas and certain humanitarian protections. The current pause does not apply to non-immigrant visas, which are temporary and cover categories such as tourism, business travel, student visas, short-term work permits, investor visas and diplomatic or media assignments.

(The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)