The United States has announced a sweeping pause on the processing of immigrant visas for citizens of 75 countries, including Bangladesh, Pakistan, Iran, Russia and Nepal, marking one of the most expansive immigration restrictions in recent years. The move, announced by the US State Department, is part of President Donald Trump’s latest push to tighten immigration rules and curb the entry of migrants whom the administration believes may place a financial burden on American public resources.

According to the State Department, the suspension applies specifically to immigrant visas and is aimed at countries whose nationals, the administration claims, “take welfare from the American people at unacceptable rates.” The decision has already sparked concern among immigrant communities, advocacy groups and foreign governments, particularly in countries with large numbers of applicants waiting for permanent residency in the United States.

Rationale Behind the Visa Freeze

In a statement shared on social media, the State Department said the freeze would remain in place until the US government could ensure that incoming immigrants would not “extract wealth from the American people.” The language reflects a long-standing theme of the Trump administration’s immigration policy, which places strong emphasis on self-sufficiency and limits access to public benefits for new immigrants.

“The freeze will remain active until the US can ensure that new immigrants will not extract wealth from the American people,” the department said, underscoring that the measure is tied to concerns about immigrants becoming “public charges” after arriving in the country.

The concept of a “public charge” has been central to US immigration debates in recent years. It generally refers to individuals who rely heavily on government assistance programs such as food aid, housing support or welfare benefits. Under the Trump administration, rules around public charge determinations have been tightened, making it harder for certain categories of immigrants to qualify for permanent residency if they are deemed likely to depend on public assistance.

Countries Affected by the Suspension

While the US government has not formally released an official list through a detailed notification, multiple confirmations from the State Department and reporting by the Associated Press have outlined the countries expected to be impacted. The list includes a wide range of nations across South Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Eastern Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean.

Among the most notable countries on the list are Bangladesh, Pakistan, Iran, Russia and Nepal. Others include Afghanistan, Egypt, Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Sudan, Thailand and Yemen. Several African nations such as Somalia, Haiti, Eritrea and the Democratic Republic of the Congo are also included, reflecting the administration’s focus on regions it believes have higher rates of migrants seeking public assistance.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said on X that Somalia would be among the affected countries, noting that President Trump has repeatedly criticised immigration from the country, especially following a funding scandal in Minnesota involving Somali immigrants. Russia and Iran were also highlighted, indicating that geopolitical tensions may intersect with immigration policy considerations.

According to the Associated Press, the full list of 75 countries expected to fall under the restrictions includes:

Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Bosnia, Brazil, Burma, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Colombia, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, 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.

The breadth of the list has raised questions about how consulates and embassies will manage the suspension, given the large volume of pending applications from many of these countries.

When the Restrictions Will Take Effect

The State Department said the suspension will begin on January 21. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has instructed consular officers worldwide to halt the processing of immigrant visa applications from the affected countries. The directive follows a broader executive order issued in November that further tightened scrutiny of potential immigrants who may be deemed likely to become public charges.

Importantly, the pause applies only to immigrant visas, which are typically issued to individuals seeking permanent residence in the United States, including family-sponsored immigrants, employment-based immigrants and diversity visa recipients.

The restrictions will not apply to non-immigrant visas, such as tourist, student or business visas. Applicants seeking temporary entry to the US on B-1/B-2 visas or other short-term categories will still be able to apply and have their cases processed under existing rules.

Impact on Applicants and Communities

For thousands of families and individuals across the affected countries, the announcement has created uncertainty and anxiety. Many applicants have already been waiting months or even years for their immigrant visas, particularly those sponsored by family members who are US citizens or permanent residents.

Immigration advocates argue that the policy unfairly targets entire countries based on broad assumptions about welfare use, rather than assessing applicants on an individual basis. Critics also point out that immigrants, including those from the listed countries, contribute significantly to the US economy through taxes, labour and entrepreneurship.

Supporters of the move, however, say it is a necessary step to protect public finances and ensure that immigration aligns with the administration’s emphasis on merit-based and self-sufficient migration.

A Continuation of Trump’s Immigration Agenda

The visa processing pause is widely seen as a continuation of President Trump’s hardline approach to immigration, which has included travel bans, stricter asylum rules and enhanced vetting procedures. While earlier measures often focused on security and terrorism concerns, the latest move places economic self-reliance at the centre of immigration policy.

As the suspension takes effect later this month, its long-term duration remains unclear. The State Department has not specified when or under what conditions the pause might be lifted, stating only that it will remain until assurances are in place regarding immigrants’ use of public resources.

For now, the decision marks a significant escalation in US immigration restrictions and is likely to have far-reaching consequences for applicants, families and diplomatic relations with dozens of countries around the world.