The US State Department has announced an indefinite suspension of immigrant visa processing for citizens of 75 countries, including Russia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Thailand.
Effective from January 21, this policy represents a significant escalation in President Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement. According to an internal memo, the pause aims to facilitate a total reassessment of vetting procedures to prevent foreign nationals from becoming a public charge or relying on government welfare.
The directive instructs consular officers to refuse immigrant visas and halt the printing of those already approved while the review is conducted. Affected regions span Africa, Asia, and Eastern Europe, though India remains excluded from the list. While non-immigrant visas for tourism and study are unaffected, permanent residency applications for millions are now frozen. Spokesman Tommy Pigott confirmed the review is open-ended, leaving global migration patterns in a state of prolonged uncertainty.
Immigration experts have warned that the suspension will have immediate and severe consequences for mixed-nationality families and those awaiting reunification. While dual nationals may find some relief depending on the passport used, the State Department has offered no specific timeline for when the public charge reassessment will conclude. Critics argue that the move functions as a de facto country-based restriction on legal migration, as officials now scrutinise personal savings and employment prospects with unprecedented aggression to determine financial self-sufficiency.
