The US State Department will Stop Processing Visas for 75 Country
The U.S. State Department announced on Wednesday that it will temporarily halt the processing of immigrant visas for citizens of 75 countries considered likely to rely on public assistance while living in the United States.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said consular officers have been instructed to pause immigrant visa applications from the affected countries, following a broader directive issued last November aimed at tightening rules for potential immigrants who might become “public charges. The suspension, set to take effect on 21 January, will not impact non-immigrant visas, including temporary tourist or business visas.
In a statement, the State Department said the move seeks to “end the abuse of America’s immigration system by those who would extract wealth from the American people.” It added that visa processing from the 75 countries will be paused while procedures are reassessed to prevent the entry of foreign nationals who may rely on welfare or public benefits.
The department did not release the full list of countries affected. However, a U.S. official, speaking anonymously, indicated that it includes Russia, Iran, Somalia, Afghanistan, Brazil, and Egypt, among others. Many of these nations have already faced strict restrictions on both immigrant and non-immigrant visa processing under the Trump administration.
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