The United States has announced a sweeping pause on immigrant visa processing for citizens of 75 countries, including Pakistan and Bangladesh, marking one of the most significant shifts in U.S. immigration policy in recent years. The decision, unveiled by the U.S. State Department on January 14 and set to take effect from January 21, comes as part of the Trump administration’s broader immigration crackdown aimed at tightening rules on who is permitted to enter the country permanently.
Under the new policy, the processing of all immigrant visas — encompassing family-based, employment-based, and diversity visas — will be paused indefinitely for nationals of the affected countries until the department completes a reassessment of its screening and vetting procedures. The administration has framed the move as a necessary step to curb what it describes as the entry of individuals deemed likely to become a “public charge,” meaning someone who may rely on government welfare or public assistance after arrival in the United States.
In official statements posted on social media and detailed by the State Department, spokespersons have said the suspension will remain in place until Washington can ensure that new immigrants “will not extract wealth from the American people.” While the list spans nations across Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and the Americas, no formal timeline has been provided for when normal processing might resume.
The list of countries subject to the pause includes Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Iran, Russia, Nepal, Somalia, Haiti, and Eritrea, among many others, illustrating the global reach of the policy. The affected nations represent a mix of conflict-affected states, developing economies, and longstanding partners of the United States, adding to the complexity of the U.S. government’s messaging around the move.
Officials emphasize that the policy applies only to immigrant visas and does not affect non-immigrant categories such as tourist, business, or temporary work visas. However, applicants from the impacted countries are now expected to undergo more rigorous financial, medical, language, and background evaluations to demonstrate that they will not become reliant on public benefits. Exceptions have also been noted for dual nationals applying with passports from countries not on the list, though the overall scope of the policy remains broad.
The decision has stirred concern among immigrant rights advocates, foreign governments, and diaspora communities, many of whom view the measure as a significant barrier to family reunification and lawful employment-based migration. Analysts say the suspension builds on earlier public-charge rules introduced by the administration, which sought to expand the criteria under which visa applicants could be denied based on anticipated future use of public benefits such as healthcare or income support.
Critics of the policy argue that tying immigration eligibility to perceived risk of public benefit use could disproportionately affect applicants from countries with fewer economic opportunities or less access to financial resources, while supporters in the U.S. political establishment defend the move as an attempt to prioritize self-sufficiency among new immigrants. The halt to visa processing is also expected to have far-reaching implications for global mobility, long-term family plans, and international talent flows, particularly for those in countries heavily represented on the list.
Overall, the suspension of immigrant visa processing for citizens of 75 countries reflects a more restrictive era in U.S. immigration policy, with significant ripple effects anticipated across diplomatic, economic, and social spheres worldwide.
