The United States has indefinitely suspended the processing of immigrant visas for nationals of 75 countries, the State Department announced on Wednesday, in a major escalation of the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown.
The pause, which takes effect on January 21, targets applicants deemed likely to become a “public charge”—meaning they could rely heavily on certain government benefits after arriving in the US. It applies only to immigrant visas, which lead to permanent residency, such as family-sponsored or employment-based green cards. Non-immigrant visas—for tourists, students, business travellers, and others—remain unaffected.
A State Department spokesperson, Tommy Pigott, confirmed the move, stating, “The State Department will use its long-standing authority to deem ineligible potential immigrants who would become a public charge on the United States and exploit the generosity of the American people. Immigrant visa processing from these 75 countries will be paused while the State Department reassesses immigration processing procedures to prevent the entry of foreign nationals who would take welfare and public benefits.”
The decision follows a November 2025 cable to US consular posts worldwide, directing officers to enforce stricter screening under the public charge provision of US immigration law. This longstanding rule allows officials to deny visas to those judged likely to depend on public assistance, including programmes like welfare, food stamps, or certain Medicaid coverage. Enforcement has varied across administrations; the Trump team previously expanded the scope in 2019, only for it to be narrowed under Biden before the latest tightening.
The affected countries include Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Bosnia, Brazil, Burma (Myanmar), Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Colombia, Cote 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.
Many of these nations—including Iran, Russia, Somalia, and Afghanistan—already face significant restrictions under existing US travel and security policies. The full list spans Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Latin America, the Caribbean, and parts of Europe.
The administration has framed the suspension as a necessary step to protect taxpayer-funded resources amid concerns over welfare usage, including references to past fraud cases. Officials say the pause will last until screening and vetting procedures are fully reviewed, though no end date has been given.
For countries like Ghana and Nigeria—both prominently affected—the halt is expected to disrupt family reunification plans and other long-term migration pathways. Yet economic ties in other areas appear resilient. Ghana’s government welcomed recent news that the US House of Representatives passed legislation on January 12 to extend the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) for three years, through 2028. The bipartisan measure, which now heads to the Senate, preserves duty-free access to the US market for qualifying Ghanaian exports, supporting sectors such as apparel, agriculture, and agro-processing.
Immigration advocates have condemned the policy as overly broad and potentially discriminatory, warning it could disproportionately impact applicants from lower-income nations and invite legal challenges. Critics argue it effectively bars large numbers of legal immigrants based on nationality rather than individual circumstances.
The move comes as the Trump administration pursues aggressive immigration enforcement overall, including record visa revocations and deportations since the president’s return to office.
