By Tian Jingxin
The U.S. State Department has reportedly issued an internal memorandum instructing consular officers to indefinitely suspend the processing of immigrant visa applications for 75 countries worldwide starting Jan. 21, 2026. This move marks the Trump administration’s latest measure to strengthen immigration control and protect public resources. According to Fox News, affected countries include Brazil, Nigeria, Afghanistan, Iran, Russia, Somalia, Egypt, Thailand, and Yemen.
The ban will effectively close the U.S. doors to more than one-third of the nearly 200 countries globally, and it is expected to impact international travel and cross-border work plans. Notably, this comes just around five months before the U.S. co-hosts the 2026 World Cup, meaning the visa policy change could affect hundreds of thousands of overseas visitors planning to attend.
According to State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott, the policy’s core purpose is to use legal authority to identify and deny applicants who may become a “public charge” in the U.S., preventing foreign nationals from entering to access public benefits. Consular officers have been instructed to refuse visas based on existing law while the visa review process is being reassessed. The new review rules cover multiple factors, including health, age, English proficiency, financial capacity, and long-term healthcare needs. Specific criteria include older or overweight applicants, those who have previously received government cash assistance, or those previously placed in relevant institutions—all of whom may be deemed at risk of relying on public benefits and thus denied.
In addition, the government has strengthened scrutiny of H-1B visa applications and continued reviewing applicants’ social media profiles to identify potential anti-American statements.
Success
You are now signed up for our newsletter
Success
Check your email to complete sign up
This hardline stance toward certain countries is closely linked to multiple security and fraud incidents. At the end of 2025, an Afghan National Army soldier shot two National Guard soldiers in Washington, directly prompting the Trump administration to further restrict visas.
Massive fraud uncovered
Meanwhile, a massive fraud scandal in Minnesota has drawn heightened attention to countries like Somalia. In schemes such as “Feeding Our Future” and “Quality Learning Center,” prosecutors revealed systematic abuse of taxpayer-funded welfare programs, with most perpetrators being Somali nationals or Somali Americans.
In response, the Trump administration has acted to end deportation protections for Somalis and pushed for broader deportation actions in Minnesota.
The State Department said that the visa processing suspension will continue indefinitely until a comprehensive review of the immigrant visa procedures is completed. U.S. embassies and consulates in the affected countries, as well as international tourism organizations, are closely monitoring the policy’s implementation details. Federal officials reiterated that the move aims to ensure incoming immigrants do not become a financial burden on the U.S., while protecting taxpayers’ interests and national security. Until the review is complete, immigrant visa processing for the 75 countries will remain frozen.
The full list of affected countries includes: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Bosnia, Brazil, Myanmar, 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, North 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.
