The U.S. State Department will pause immigrant visa processing for applicants from 75 countries beginning January 21st, citing concerns that some applicants may rely on public benefits. The freeze will remain in effect indefinitely while officials review screening procedures under the “public charge” provision of immigration law.
A State Department memo instructs consular officers to temporarily refuse visas under existing law while reassessing vetting procedures. The policy evaluates applicants’ likelihood of becoming a public charge based on factors such as health, age, English proficiency, finances, and potential need for long-term medical care.
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“Immigration from these 75 countries will be paused while the State Department reassess immigration processing procedures to prevent the entry of foreign nationals who would take welfare and public benefits,” State Department spokesperson Tommy Piggott emphasized. He added that the department will exercise its long-standing authority to deem applicants ineligible if they are likely to become a public charge.
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The affected countries are Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Bosnia, Brazil, Burma, 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.
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Exceptions to the pause will be limited and granted only after applicants meet public charge requirements. While the public charge provision has existed for decades, enforcement has varied across administrations, with previous rules adjusting the types of benefits considered. Legal experts note that the policy could significantly affect foreign nationals seeking to visit, work, or immigrate to the United States.
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