The Trump administration has announced a halt to immigrant visa processing for 75 countries, effective January 21, citing public charge concerns.
The Trump administration is set to implement a significant pause on immigrant visa processing for 75 countries, effective January 21. This decision follows an expanded entry ban announced last month that affected citizens from 39 countries, including Brazil, Iran, Russia, and Somalia. Notably, India is not included in this latest pause.
Tommy Pigott, Principal Deputy Spokesperson at the State Department, stated, “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.” He emphasized that the indefinite pause aims to limit applicants who are likely to become a “public charge.”
The term “public charge” in U.S. immigration law refers to non-citizens who are considered likely to depend on government assistance for subsistence. Factors influencing this determination include health, age, income, and previous reliance on cash assistance programs. A public charge finding can lead to the denial of a green card or refusal of entry into the United States.
It is important to note that the suspension applies exclusively to immigrant visas. Individuals seeking non-immigrant visas, such as tourist or short-term business visas, will not be impacted by this order.
Immigration attorney Ingrid Perez of IBP Law commented on the implications of this pause, stating, “The cases that seem to be affected are foreign nationals currently outside the U.S. waiting for their immigrant visas. They may be beneficiaries of family petitions or employment-based petitions for immigrant visas or green cards to live and work in the United States.”
Perez also highlighted the human cost of such sweeping measures, noting, “More families will be separated due to this delay even if they have enough income to satisfy the requirements of an affidavit of support.”
According to the Associated Press, a separate notice was dispatched to all U.S. embassies and consulates. The report indicated that the cable urged consular officers to thoroughly vet and screen foreign nationals seeking to travel to the United States to determine their potential reliance on public services before issuing a visa.
The countries affected by the U.S. visa pause include Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Bosnia, Brazil, Burma, 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, 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.
This latest action by the Trump administration underscores ongoing shifts in U.S. immigration policy, with significant implications for families and individuals seeking to immigrate to the United States.
For further details, refer to the report from the Associated Press.