The United States has announced a temporary suspension of immigrant visa processing for citizens of 75 countries. The measure applies to foreign nationals seeking permanent residence in the US, while short-term visas remain unaffected, DKNews.kz reports.
The new rules will take effect on January 21.
Which visas are affected
According to the US State Department, the suspension applies only to immigrant visas, meaning applications for permanent residence and relocation to the United States.
At the same time, the decision does not affect:
- tourist visas
- student visas
- temporary work visas
- visas related to the FIFA World Cup
All short-term travel categories will continue to be processed as usual.
The State Department will pause immigrant visa processing from 75 countries whose migrants take welfare from the American people at unacceptable rates. The freeze will remain active until the U.S. can ensure that new immigrants will not extract wealth from the American people.
— Department of State (@StateDept) January 14, 2026
Why the US made this decision
The State Department said visa processing for citizens of the listed countries will be paused while immigration procedures are reviewed. The goal is to prevent the entry of foreign nationals who may rely on social welfare and public benefits.
US officials stated that the freeze will remain in place until authorities can ensure that new immigrants will not place an “unacceptable burden” on American taxpayers.
What consular officers will now consider
Under the revised approach, consular officers will assess a wider range of factors when reviewing immigrant visa applications, including:
- health condition
- age
- English language proficiency
- financial stability
- potential need for long-term medical care
Visas may be denied to elderly applicants, people with obesity, or individuals who previously received government financial assistance or lived in state-funded institutions.
Countries included in the list
The list of 75 countries spans Europe, Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Latin America and the Caribbean. Among them are:
Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Egypt, Georgia, Iran, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Mongolia, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Russia, Syria, Thailand, Uzbekistan, Yemen and many others.
Not the first restriction
The move is part of a broader tightening of US immigration policy under the Trump administration. In December, immigrant visa processing was already suspended for citizens of 19 countries.
Earlier this week, US authorities also announced the cancellation of Temporary Protected Status for Somali nationals living in the United States.
The new measures signal a continued shift toward stricter immigration controls, with a strong focus on reducing dependency on public welfare programs.
