US Pauses Visas from 75 Countries for Public Charge Review

The U.S. State Department announced plans to pause immigrant visa processing for applicants from 75 countries starting January 21, as part of an effort to strengthen enforcement of the public charge rule under existing immigration law. The indefinite suspension, outlined in an internal memo to consular posts worldwide, directs officers to halt routine approvals while the department reviews its screening and vetting procedures to better identify individuals likely to rely on public benefits.

The affected countries span multiple regions and include Somalia, Russia, Afghanistan, Brazil, Iran, Iraq, Egypt, Nigeria, Thailand, Yemen, Albania, Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bosnia, Cambodia, Cameroon, Colombia, Cuba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Nepal, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Uzbekistan, and others. Consular officers have been instructed to apply...