Washington: In a major and drastic decision, the United States has completely halted the processing of visa applicants from 75 countries. This ban will take effect on January 21st, with no deadline set. The Trump administration claims this move is necessary to prevent foreign nationals who may rely on government assistance programs from immigrating to the United States. This decision will affect thousands of applicants from countries like Russia, Afghanistan, Iran, Brazil, and Nigeria.
According to directives issued by the US State Department, visa processing has been halted for citizens of a total of 75 countries. These include Russia, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Brazil, Nigeria, Egypt, Thailand, Yemen, and Somalia. The administration says that many applicants from these countries are more likely to become dependent on government assistance programs after arriving in the US.
The Trump administration has cited the “public charge” policy as the primary reason for this decision. According to the State Department, it is necessary to deter applicants who are more likely to become dependent on welfare schemes in the future. The department has clarified that the visa screening and verification process will now be re-evaluated and the suspension will remain in place until the new system is fully implemented.
The administration says Somalia is currently under special surveillance. This is due to a major fraud scandal that has surfaced in Minnesota. A federal investigation revealed that thousands of people misused taxpayer-funded government aid programs by submitting fraudulent documents. The administration has since adopted a stricter stance on such cases.
Following new directives issued in November 2025, consular officers have been given greater authority. Health, age, lack of English language proficiency, and poor financial standing can now be grounds for visa denial. Under the new rules, elderly or overweight applicants may also be denied visas if they are likely to require medical attention or assistance in the future.
The “public charge” provision in the US is decades old, but different governments have implemented it differently. In 2022, the Biden administration narrowed its scope. Now, the Trump administration is expanding it again. This new policy will severely limit exemptions, and visas will only be issued if strict conditions are met. Legal disputes arose in 2019 regarding this policy.
