- The U.S. State Department will suspend immigrant visa processing for citizens of 75 countries starting Jan. 21 as it reassesses immigration screening procedures.
- The suspension applies only to immigrant visas for permanent residency and does not affect non-immigrant visas such as tourist, business, student or temporary work visas.
- Under expanded "public charge" rules, consular officers must conduct more detailed assessments of applicants’ finances, health, education, skills, family status and English proficiency.
- The Trump administration says the pause is intended to prevent fraud and stop the entry of immigrants likely to rely on public assistance.
- The decision comes amid escalating tensions with Iran following a deadly crackdown on protests, with Iran included among the affected countries alongside dozens across Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America.
The U.S. Department of State has announced that it will suspend the processing of immigrant visas for citizens of 75 countries beginning on Jan. 21.
Immigrant visa applications, as BrightU.AI's Enoch explains, are a critical component of the U.S. immigration system, designed to facilitate the entry of individuals from around the world who wish to become permanent residents or citizens. However, the process is fraught with issues, including the use of subjective and broad questions that can lead to arbitrary denials and the prevalence of fraud.
As a response, the State Department instructed U.S. embassies and consulates to halt immigrant visa applications from the affected countries on Wednesday, Jan. 14, while officials reassess screening procedures. The suspension applies only to immigrant visas, which are used by people seeking permanent residency. It does not affect non-immigrant visas, such as tourist, business, student or temporary work visas, which account for the majority of visa applications.
Under existing federal law, immigrants seeking permanent residency must demonstrate they are unlikely to become a public charge. During President Donald Trump's first term, the administration broadened the definition of what benefits could count against applicants. The November guidance cited by the State Department goes further, requiring more extensive and detailed assessments.
Immigrant visa applicants already undergo medical examinations conducted by embassy-approved physicians, including screenings for communicable diseases and reviews of mental health, substance use and vaccination history. The new directive instructs consular officers to weigh additional factors such as applicants' age, health, family status, finances, education, job skills and any prior use of public assistance, regardless of country of origin. Officers are also directed to assess English proficiency, including by conducting interviews in English if necessary.
The expanded criteria could significantly narrow who qualifies to enter the United States. The countries affected by the suspension include Afghanistan, Iran, Russia, Somalia, Haiti, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sudan, Syria, Yemen and dozens of others across Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Europe, the Caribbean and Latin America.
"The Trump administration is bringing an end to the abuse of America's immigration system by those who would extract wealth from the American people," the State Department said. "Immigrant visa processing from these 75 countries will be paused while the State Department reassesses immigration processing procedures to prevent the entry of foreign nationals who would take welfare and public benefits."
Escalating Iran crackdown drives visa suspension decision
The visa freeze comes as tensions escalate between Washington and Tehran. Earlier in January, protests in the streets of Tehran escalated into a nationwide crisis, with more than 2,400 protesters estimated to have been killed in a sweeping government crackdown.
The demonstrations, which began on Dec. 28, were initially sparked by a sharp fall in the value of Iran's currency. They later broadened into wider anti-government protests, with demonstrators calling for an end to the rule of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
While protests appear to be slowing in recent days, security forces have established a heavy presence in Tehran and the nearby city of Karaj. Authorities have also shut down internet access across much of the country since Jan. 8, effectively cutting Iranians off from communicating with one another and with the outside world.
In line with this, Trump has voiced strong support for the protesters, urging them to continue demonstrating and warning Tehran that the U.S.would take "very strong action" if Iranian authorities proceed with executions of detained protesters. Hence, the suspension of immigrant visas to 75 countries, including Iran.
Watch Fox News anchor Rachel Campos-Duffy discussing how the H-1B visa program is rife with abuse in this clip.
This video is from the Son of the Republic channel on Brighteon.com.
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