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Misleading: US has stopped issuance of ‘immigrant’ visas only
Several media outlets and social media accounts reported that the United States has stopped the issuance of all visas for 75 countries around the world.
This is MISLEADING. The pause on visa processing only relates to immigrant visas required to permanently settle in the US.
The confusion stemmed after a news report on Fox News titled “US freezes all visa processing for 75 countries, including Somalia, Russia, Iran.” This was also shared on social media and reposted by White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.
Immigrant visas are official documents allowing foreign nationals to live and work permanently in the United States, unlike temporary nonimmigrant visas for tourism or study.
A post by US State Department on X says, “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.”
Fox News was the first US outlet to report that the US State Department is “pausing immigrant visa processing” for 75 countries in an effort to crack down on applicants deemed likely to become a public charge.
A State Department memo directs consular officers to refuse visas under existing law while the department reassesses screening and vetting procedures.
The countries include Somalia, Russia, Afghanistan, Brazil, Iran, Iraq, Egypt, Nigeria, Thailand, Yemen and more. The pause will begin Jan. 21 and will continue indefinitely until the department conducts a reassessment of immigrant visa processing.
The full list of countries comprises of Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Bosnia, Brazil, Burma, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Colombia, Cote 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.
CNN reports, “The suspension applies to immigrant visas, such as those for employment or to join family in the US. The pause does not apply to non-immigrant visas like student and tourist visas, and as such would not apply for those seeking to travel to the World Cup in the US this summer.”
Sources:
US State Department post on X, see here.
Fox News: US freezes all visa processing for 75 countries, including Somalia, Russia, Iran
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CNN: US suspending immigrant visa processing for 75 countries
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