Trump Administration To Halt Immigrant Visa Processing For 75 Nations

The Trump administration has announced it will pause processing immigrant visas for applicants from 75 countries, citing efforts to tighten controls over legal immigration to the United States. According to a State Department cable, the move follows instructions issued to U.S. diplomats in November to ensure visa applicants could support themselves financially and would not rely on government benefits while in the country.

The suspension is set to begin on January 21 and will affect applicants from a wide range of regions. These include parts of Latin America, such as Brazil, Colombia and Uruguay; the Balkans, including Bosnia and Albania; and South Asia, including Pakistan and Bangladesh, as well as much of Africa and the Caribbean, a spokesperson said, as quoted by Reuters. Temporary visitors travelling for tourism, business or medical reasons are exempt.

Since returning to office in January 2025, President Donald Trump has taken a hardline stance on immigration. Over the past year, his administration has imposed restrictions on several visa programmes and stepped up deportation efforts. The Department of Homeland Security said last month that more than 605,000 people were deported, while around 2.5 million others left the country voluntarily. In December, the department also paused immigration applications from countries affected by the administration’s travel ban, delaying pathways to US citizenship and permanent residency.