The US bans the processing of immigrant visas for 75 countries, including Iran and Russia

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The US bans the processing of immigrant visas for 75 countries, including Iran and Russia

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The U.S. State Department said Wednesday it will suspend processing of immigrant visas for citizens of 75 countries, including Afghanistan, Iran, Russia and Somalia, whose nations the Trump administration has determined may need public assistance while living in the United States.

The State Department, led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, said it had ordered embassy officials to freeze immigrant visa applications in the affected countries in line with a sweeping order issued in November that tightened rules on immigrants who may be “civil crimes” in the US.

The suspension, which will begin on Jan. 21, will not apply to applicants seeking non-immigrant visas, or temporary tourist or business visas, which constitute the majority of visa applicants.

The demand for nonimmigrant visas is expected to increase significantly in the coming months and years due to the 2026 World Cup and the 2028 Olympics, both of which the US will host or co-host.

“The Trump administration is ending the exploitation of America’s immigration system by those who would take wealth from the American people,” the department said in a statement.

“Visa processing for immigrants from these 75 countries will be temporarily suspended while the State Department revises immigration processing procedures to prevent the entry of foreign nationals who take welfare and public benefits.”

The administration of US President Donald Trump has imposed strict restrictions on the processing of immigrant and non-immigrant visas for citizens of many countries, many of them in Africa, Asia and Latin America.

The November guidance on which Wednesday’s decision is based directs US Embassy and Consulate officials to fully and thoroughly vet visa applicants to demonstrate that they will not need to rely on government benefits at any time after their admission to the US.

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New guidelines are moving forward

Although federal law already requires those seeking permanent residency or legal status to prove they will not be a public liability, Trump in his first term has expanded the scope of benefits programs that may disqualify applicants, and the guidelines in the cable appear to be broad.

Immigrants who want to enter the US are already examined by a doctor approved by the US Embassy. They are screened for communicable diseases, such as tuberculosis, and asked to disclose any history of drug or alcohol use, mental health conditions or violence. They are also required to have a number of vaccinations.

The new order expands those with specific requirements. It said embassy officials must consider a range of specific information about visa applicants, including their age, health, family status, finances, education, skills and any past use of public assistance regardless of country.

It also said that they should test applicants’ knowledge of English and they can do that by conducting an interview in English.

Experts say that time could limit who enters the country at a time when Republican administrations are already tightening those rules.

The countries affected by the suspension announced on Wednesday are: