Full Visa Ban List: The United States has announced a major shift in its immigration policy after the State Department confirmed that immigrant visa processing has been suspended for nationals of 75 countries, including Pakistan, Bangladesh, Brazil, Nigeria, Egypt, and several nations across Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America. The move comes as part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to tighten screening rules and prevent the entry of applicants who may become financially dependent on public assistance after arriving in the country.
According to US officials, the pause in visa processing will begin on January 21 and will remain in place while the government conducts a full review of its immigration policies, regulations, and vetting standards. The review aims to ensure that only financially self-sufficient applicants are allowed to immigrate to the United States. The decision, however, does not affect non-immigrant or visitor visas, including tourist, business, and sports-related travel visas.
The State Department stated that applicants from the affected countries were identified as having a higher likelihood of becoming a “public charge,” a term used for individuals who may rely on government welfare programs. Officials said the US will use its legal authority to deny immigrant visas to those who may become dependent on federal, state, or local resources.
Tommy Pigott, the Principal Deputy Spokesperson of the State Department, said the US government is committed to protecting American taxpayers and ensuring that new immigrants do not exploit public benefits. He added that immigrant visa processing from these 75 countries will remain paused until new screening procedures are in place.
FULL LIST OF COUNTRIES
The suspension covers a wide range of nations. These include Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Bosnia, Brazil, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Cuba, Dominica, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, North Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Myanmar, 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.
LEGAL IMMIGRATION
US consular offices have also been instructed to stop issuing immigrant visas that have already been approved but not yet printed. Even visas that have been printed but not handed over to applicants will be held back, effectively freezing the process for thousands of people.
This move follows a November directive asking US diplomats to ensure that all visa applicants demonstrate strong financial stability. It also comes amid an intensified immigration crackdown by the Trump administration, which has already resulted in the revocation of more than 100,000 visas since he returned to office.
While former President Trump initially focused his campaign on stopping illegal immigration, his government has also made legal immigration more difficult by introducing higher fees, stricter financial checks, and expanded social media screening for visa applicants.
Immigration policy experts and civil rights groups have criticized the decision, warning that it could block hundreds of thousands of legitimate immigrants, including skilled workers and family members of US citizens. Some analysts estimate that nearly half of all legal immigration to the United States could be affected by this single move.
Despite the controversy, the US government maintains that the suspension is necessary to protect public resources and ensure the integrity of the immigration system. For now, families and applicants from the affected countries face uncertainty as they wait for the outcome of the State Department’s review and the possible reopening of immigrant visa processing.