Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
The United States has announced an indefinite suspension of immigrant visa processing for 75 countries, marking a significant expansion of the Trump administration’s tough stance on immigration. The measure, which affects visas for family reunification and employment-based immigration, will take effect on January 21, according to a U.S. official.
The suspension does not affect non-immigrant visas, such as those for tourists or students, meaning individuals planning short-term travel to the United States, including those attending events like the upcoming World Cup are not impacted.
Among the countries affected are Brazil, Colombia, Egypt, Haiti, Somalia, and Russia, as well as nations already included in the administration’s expanded travel bans. The full list includes Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belize, Bosnia, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Cuba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, 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, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, and Yemen.
The suspension is tied to the administration’s use of the “public charge” provision of U.S. immigration law, which allows officials to deem applicants ineligible if they are likely to rely on public benefits. “The State Department will use its long-standing authority to deem ineligible potential immigrants who would become a public charge on the United States and exploit the generosity of the American people,” State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said in a statement.
Pigott added that the pause will give the State Department time to reassess immigration processing procedures to “prevent the entry of foreign nationals who would take welfare and public benefits.” Critics have described the policy as a continuation of efforts to restrict immigration from developing countries and regions seen as high-risk by the administration.
The decision follows a series of high-profile immigration measures by the Trump administration, including travel bans, stricter vetting procedures, and changes to the legal definition of public charge. Advocates for immigrants warn that the suspension could delay family reunifications, disrupt employment-based migration, and create uncertainty for thousands of applicants who have already invested time and resources into their immigration process.
Officials have emphasized that the suspension is not intended as a blanket ban and stressed that applicants may still be considered on a case-by-case basis in exceptional circumstances. Nevertheless, the indefinite nature of the pause means that applicants from affected countries may face months of delays before their applications can be processed.
As the suspension takes effect next week, many immigration lawyers and advocacy groups are urging affected applicants to seek guidance and explore alternative pathways to enter the United States legally, while calling on Congress and the administration to clarify the long-term implications of the policy.
