WASHINGTON — The United States will indefinitely suspend immigrant visa processing for citizens of 75 countries, including Somalia, the State Department said, in one of the broadest recent restrictions on legal immigration.
The policy, effective Jan. 21, halts approvals of immigrant visas while the department reviews screening and vetting procedures. Applicants from the affected countries may continue to file paperwork, but no visas will be issued until the review is complete. No end date was announced.
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Officials said the move is intended to prevent foreign nationals who may become dependent on public assistance from entering the United States. The suspension applies only to immigrant visas — the pathway to permanent residency — and does not affect nonimmigrant categories such as tourist, business or student visas. Exceptions may apply to dual nationals holding valid passports from countries not on the list.
The list spans Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and Europe. Alongside Somalia, the countries include Afghanistan, Iran, Russia, Egypt, Nigeria, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Uganda and Yemen.
Human rights groups and several governments criticized the suspension as discriminatory and warned it could strain diplomatic relations. Advocacy organizations said the freeze would separate families and complicate long-term relocation plans for people who have already cleared multiple layers of vetting. Existing immigrant visas remain valid until they expire, the State Department said.
The announcement comes amid a broader crackdown on immigration that has tightened asylum and visa processes under the current U.S. administration. The State Department framed the pause as part of a review aimed at bolstering national screening protocols and financial eligibility standards.
What the suspension does
- Stops approvals of immigrant visas for citizens of 75 countries starting Jan. 21, pending a review of screening and vetting procedures.
- Leaves nonimmigrant visas — including tourist, business and student categories — unchanged.
- Allows applications to be submitted, but pauses issuance until the review concludes.
- Permits potential exceptions for dual nationals traveling on passports from countries not on the list.
- Keeps already issued immigrant visas valid until their expiration dates.
Countries cited by the State Department
- Somalia, Afghanistan, Iran, Russia, Egypt, Nigeria
- Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Uganda, Yemen
Consular sections worldwide are expected to notify applicants from affected countries about case status and next steps. The department did not specify how long the review could take or whether the scope of countries could change during the process.
The move is likely to reverberate across immigrant communities with close ties to the listed countries, particularly those pursuing family reunification through U.S. consulates. Attorneys said applicants in the pipeline should monitor consular notices closely and keep documentation current in case processing resumes with little advance warning.
The State Department said further guidance will be provided as the review proceeds.
By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
