Summary
The U.S. State Department has temporarily stopped visa processing in 75 countries while it reviews how it checks applicants who might become dependent on government support. This pause affects countries including Somalia, Russia, and Iran, and is part of broader changes to immigration policies under President Trump.
Key Facts
- The U.S. State Department is halting visa processing in 75 countries.
- This pause began on January 21.
- The countries affected include Somalia, Russia, Afghanistan, Brazil, Iran, Iraq, Egypt, Nigeria, Thailand, and Yemen.
- The reason for the pause is to reassess how visa applicants are screened for public charge risks (likelihood of becoming dependent on government assistance).
- The changes are part of wider immigration policy updates under President Donald Trump.
- The information about this decision came from an internal memo.
