0
• 75 countries to be impacted, but full list not released yet
• Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Iran, Iraq, Yemen, Somalia, Haiti, Eritrea, Russia, Brazil, Cuba and Nigeria among nations affected
• Move won’t hinder tourist, business or other visas, such as for the upcoming FIFA World Cup
• State Dept says clamping down on those who ‘exploit the generosity of the American people’
• Pakistani missions in US expected to offer guidance in coming days
WASHINGTON: The US State Department announced on Wednesday that it will suspend immigrant visa processing for Pakistan and 74 other countries, amid concerns that immigrants from these nations often rely on public welfare programmes, or fail security vetting.
“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 Piggott told various media outlets.
“The Trump administration is bringing an end to the abuse of America’s immigration system by those who would extract wealth from the American people,” he added.
The freeze will begin on January 21, with no set time for it to end.
According to AFP, the latest move does not affect tourist, business or other visas, including for soccer fans seeking to visit for this year’s World Cup, although the Trump administration has vowed to vet all applicants’ social media histories.
The Pakistan Embassy in Washington said they were still awaiting official intimation from the US authorities regarding the freeze and its implementation. The embassy indicated that it would provide guidance to Pakistani nationals once formal instructions are received.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt posted on X that the countries affected would include Somalia — whose citizens Trump has attacked in heated terms after immigrants were involved in a funding scandal in Minnesota — as well as Russia and Iran.
Not a blanket ban
Officials, however, emphasised that the freeze is not a blanket ban, but a targeted enforcement measure aligned with the SMART Act (H.R. 3466), which prioritises merit-based immigration over unvetted entries. The policy specifically targets countries that fail to cooperate on security screening and document verification.
“This pause ensures that new immigrants are thoroughly vetted and are less likely to extract wealth from American taxpayers,” a spokesperson said.
“We are working to protect the generosity of the American people while maintaining a fair, merit-based immigration system,” he added.
Countries affected
The freeze affects nations across Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas, including Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Iran, Iraq, Yemen, Somalia, Haiti, Eritrea, Brazil, Cuba, Russia and Nigeria, among others.
The State Department did not immediately release a full list of countries.
All categories of immigrant visas — including family-based, employment-based, and diversity visas — are impacted.
“Immigrant visa processing from these 75 countries will be paused while the State Department reassesses immigration processing procedures to prevent the entry of foreign nationals who would take welfare and public benefits,” Mr Piggott said.
The freeze is closely linked to the US public-charge rule, which assesses whether immigrants are likely to rely on government assistance. As part of the new measures, applicants from the affected countries will be required to post $15,000 bonds, while the average monthly income in these nations is $675, highlighting what critics have described as a wealth-based barrier disguised as public-charge screening.
In addition to the freeze, the State Department said in a tweet that it has revoked over 100,000 visas, including some 8,000 student visas and 2,500 specialized visas for individuals who had encounters with US law enforcement for criminal activity.
“We will continue to deport these thugs to keep America safe,” the statement added, underscoring the administration’s emphasis on security and criminal background checks.
Officials cited security and document verification failures as central to the visa freeze.
State Department data shows that 43pc of recent asylum fraud cases originated from these 75 countries, with 18,000 visas revoked since January 2025 alone. According to the administration, the measure is designed to compel foreign governments to “clean house” by policing extremists and preventing document fraud within their borders.
The policy is part of a broader shift under the Trump administration emphasizing merit-based immigration. Section 220 of the SMART Act introduces a points system for skilled workers, designed to increase legal immigration pathways while ensuring applicants meet economic and security standards.
Impact on Pakistan
For Pakistan, the freeze could temporarily disrupt education, employment, and family reunification plans. Thousands of prospective students, professionals, and families will face longer processing times and new financial requirements. Pakistani consulates in the US are expected to provide guidance in the coming days.
Visa suspensions and pauses have occurred in the past too, often during periods of administrative transition or in response to security concerns. However, the scale of this freeze — spanning 75 nations — is unprecedented, reflecting ongoing debates in Washington over immigration, national security, and public-benefit usage.
Officials have not specified when visa processing will resume, but have reassured that affected countries will be notified individually once the review and security reassessment are complete.
Published in Dawn, January 15th, 2026
