The US State Department announced Wednesday that it is pausing all visa processing for 75 countries in an effort to prevent applicants deemed likely to become a public charge from entering the United States, as per a report.
A State Department memo instructed consular officers to temporarily refuse visas under existing law while the department reassessed screening and vetting procedures, Fox News Digital reported, citing the memo. The pause, set to begin 21 January, will continue indefinitely until the reassessment is complete, the report said.
Countries affected
The list includes Pakistan, Bangladesh, Somalia, Russia, Iran, Afghanistan, Brazil, Nigeria, and Thailand.
Additionally, other countries reportedly affected include:
Europe & Eurasia: Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro
Africa & Middle East: Algeria, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Libya, Morocco, Nigeria, Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Yemen
Americas & Caribbean: Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Cuba, Grenada, Guatemala, Haiti, Jamaica, Nicaragua, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Uruguay
Asia & Pacific: Bhutan, Burma (Myanmar), Cambodia, Fiji, Georgia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Mongolia, Nepal, Thailand, Uzbekistan.
Public charge concerns
“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 was quoted as saying in a statement.
“Immigration 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,” he added.
Heightened scrutiny on Somalia
Somalia has drawn particular attention following a large-scale fraud scandal in Minnesota, where prosecutors uncovered widespread abuse of taxpayer-funded benefit programmes. Many involved in the case were Somali nationals or Somali-Americans.
