US to suspend visa processing for 75 countries starting next week
ABC News • • general
Key Points:
- The U.S. State Department is freezing immigrant visa processing for 75 countries starting January 21 to reassess vetting procedures aimed at preventing applicants likely to become public charges from entering the country.
- This suspension affects immigrant visas only and does not apply to non-immigrant visas such as tourist or business visas, ensuring that World Cup visitors to the U.S. in 2026 are not impacted.
- Countries affected include Somalia, Russia, Afghanistan, Brazil, Iran, Iraq, Egypt, Nigeria, Thailand, and Yemen; the full list has not been publicly released.
- The move follows increased scrutiny of Somali immigrants amid allegations of social services fraud in Minnesota and coincides with the Trump administration's decision to end Temporary Protected Status
