Starting January 21, the U.S. Department of State will suspend visa issuance for citizens of 75 countries, reports Fox News.
As later clarified by the editorial team, this concerns a temporary suspension of all procedures related to immigration visas for citizens of the mentioned countries.
In a memo reviewed by Fox News Digital journalists, consular staff are instructed to deny visas in accordance with current legislation until the State Department completes its review of applicant screening and selection procedures.
This decision is part of the authorities' efforts to combat potential applicants classified as "public charge" to the state.
According to the document, the list of countries for which visa issuance is suspended includes Russia, Egypt, Iran, Afghanistan, Brazil, Yemen, Somalia, and Nigeria; however, the complete list has not yet been disclosed.
The suspension will remain in effect until the reassessment of visa procedures is completed.
Somalia has attracted particular attention from federal authorities due to a fraud scandal in Minnesota, where widespread abuse of taxpayer-funded social programs was uncovered. Many participants turned out to be citizens of Somalia or holders of Somali-American citizenship.
In November 2025, the State Department sent a circular to diplomatic representatives establishing new rules for screening applicants in the context of "public charge."
Consuls will now need to consider multiple factors: health, age, level of English proficiency, financial status, and likelihood of needing long-term medical assistance. Elderly individuals, those with obesity, as well as those who have previously received government assistance or been in state institutions may face visa denials.
State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott stated: "The Department is using its authority to classify potential immigrants as inadmissible if they may become a 'public charge' and utilize the generosity of the American people."
"Immigration from these 75 countries is suspended while the State Department reviews the visa processing procedures to prevent the entry of foreign nationals who may qualify for social benefits."
Although the concept of "public charge" has existed for many years, its application has varied depending on the administration, with consular officers given significant discretion in its interpretation.
Exceptions to the new moratorium will be extremely limited and allowed only in cases where the applicant does not meet the "public charge" criteria.
The "public charge" rules introduced in 2022 under the Biden administration narrowed the list of considered benefits, focusing on cash assistance and long-term care, excluding programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), WIC, Medicaid, and housing vouchers.
Immigration and nationality legislation has long allowed consular officers to deem applicants inadmissible based on receipt of government assistance, but in 2019, President Donald Trump expanded this definition to include a broader range of public benefits. This expansion was challenged in court, and some of its provisions were blocked until being rescinded by the Biden administration.
The list of countries for which visa issuance is suspended includes: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, the Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Bosnia, Brazil, Myanmar, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Colombia, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Republic of the Congo, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, and Yemen.
