State Department Halts Visa Processing for 75 Nations
The State Department has announced a suspension of all visa processing for 75 countries. This action is part of an effort to address applicants who may pose a risk of facing official charges. The memo, revealed by Fox News Digital, instructs consular officials to deny visa applications under current legislation while the department reassesses its screening and vetting methods.
The countries affected by this measure include Somalia, Russia, Afghanistan, Brazil, Iran, Iraq, Egypt, Nigeria, Thailand, and Yemen, among others. This suspension is set to start on January 21 and will remain in effect indefinitely until a thorough review of visa processing is completed.
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Recent developments have brought Somalia under increased scrutiny by federal authorities, particularly after significant abuses were discovered in its taxpayer-funded benefits system linked to a large-scale fraud scandal in Minnesota. Many individuals implicated in this situation are either Somali nationals or Somali Americans.
A directive from the State Department sent in November 2025 mandated consular officials to adopt stringent new vetting protocols as part of the “public charge” immigration laws. These updated guidelines require officials to examine various factors like health, age, language skills, financial status, and potential long-term medical needs when assessing visa applicants seen as likely to rely on public assistance.
Visas may be denied to older applicants or those who are overweight, as well as individuals who have previously utilized government cash assistance or institutional care.
According to State Department spokesperson Tommy Piggott, the department plans to disqualify applicants who could undermine public confidence in the U.S. and might exploit American generosity. He emphasized that immigration from the affected 75 countries will be put on hold while reevaluating immigration processing protocols to deter the admission of individuals dependent on welfare or public benefits.
The recent visa processing suspension is not an isolated case. Historically, enforcement of public charge regulations has fluctuated with different administrations. Consular officials have typically enjoyed considerable leeway in applying these standards.
The exceptions to the new suspension are described as “very limited,” dealing primarily with utility cost considerations regarding applicants. Changes made under the Biden administration in 2022 restricted the types of benefits considered to essentially cash assistance and long-term care, overlooking programs like WIC, Medicaid, and additional federal nutrition assistance initiatives.
Although existing laws have always permitted consular officials to disallow applicants due to public offenses, the Trump administration broadened this definition in 2019 to cover a wider array of public interests. This expansion faced legal challenges and was partially blocked before being rescinded by the Biden administration.
