The US State Department plans to suspend visa processing for 75 countries, such as Somalia, Russia, and Brazil, in an effort to enhance screening for ‘public charge’ risks, as reported by Fox News.
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The US State Department has announced a suspension of visa processing for applicants from 75 countries as part of an initiative to strengthen screening for individuals deemed likely to become a “public charge,” according to a Fox News report referencing an internal memo.
The memo, initial access to which was granted to Fox News Digital, instructs US consular officers to deny visas under current immigration law while the State Department undergoes a reassessment of its visa screening and vetting processes. This suspension is scheduled to commence on January 21 and will remain effective indefinitely until the review is completed.
Countries impacted by the US visa processing suspension
| Region / Alphabetical Group | Countries |
|---|---|
| A–B | Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Bosnia, Brazil, Burma |
| C–D | Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Colombia, Cote d’Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica |
| E–G | Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea |
| H–J | Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan |
| K–L | Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya |
| M–N | Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria |
| P–R | Pakistan, Republic of the Congo, Russia, Rwanda |
| S | Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria |
| T–U | Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Uruguay, Uzbekistan |
| Y | Yemen |
Somalia is facing increased attention after a major fraud case in Minnesota revealed significant misuse of taxpayer-funded benefit programs. Many of those implicated were Somali nationals or Somali-Americans, as detailed in the report.
This news follows a State Department directive issued in November 2025, which mandated consular offices globally to implement stricter screening under the “public charge” clause of US immigration law. The guidance reportedly necessitates that officers deny visas to applicants believed to rely on public benefits.
According to the new screening guidelines, consular officers are required to assess factors like an applicant’s health, age, English proficiency, financial situation, and potential need for long-term medical care. Reports suggest that applicants who are older, overweight, or have a history of utilizing government cash assistance or institutional care could face visa denials.
“The State Department will exercise its long-established authority to classify as ineligible potential immigrants who may become a public charge in the United States and take advantage of the generosity of the American people,” stated State Department spokesperson Tommy Piggott.
He further noted that immigration from the 75 countries will remain on hold while the department reevaluates policies to prevent the entry of foreign nationals likely to depend on welfare and public benefits.
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(Edited by : Shoma Bhattacharjee)
First Published: Jan 14, 2026 8:42 PM IST
