US to suspend immigrant visas from 75 nations, report says
The United States will pause processing immigrant visas for citizens of 75 countries, including Brazil, Russia, Iran, and Somalia, according to a State Department memo. The suspension, which could begin this month, is attributed to a review of screening and vetting procedures.
US to suspend immigrant visas from 75 nations, report says
The US State Department is preparing to halt immigrant visa processing for nationals from 75 countries, a move that could affect applicants from nations across several continents. The policy shift was reported by Fox News Digital, which cited an internal department directive, and later confirmed by a department spokesperson to Anadolu.
Details from the internal directive
The reported internal memo instructs consular officers to refuse immigrant visas under existing legal authority while the department reassesses its screening and vetting protocols. The full list of affected countries has not been officially released, but the report names Brazil, Russia, Iran, Afghanistan, Somalia, Nigeria, Sudan, Yemen, Syria, and Haiti among them. The suspension could be implemented as early as January 21, though its duration remains unspecified.
Lack of official detail and potential impact
A State Department spokesperson confirmed the impending pause but did not provide further details on the timeline or the complete roster of nations. The broad scope of the reported list suggests a significant, wide-ranging suspension of a key immigration pathway. Immigrant visas are typically for those seeking to live permanently in the United States, unlike temporary non-immigrant visas for tourism or business.
Context and international reaction
This action appears to continue a pattern of restrictive immigration measures. For countries with large diasporas in the US, including many nations that maintain important bilateral relations, the suspension will cause considerable disruption. For Türkiye, a key NATO ally not reported to be on the initial list, such sweeping visa policies highlight the volatile nature of US immigration policy and its potential to impact international relations and family reunification globally.
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