The United States has suspended immigrant visa processing for 75 countries across the globe, a sweeping measure announced Wednesday that marks one of President Donald Trump’s most extensive restrictions on foreign nationals seeking permanent residency in America.
A State Department spokesperson confirmed the development, stating that “the State Department is pausing immigrant visa processing for 75 countries.” The suspension, which took effect on January 21, will continue indefinitely while the department conducts what it described as a comprehensive reassessment of its screening and vetting procedures.
According to a memo obtained by Fox News Digital, consular officers have been instructed to refuse immigrant visas under existing law during the review period. The directive does not specify a timeline for completion of the vetting reassessment, leaving thousands of prospective immigrants in limbo across multiple continents.
The affected countries span Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, the Caribbean, South America, and Oceania, reflecting the broad geographic scope of the measure. Among the 75 nations are some of the world’s most populous countries, including Nigeria, Egypt, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Brazil, as well as nations with longstanding migration ties to the United States.
In Africa, 27 countries have been included in the suspension. These are Algeria, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Cote d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Libya, Morocco, Nigeria, Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, and Yemen. The inclusion of Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation and a significant source of skilled immigrants to the United States, is particularly notable given the country’s substantial diaspora community and historically strong educational and professional ties with America.
Twenty-two Asian countries are affected by the suspension: Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burma, Cambodia, Georgia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Syria, Thailand, and Uzbekistan. Several of these nations, including Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, and Syria, have previously been subject to various forms of travel restrictions under different US administrations.
In Europe, eight countries face the suspension: Albania, Belarus, Bosnia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, and Russia. The list notably excludes Western European nations and focuses primarily on Eastern European and Balkan states, some of which have experienced significant emigration to the United States in recent decades.
Thirteen countries in North America and the Caribbean are included: Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Cuba, Dominica, Grenada, Guatemala, Haiti, Jamaica, Nicaragua, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. The presence of multiple Caribbean nations on the list affects longstanding migration patterns from the region, which has historically maintained close ties with the United States.
Three South American nations—Brazil, Colombia, and Uruguay—are subject to the pause, while Fiji is the sole Oceania country affected by the measure.
The suspension represents a significant escalation in immigration restrictions under the Trump administration, which has prioritised border security and immigration control as central policy objectives. Officials have cited national security concerns and the need to strengthen vetting procedures as justification for the measure, though the State Department has not publicly detailed specific security threats or deficiencies in current screening processes that prompted the suspension.
Immigrant visas are distinct from non-immigrant visas, which cover temporary visits for tourism, business, or study. The suspension specifically targets individuals seeking permanent residency in the United States, including family-based immigration applicants, employment-based visa seekers, and diversity visa lottery winners. The measure does not appear to affect those already holding valid immigrant visas or individuals in the final stages of the immigration process, though clarification on these details has not been officially provided.
The move comes amid ongoing debates within the United States over immigration policy, border enforcement, and the balance between national security and the country’s historical identity as a destination for immigrants. Supporters of stricter immigration controls have long argued for enhanced vetting procedures and more rigorous screening of foreign nationals, citing terrorism prevention and public safety as paramount concerns. Critics, however, contend that such sweeping suspensions disrupt families, harm the United States’ global reputation, and undermine the country’s economic competitiveness by restricting access to skilled workers and entrepreneurs.
For affected countries, particularly those with large populations seeking opportunities in the United States, the suspension raises immediate practical and diplomatic concerns. In Nigeria alone, thousands of individuals are believed to be in various stages of the immigrant visa application process, including those awaiting family reunification, employment-based green cards, and diversity visa interviews. The indefinite nature of the pause creates uncertainty for applicants who have invested significant time and resources in pursuing legal pathways to American residency.
Historically, US immigration policy has undergone multiple shifts in response to changing political priorities, security assessments, and domestic political pressures. During Trump’s first term in office from 2017 to 2021, his administration implemented several controversial immigration measures, including travel bans targeting predominantly Muslim-majority countries, expanded deportation efforts, and restrictions on refugee admissions. Many of these policies were challenged in court and later reversed or modified by the Biden administration. The current suspension suggests a return to the restrictive immigration posture that characterised Trump’s earlier tenure.
The State Department has not announced specific criteria that countries must meet to be removed from the suspension list, nor has it outlined the metrics by which the vetting review will be conducted. This lack of clarity has fueled concerns among immigration advocates and legal experts about the transparency and fairness of the process.
