The Trump administration has announced a suspension of immigrant visa processing for applicants from 75 countries, including Pakistan, as part of a broader move to tighten US immigration policy. The decision, first reported by Fox News on Wednesday, was based on an internal State Department memo, though officials have not provided detailed justification or a timeline for the pause.
BIG BREAKING 🚨 US pauses visa processing for 75 countries, including Pakistan, Bangladesh.
The list of 75 countries also include Iran, Russia, Nepal, Thailand.
India not in the list.
“We will ensure that new immigrants don’t extract wealth from the American people” – TRUMP… pic.twitter.com/aiqfawDi5W
— News Algebra (@NewsAlgebraIND) January 14, 2026
According to the report, the suspension will take effect from January 21 and will apply only to immigrant visas, including those issued for employment and family reunification in the United States. Non-immigrant visas — such as student, tourist and short-term travel visas — will not be affected. This means travellers attending major events like this summer’s FIFA World Cup in the US will still be eligible to apply.
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The list of affected countries spans several regions, including South Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe and Latin America. In addition to Pakistan, countries named include Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Russia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Nigeria, Haiti, Colombia, Brazil and Morocco, among others.
In a post on X, the US Department of State said the pause would allow authorities to reassess immigration procedures to prevent the entry of migrants who “take welfare from the American people at unacceptable rates.” The department added that the freeze would remain in place until it could ensure new immigrants would not become a “public charge.”
State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said the US would rely on its “long-standing authority” to deem certain applicants ineligible if they were likely to rely on public benefits. The memo reportedly instructs US embassies to refuse visas under existing law while the review is underway.
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White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that countries such as Somalia, Russia and Iran were included in the suspension. The move aligns with President Donald Trump’s long-standing efforts to curb immigration, particularly from non-European countries.
Earlier this week, the State Department said it had revoked more than 100,000 visas since Trump’s return to office, while the Department of Homeland Security reported over 605,000 deportations in the past month alone.
