U.S. State Department Pauses Visa Processing for 75 Countries Over Public Charge Concerns

WASHINGTON — The U.S. State Department is pausing all visa processing for nationals of 75 countries as part of an effort to strengthen enforcement of public charge rules and prevent the entry of individuals likely to rely on public benefits, according to a department memo obtained by Fox News.

The pause, set to begin Jan. 21, will remain in effect indefinitely while the department reassesses screening and vetting procedures for visa applicants. Consular officers have been directed to refuse visas under existing law during this review period.

The affected countries include Somalia, Russia, Afghanistan, Brazil, Iran, Iraq, Egypt, Nigeria, Thailand, Yemen and dozens of others. The full list of 75 nations was not immediately released by the State Department.

The guidance instructs officers to deny visas to applicants deemed likely to become a public charge, considering factors such as health, age, English proficiency, financial resources and potential need for long-term medical care.

“Immigration from these 75 countries will be paused while the State Department reassesses immigration processing procedures to prevent the entry of foreign nationals who would take welfare and public benefits,” a State Department spokesperson told Fox News.

The public charge provision, which has existed in U.S. immigration law for decades, allows officials to deny visas or admission to those likely to become primarily dependent on government assistance. Enforcement has varied across administrations, with consular officers holding broad discretion.

Exceptions to the pause will be “very limited” and granted only after an applicant successfully clears public charge considerations.

The move comes amid broader immigration restrictions implemented earlier this month under a presidential proclamation effective Jan. 1, which fully or partially suspended visa issuance for nationals of 39 countries — primarily over national security and vetting concerns — but the new 75-country pause focuses specifically on public charge risks.

State Department officials emphasized that the action aims to protect American resources while ensuring rigorous review of visa applications.

No immediate official statement from the State Department confirming the 75-country scope or Jan. 21 start date was available on its website as of Wednesday afternoon. Applicants from affected countries should monitor travel.state.gov for updates on visa services.

This is a breaking story and will be updated as more information becomes available.