US halts visas for 75 countries indefinitely; China not on the list
Trump administration pauses immigrant visa processing from January 21, affecting applicants worldwide while exempting key visa categories
The administration of US President Donald Trump is suspending the processing of immigrant visas, including family-based green cards, for applicants from dozens of countries, the US State Department has confirmed to the Post.
“The State Department is pausing immigrant visa processing for 75 countries,” an official from the agency said on Wednesday.
China is not included in the list, which has countries like Thailand, a US ally, and Brazil, a close neighbour in the western hemisphere, along with Russia, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, Bhutan, Egypt, Jordan and Kuwait.
The review is unlikely to cover all visa categories, including F-1 student visas and L and H-1B visas for skilled workers.
The pause will begin next week, on January 21, and will continue indefinitely. The department would reassess the process to check “abuse” of taxpayer-funded benefit programmes.
“The freeze will remain active until the US can ensure that new immigrants will not extract wealth from the American people,” the State Department said in a social media post.