Overview
- The State Department confirmed it is halting processing of immigrant visas for nationals of 75 countries while it overhauls consular procedures.
- Officials describe the move as enforcing longstanding rules against admitting applicants deemed likely to become dependent on public assistance.
- The suspension applies only to immigrant visas for permanent residence and does not cover visitor or other nonimmigrant visas.
- Media reports, citing an internal memo, point to a January 21 start and name countries including Russia, Iran, Somalia and Afghanistan, though a full official list has not been published.
- The action extends a broader tightening of immigration rules that included roughly 100,000 visa revocations last year under stricter vetting.