U.S. freezes immigrant visa processing for 75 countries, including Uzbekistan

According to Reuters, in addition to Uzbekistan, the suspension applies to a wide range of countries across Latin America, South Asia, the Balkans, Africa, the Middle East and the Caribbean. The list includes Brazil, Colombia and Uruguay in Latin America; Bosnia and Albania in the Balkans; Pakistan and Bangladesh in South Asia; as well as numerous African and Middle Eastern states. The U.S. State Department said the move is part of an effort to strengthen vetting standards and prevent potential immigrants from becoming dependent on public assistance.

A State Department cable sent to U.S. diplomatic missions worldwide said the department is conducting a “full review” of existing immigration policies, regulations and guidance to ensure the “highest level of screening and vetting” for all immigrant visa applicants. The cable cited concerns that nationals from the affected countries have, in some cases, sought public benefits after arriving in the United States.

“Applicants from these countries are at a high risk for becoming a public charge and recourse to local, state and federal government resources in the United States,” the cable said. Consular officers were instructed to refuse visas that have been approved but not yet printed, as well as those that have been printed but remain within consular sections.

The suspension does not affect non-immigrant or visitor visas, an important distinction as the United States prepares to host major international events such as the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Summer Olympics.

The decision follows a directive issued in November instructing U.S. diplomats to ensure that visa applicants are financially self-sufficient and unlikely to rely on government subsidies during their stay. State Department officials said the administration is relying on long-standing legal authority to deny entry to prospective immigrants deemed likely to become a public charge.

“Immigrant visa processing from these 75 countries will be paused while the State Department reassesses immigration procedures to prevent the entry of foreign nationals who would take welfare and public benefits,” said Tommy Pigott, the State Department’s principal deputy spokesperson.

Since returning to office in January, Trump has pursued an aggressive immigration agenda that extends beyond efforts to curb illegal border crossings. His administration has expanded enforcement operations in major U.S. cities, tightened screening requirements, increased social media vetting and imposed higher fees on several legal immigration pathways, including H-1B visas for skilled workers.

The State Department said earlier this week that more than 100,000 visas have been revoked since Trump took office. The president has defended his approach as necessary after years of high levels of illegal immigration under his predecessor, former President Joe Biden. During the campaign, Trump also vowed to impose sweeping restrictions on migration from what he described as “Third World countries,” following a fatal shooting near the White House involving an Afghan national.