Visa applicants from Nigeria, Somalia, Russia and dozens of other countries are facing fresh uncertainty after the United States suspended visa processing for 75 nations, pending a comprehensive review of its immigration screening procedures.
The development, announced by the US State Department, has sparked concern among prospective travellers, as the suspension affects the processing of multiple visa categories, including tourist, student and work visas.
According to an internal memo first reported by Fox News, the suspension is linked to the enforcement of stricter provisions under US immigration law, particularly the “public charge” rule.
Under the rule, consular officers are empowered to deny visa applications if they believe an applicant is likely to become dependent on public welfare programmes in the United States.
The directive instructs visa officers to refuse applications using existing provisions of US immigration law while the review is ongoing.
Full List of Countries Affected
Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Bosnia, Brazil, Burma, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Colombia, Cote d’Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Republic of the Congo, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Uruguay, Uzbekistan and Yemen