The United States has suspended visa processing for citizens of Nigeria and 74 other countries as part of a renewed effort to strictly enforce public charge regulations aimed at limiting the entry of migrants likely to rely on government welfare.
A State Department memo obtained by Fox News indicates that the suspension will begin on January 21 and will remain in effect indefinitely while the government reviews screening and vetting procedures for visa applicants.
Under the directive, U.S. consular officers have been instructed to deny visas under existing immigration laws during the review period. The suspension applies to nationals of 75 countries, including Nigeria, Somalia, Russia, Afghanistan, Brazil, Iran, Iraq, Egypt, Thailand and Yemen. However, the State Department has not officially released the complete list of affected countries.
The guidance requires consular officers to assess applicants based on the likelihood of becoming a public charge, considering factors such as age, health, English proficiency, financial stability and potential long-term medical needs.
A State Department spokesperson said the pause is intended to prevent the admission of individuals who may depend heavily on public benefits in the United States.
The public charge rule, a long-standing component of U.S. immigration law, allows officials to deny visas or entry to applicants deemed likely to rely primarily on government assistance. Its enforcement has varied across different administrations, with broad discretion granted to consular officers.
Officials noted that exemptions would be extremely limited and granted only to applicants who clearly meet public charge requirements following additional review.
The move follows a presidential proclamation that took effect on January 1, which suspended visa issuance for nationals of 39 countries due to national security and vetting concerns. Unlike that action, the current suspension focuses specifically on public charge risks.
As of Wednesday afternoon, the State Department had not issued an official statement confirming the January 21 start date or the full list of affected countries. Applicants have been advised to monitor travel.state.gov for updates on visa services.
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