Pakistan & Bangladesh among 75 countries hit by US immigrant visa pause. Check full list

The United States on Wednesday officially announced a pause in the issuance of immigrant visas to nationals of 75 countries, including Pakistan and Bangladesh, citing concerns about the potential misuse of public welfare benefits.

According to a statement issued by the US Department of State, the decision is part of a broader policy review ordered by President Donald Trump, who has reiterated that immigrants to the United States must be financially self-sufficient and should not become a burden on American taxpayers.

The policy update, titled "Immigrant Visa Processing Updates for Nationalities at High Risk of Public Benefits Usage", was last updated on January 14 and will take effect from January 21, 2026.


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"President Trump has made clear that immigrants must be financially self-sufficient and not be a financial burden to Americans," the State Department said, adding that a full review of existing policies, regulations, and guidance is underway.

"The Department of State is undergoing a full review of all policies, regulations, and guidance to ensure that immigrants from these high-risk countries do not utilize welfare in the United States or become a public charge," the statement added.

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Under the new directive, immigrant visa applicants from the listed countries--including Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, Russia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen, among others--may continue to submit applications and attend scheduled visa interviews.

However, no immigrant visas will be issued to nationals of these countries during the pause.

The State Department clarified that the move does not revoke any previously issued immigrant visas.

Notably, the restriction applies only to immigrant visas and does not affect nonimmigrant visas, including tourist and business visas. The move by Washington was first reported by Fox News, which stated that this comes as part of a crackdown on those immigrants deemed likely to become a "public charge".

Public charge is a US immigration standard used to assess whether a noncitizen is likely to become primarily dependent on government benefits, which can affect entry or green card eligibility.

Fox News reported that in November 2025, a State Department cable sent to posts worldwide instructed consular officers to implement expanded screening rules under the "public charge" provision of immigration law.

The guidance instructs officers to deny visas to applicants deemed likely to rely on public benefits, considering factors such as health, age, English proficiency, finances, and potential need for long-term medical care.

Full list of countries affected by the suspension are:

1. Afghanistan
2. Albania
3. Algeria
4. Antigua and Barbuda
5. Armenia
6. Azerbaijan
7. Bahamas
8. Bangladesh
9. Barbados
10. Belarus
11. Belize
12. Bhutan
13. Bosnia and Herzegovina
14. Brazil
15. Cambodia
16. Cameroon
17. Cape Verde
18. Colombia
19. Congo
20. Cuba
21. Dominica
22. Egypt
23. Eritrea
24. Ethiopia
25. Fiji
26. Gambia
27. Georgia
28. Ghana
29. Grenada
30. Guatemala
31. Guinea
32. Haiti
33. Iran
34. Iraq
35. Ivory Coast
36. Jamaica
37. Jordan
38. Kazakhstan
39. Kosovo
40. Kuwait
41. Kyrgyzstan
42. Laos
43. Lebanon
44. Liberia
45. Libya
46. Moldova
47. Mongolia
48. Montenegro
49. Morocco
50. Myanmar
51. Nepal
52. Nicaragua
53. Nigeria
54. North Macedonia
55. Pakistan
56. Republic of the Congo
57. Russia
58. Rwanda
59. Saint Kitts and Nevis
60. Saint Lucia
61. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
62. Senegal
63. Sierra Leone
64. Somalia
65. South Sudan
66. Sudan
67. Syria
68. Tanzania
69. Thailand
70. Togo
71. Tunisia
72. Uganda
73. Uruguay
74. Uzbekistan
75. Yemen