The United States State Department has announced a pause on all visa processing for 75 countries as part of efforts to tighten scrutiny on applicants considered likely to become a public charge.
A State Department memo, first reported by Fox News Digital, instructs consular officers to refuse visas under existing law while the department reassesses its screening and vetting procedures.
The list of affected countries includes Somalia, Russia, Afghanistan, Brazil, Iran, Iraq, Egypt, Nigeria, Thailand, Yemen, and others.
The pause is set to begin on January 21 and will remain in effect indefinitely until the department completes its reassessment of visa processing.
