From the Caribbean to the Caucasus, 75 nations are being hit by a US visa halt. The Trump administration has ordered an indefinite suspension of immigrant visa processing for these countries, effective January 21. The policy, based on the “public charge” rule, targets applicants deemed likely to rely on government aid.
The halt is enforced by stopping the printing of visas. Consular officers must refuse any case that has not resulted in a printed visa by the deadline. This broad geographic sweep affects diverse cultures and economies.
The list includes Caribbean nations like Jamaica and Haiti, as well as Caucasian nations like Armenia and Azerbaijan. It also covers large parts of Africa and Asia. The policy demonstrates a global approach to restricting immigration.
Exceptions are limited to dual nationals of unaffected countries and national interest cases. For most applicants in these regions, the visa halt is a major disruption.
The countries affected include: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Myanmar, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Colombia, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, The Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, North Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Republic of the Congo, Russia, Rwanda, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, and Yemen.
