United States: State Department Suspending Immigrant Visa Processing for 75 Countries Due to Public Charge Reassessment.

Beginning January 21, the State Department will suspend immigrant visa issuance indefinitely for applicants from 75 countries while it reevaluates its screening process for determining whether a visa applicant is inadmissible on public charge grounds. This review involves assessing whether the applicant is likely to rely on U.S. government financial assistance at any point in the future. The agency initially announced the change on social media and subsequently published public guidance on the State Department’s website. The suspension applies to nationals of the following countries:

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*.

Currently included on the full travel ban list*Currently included on the partial travel ban list

Dual nationals seeking an immigrant visa using a passport from a country not listed above are exempt from this immigrant visa suspension.

Throughout the pause, affected immigrant visa applicants may continue submitting applications and attending interviews, and immigrant visa interviews will continue to be scheduled; however, immigrant visas may not be issued.

Note that many of the countries listed above are already subject to either a full or partial travel ban. Consequently, the practical effect of this processing suspension may be limited for those countries, because applicants from travel ban countries generally qualify for a U.S. immigrant visa only in the uncommon circumstance that they are granted a travel ban exception.