As part of the Trump administration’s ongoing immigration crackdown, the United States is stopping the processing of visas for immigrants from 75 countries indefinitely.
Brazil, Colombia, Egypt, Haiti, Somalia, and Russia will all be affected by the processing halt. Immigrant visas, including those for work in the United States, are subject to suspension.
The delay does not apply to non-immigrant visas, such as tourist and student visas, so anyone who want to visit the US for this summer’s World Cup would not be affected.
According to a US source, the halt will start on January 21.
The suspension follows the State Department’s directive last year to tighten inspection under the immigration law’s “public charge” clause, which is intended to target individuals who the Trump administration feels would put a burden on public resources.
According to a statement released on Wednesday by State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott, “the State Department will use its long-standing authority to deem ineligible potential immigrants who would become a public charge on the United States and exploit the generosity of the American people.”
“While the State Department reevaluates immigration processing procedures to prevent the entry of foreign nationals who would take welfare and public benefits, immigrant visa processing from these 75 countries will be paused,” he stated.
The administration’s new travel restriction list already includes some of the nations affected by the suspension of visa processing.
Source: CNN
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