The suspension will take effect on January 21 but does not apply to visitors or short-term visa holders.
United States authorities have said they will suspend the processing of immigrant visas for applicants from 75 countries.
The suspension will take effect on January 21 and will affect applicants from Latin America and the Caribbean, the Balkans, and several countries in South Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.The change only affects people who want to move to the US permanently. It does not apply to visitors or short-term visa holders. But the latest move comes five months before the US hosts the FIFA World Cup along with Canada and Mexico, at a time when a series of crackdowns on immigrants, refugees, foreign students and visa applicants have raised questions about its attitude towards visitors.
Here is what we know about the latest crackdown:What has the US administration announced?
The State Department said it had told US consulates to stop processing immigrant visa applications from the affected countries. The move follows a broader order issued in November that tightened checks on potential immigrants who could become a financial burden on the US.“The Trump administration is bringing an end to the abuse of America’s immigration system by those who would extract wealth from the American people,” the department said in a statement.
“Immigrant visa processing from these 75 countries will be paused while the State Department reassess immigration processing procedures to prevent the entry of foreign nationals who would take welfare and public benefits.”The State Department will pause immigrant visa processing from 75 countries whose migrants take welfare from the American people at unacceptable rates. The freeze will remain active until the U.S. can ensure that new immigrants will not extract wealth from the American people.
How does it work?
According to the State Department, nationals of the affected countries may still submit immigrant visa applications, but no immigrant visas will be approved or issued while the pause is in place. The US government has not indicated any deadline for when the suspension might be lifted.
An exception applies to dual nationals who apply using a valid passport from a country not included in the suspension.
Which countries are affected?
The list of 75 countries includes:
