US State Department halts visa processing for 75 countries

Investing.com -- The US State Department is implementing a pause on all visa processing for 75 countries starting January 21, 2026, as part of efforts to prevent applicants likely to become public charges from entering the United States.

According to Fox News, the pause, detailed in a State Department memo, directs consular officers to refuse visas under existing law while the department reassesses its screening and vetting procedures. The suspension will continue indefinitely until this reassessment is completed.

Among the affected countries are Somalia, Russia, Afghanistan, Brazil, Iran, Iraq, Egypt, Nigeria, Thailand, and Yemen, along with 65 other nations.

Somalia has received particular attention from federal officials following a fraud scandal in Minnesota, where prosecutors discovered widespread abuse of taxpayer-funded benefit programs, primarily involving Somali nationals and Somali-Americans.

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