Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 02:56am on 15 Jan 2026,Thursday International
The U.S. State Department has announced it will pause immigrant visa processing for citizens of 75 countries, including Pakistan, Bangladesh, Iran, and Russia, starting January 21, 2026, as part of a broader immigration crackdown. The decision targets nations whose migrants are deemed more likely to rely on public assistance, with visas halted until new screening procedures are reviewed to prevent perceived welfare dependency by new immigrants. The freeze affects family, employment, and diversity visas but non-immigrant visas like tourist and student visas remain largely unaffected. The suspension could delay plans for thousands of prospective immigrants.
