Fox News: U.S. State Department to Suspend Visa Processing for Citizens of 75 Countries

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Department of State building.

Fox News has reported that the U.S. State Department has decided to suspend all visa processing for citizens of 75 countries, including several Arab states, as part of a move to tighten vetting procedures for applicants deemed likely to become a burden on public aid programmes.

According to an internal State Department memo obtained by Fox News Digital, U.S. consulates have been instructed to reject visa applications under existing regulations until a comprehensive review of vetting and screening procedures is completed.

The countries affected by the decision reportedly include Somalia, Russia, Afghanistan, Brazil, Iran, Iraq, Egypt, Nigeria, Thailand and Yemen, among others. Fox News said the suspension is scheduled to begin on 21 January and will remain in place indefinitely, pending the outcome of the review.

The network noted that Somalia has come under heightened scrutiny by U.S. federal authorities following a large-scale fraud case uncovered in Minnesota, involving the misuse of taxpayer-funded aid programmes. Several individuals of Somali origin were implicated in the case, according to Fox News.

In November 2025, the State Department reportedly circulated a memo to U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide, instructing them to enforce stricter rules under the so-called “public burden” provision of U.S. immigration law.

Under the updated guidelines, visas may be denied to applicants assessed as likely to rely on government assistance. The assessment takes into account a range of factors, including an applicant’s health, age, English-language proficiency, financial resources and potential need for long-term medical care.

State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said in a statement that the department “will use its well-established legal authority to deem certain applicants ineligible for immigration if they are likely to become a burden on the United States or exploit the generosity of the American people”. He added that immigration from the 75 countries would be temporarily suspended while procedures are reviewed, with the stated aim of preventing reliance on U.S. public welfare and assistance programmes.


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