The Trump administration will suspend all visa processing for visitors from 75 countries beginning 21 January 2026, according to a State Department memo reported by media.
Some of the countries reportedly affected include Somalia, Russia, Iran, Afghanistan, Brazil, Nigeria and Thailand.
The memo directs U.S. embassies and consulates to refuse visas under existing law while the State Department reassesses visa procedures, though it provides no timeline for when normal processing might resume.
A spokesperson for the State Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the memo, first reported by FOX news, or the country list.
The suspension is part of a broad immigration crackdown pursued by U.S. President Donald Trump.
In November 2025, Trump vowed to “permanently pause” migration from what he called “Third World Countries” following a deadly shooting near the White House by an Afghan national.
The visa pause is expected to affect applications for tourist, business, student and other travel categories, potentially disrupting travel, education and family visits worldwide.
Immigration advocates have blasted the move as overly broad, saying it could unfairly penalise travellers with no ties to security threats.
The policy also coincides with an expanded visa bond requirement that, from 21 January 2026, will oblige certain visitor visa applicants from 38 countries to post refundable security bonds of up to $15,000 when applying for tourist and business visas, according to the State Department’s updated rules.
However, posting a bond does not guarantee a visa will be issued, and the exact amount will be determined by consular officers during visa interviews.
Critics argue that the combined measures risk isolating the United States and harming travel and educational exchanges, while the White House maintains they are necessary to protect national security and immigration system integrity.
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Here's your AnewZ Daily Brief for 11 November. Today, we cover Russia-Ukraine peace talks, political tensions in Washington, strikes in Spain, espionage allegations involving Nvidia's CEO, and climate negotiations at COP31 in Türkiye.
Four million workers across Spain joined a general strike on Wednesday over the country’s deepening housing crisis, unions said, bringing disruption to factories, ports, shops and public transport just weeks before a snap general election.
Iran has unveiled a new underground missile and drone base, warning that it will respond forcefully to any attack, as tensions persist with the U.S. and oil tankers continue to be struck by naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz.
European leaders gathered in Dublin on Thursday, 12 November, for the ninth European Political Community (EPC) summit, with security, defence and energy high on the agenda. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev held talks focused on peace, trade and regional cooperation.
Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang is stepping down amid reports linking him to a woman suspected by U.S. authorities of spying for China, throwing the future of the $4 trillion chipmaker into uncertainty.
Tajikistan is urging regional allies to step up support for its border with Afghanistan following a series of deadly armed incidents. Despite building more than 80 new border outposts, Dushanbe says it needs further assistance to secure its southern frontier.
Eight people have been killed and at least 17 injured after an apartment building collapsed into a neighbouring construction site in Brooklyn, New York, as rescuers continued searching the rubble for possible survivors.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has thanked U.S. President Donald Trump for facilitating talks between Russia and Ukraine, but warned that any foreign troops deployed in Ukraine would be considered legitimate targets by Moscow.
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