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 28 September 2026. These are the top stories making headlines in technology.
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan has arrived in Washington for talks with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on bilateral ties and key regional and international developments, Saudi state news agency SPA reported.
U.S. President Donald Trump has denied reports that he offered Iran sanctions relief and access to frozen funds in exchange for nuclear concessions.
The European Union's decision to simultaneously advance accession talks with Ukraine, Moldova, Montenegro and Albania marks its most ambitious enlargement effort in more than two decades.
A child was killed and five other people injured in Russian air strikes on Kyiv and the surrounding region early on Wednesday, Ukrainian officials have said.
China has announced plans to complete the world's first AI-driven geological map of Mars by the end of 2028, a project that aims to reconstruct the red planet's ancient water history and introduce a Chinese framework for Martian geological time that Beijing hopes will become a new global standard.
Norway’s parliament on Wednesday began public hearings into ties between late U.S. sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and Norwegian diplomats and politicians, as authorities face questions over the impact of those relationships on the country’s foreign service.
New York prosecutors have reopened a criminal investigation into allegations that seven Cornell University fraternity members sexually assaulted a student in 2024. The case is set to be presented to a grand jury following renewed scrutiny.
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has declared that Brexit has done more harm than good, while reaffirming support for Ukraine and NATO as he used his first Labour conference speech as leader to set out a new direction for Britain.
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