US shuts doors on 75 nations, Pakistan and Bangladesh among worst hit

The United States has imposed an unprecedented freeze on immigrant visa processing for citizens of 75 countries — including Pakistan and Bangladesh — in a sweeping move that dramatically tightens America’s immigration gates under President Donald Trump’s hardline policy.

The suspension, which came into force on January 21, was ordered through an internal State Department memo and will remain in effect indefinitely while US authorities reassess their screening and vetting procedures, a senior US official confirmed.

The freeze applies to a vast and diverse list of countries spanning Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Europe and South America. Among those affected are Somalia, Russia, Iran, Afghanistan, Brazil, Nigeria, Thailand, Iraq, Egypt and Yemen, effectively putting travel, education, business and family reunification plans for thousands of people in limbo.

For Pakistan, the timing of the decision has been especially jarring. The visa halt was imposed on the same day the country’s top leadership gathered for what was billed as a Memorandum of Understanding on cryptocurrency, presided over by Steve Witkoff’s son, drawing sharp criticism back home and comparisons to a diplomatic humiliation.

At the heart of the move lies the Trump administration’s renewed push to block immigrants it believes could become a burden on US public resources. The memo directs American embassies and consulates worldwide to pause all visa issuance for the affected countries and to deny applications under existing law during the review period, without offering any timeline for when processing might resume.

“The State Department will use its long-standing authority to deem ineligible potential immigrants who would become a public charge on the United States and exploit the generosity of the American people,” State Department spokesperson Tommy Piggott said.

Consular officers have been instructed to scrutinise a wide range of factors when assessing applicants, including health conditions, age, English-language proficiency, financial resources and the likelihood of requiring long-term medical care. Those found likely to depend on public benefits are to be refused visas outright during the suspension.

The decision fits squarely into Trump’s broader immigration crackdown, which has steadily tightened entry rules since he returned to office last January. National security concerns and the prevention of alleged misuse of public resources have repeatedly been cited as justification.

The latest move follows Trump’s controversial remarks in November, when he vowed to “permanently pause” migration from what he called “Third World countries” after a shooting near the White House by an Afghan national killed a member of the National Guard.

While the current freeze stops short of a formal permanent ban, it represents one of the most expansive visa suspensions of Trump’s presidency. With no end date announced, it has injected deep uncertainty into the lives of thousands of prospective immigrants, students, tourists and families waiting to reunite.

Until the State Department completes its reassessment, US embassies around the world have been ordered to apply public-charge rules strictly and reject applications that fall foul of them — reinforcing Washington’s sharply narrowed path to America.