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U.S. State Department suspends immigrant visa issuance for citizens of 75 countries

14 January 2026 18:46 (UTC +04:00)

The U.S. State Department is suspending the issuance of immigrant visas for citizens of 75 countries, APA reports, citing Fox News.

The list of affected countries includes Somalia, Iran, Afghanistan, Brazil, Nigeria, Thailand, as well as Russia.

According to Fox News, the decision was made as part of “stricter vetting of applicants” and will take effect on January 21.

Based on a memorandum from the State Department, consular officers must deny visas in accordance with existing legislation and also review and reassess procedures for screening and evaluating applicants.

The decision will remain in effect after the specified date, and visa processing will be suspended until it is re-evaluated by the Department.

Ilgar Khudiyev

United States U.S. State Department immigrant visa immigration policy Fox News Somalia Iran Afghanistan Brazil Nigeria Thailand Russia border security