Kathmandu —
The United States Department of State announced on Wednesday that the Trump administration has suspended immigrant visa processing for 75 countries, including Nepal.
According to the State Department, the decision was taken after determining that immigrants from the listed countries access public welfare benefits at rates deemed unacceptable by the U.S. government.
The move marks another phase of the Trump administration’s broader immigration crackdown, which has included stepped-up deportations and restrictions on visa applications.
State Department Principal Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott said in a statement that immigrant visa processing for these countries will remain halted until the department completes a review of immigration procedures and ensures that foreign nationals who may rely on public benefits are prevented from entering the United States.
“The Trump administration is ending the abuse of the immigration system by individuals who extract resources from the American people,” Pigott said. He added that the State Department will exercise its long-standing authority to deem inadmissible those immigrants who are likely to become a public burden.
The State Department noted that most visa holders already have limited access to public benefits. For example, most green card holders must wait five years before becoming eligible for food stamps, non-emergency medical care, and the Children’s Health Insurance Program.
The suspension applies specifically to immigrant visas for those seeking permanent residence in the United States. It does not affect short-term visas issued for temporary workers, students, or tourists. Visas related to the FIFA World Cup will also remain unaffected.
According to a statement posted by the State Department on social media platform X, the suspension will take effect on January 21 and will remain in force “until it is ensured that new immigrants will not draw on resources from the American public.”
The plan was first reported by Fox News, citing an internal State Department memo. A U.S. official confirmed that the list includes Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brazil, Myanmar, Cambodia, Cameroon, Colombia, Cuba, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Libya, Mongolia, Morocco, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Russia, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Thailand, Tunisia, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Yemen, among others.
The Trump administration has previously imposed immigration restrictions on many of these countries. In December, it announced a halt to immigration applications from citizens of 19 countries. On Tuesday, the administration also declared the termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Somali nationals currently residing in the United States.
