US to Pause Immigrant Visas for 75 Countries Including Bangladesh

The US State Department on Wednesday announced it will suspend immigrant visa processing for citizens of 75 countries, including Bangladesh, citing concerns that some nationals may rely on public assistance while living in the United States.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said consular officers have been instructed to halt immigrant visa applications from the affected countries under a broader order issued in November. The order tightened rules for prospective immigrants who may be considered “public charges” in the US.

The suspension, set to take effect from January 21, will not apply to non-immigrant visas, such as temporary tourist or business visas.

“The administration is ending the misuse of America’s immigration system by those seeking to extract wealth from the American people,” the State Department said in a statement. “Immigrant visa processing from these 75 countries will be paused while procedures are reassessed to prevent entry of foreign nationals likely to depend on welfare and public benefits.”

The list of affected countries includes Russia, Iran, Afghanistan, and several nations across Africa.

The US has previously imposed strict restrictions on both immigrant and non-immigrant visa processing for citizens of dozens of countries, particularly in Africa.