The U.S. Department of State is suspending all visa processing procedures for citizens of 75 countries as part of tighter screening of applicants.
The document contains an order instructing consular staff to refuse visa issuance while the department reviews vetting procedures.
Fox News broadcaster, which reviewed an internal State Department document, gave the list of countries affected to include Nigeria, Russia, Somalia, Afghanistan, Brazil, Iran, Iraq, Egypt, Thailand, Yemen, and others.
Representatives for the State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the reported memo, which directs U.S. embassies to refuse visas under existing law while the department reassesses its procedures. No time frame was provided.
The order will take effect on 21 January.
In November 2025, the US Department of State circulated guidance to consular officers to introduce new, wide-ranging screening rules in line with tightened immigration controls. The instructions order consular staff to refuse visas to applicants who are believed to rely on public benefits from the US government.
The US authorities are currently tightening entry and immigration controls. According to reports, among other measures under consideration is a proposal to require tourists to grant border officials access to their social media posts from the past five years.
In November, Trump had vowed to “permanently pause” migration from all “Third World Countries” following a shooting near the White House by an Afghan national that killed a National Guard member.
In May, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that the Trump administration plans to revoke visas of Chinese students, in particular those with ties to the Chinese Communist Party or those studying in strategically important fields.
Written with reports from Fox News, Reuters
