The Trump administration has decided to suspend processing immigrant visas for nationals of 75 countries deemed likely to require welfare and public benefits while living in the United States.
The State Department announced on the 14th that, at the direction of Secretary Marco Rubio, it has instructed consular staff in those countries to suspend issuing immigrant visas starting on the 21st. However, this measure does not apply to non-immigrant visas for short-term stays such as tourism and business trips.
In a statement, the State Department explained, “This visa suspension affects 75 countries whose immigrants receive unacceptable levels of welfare benefits from American citizens,” and “Immigrants from these countries often become public charges upon entry to the United States.”
Public charges refer to people who rely on government assistance for basic living and welfare services. This measure will remain indefinite until the State Department completes its assessment of the countries’ visa vetting practices. The State Department has not yet released the full list of affected countries, but according to the Washington Post, Russia, Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, Afghanistan, Somalia, Nigeria, Iraq, Thailand, and Mongolia are included. South Korea is not included.
President Trump signed an executive order shortly after taking office last year directing increased vetting of foreign nationals seeking to enter the United States, and the Trump administration has since implemented stricter visa vetting standards. In November of last year, he sent a letter to embassies around the world instructing them to deny visas to applicants who are likely to rely on “public benefits” from the United States.