The United States has suspended immigrant visa applications from 75 countries "whose migrants take welfare from the American people at unacceptable rates," the US Department of State said on Wednesday.
- •The list includes all of Kenya's neighbours: Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Somalia, and South Sudan.
- •In East and Central Africa it also includes the Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Rwanda, the Republic of Congo and Sudan.
- •The visa pause, which will take effect from January 21, 2026, is part of broader immigration reforms under President Donald Trump's second term, which have included arrests, deportations, and costly visa bonds.
"The pause impacts dozens of countries – including Somalia, Haiti, Iran, and Eritrea – whose immigrants often become public charges on the United States upon arrival," the US Department of State said in a post on X.
According to a statement on its website, the USDS said that citizens of the affected countries can still submit visa applications and the department will schedule applicants for appoints, but will not be issuing any immigrant visas during the pause.
The pause does not affect dual nations applying with a valid passport of a country that's not on the list, nor does it affect visas already issued or any other forms of visas such as tourist visas.
Northern African countries on the list include Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco, Libya while West African countries include Nigeria, Cameroon, Liberia, and Ghana. The full list includes Afghanistan, Bahama, Cuba, Lebanon, Jordan, Sierra Leone, Uzbekistan, and Yemen.
