Western Balkan states are among dozens of countries potentially affected by a new U.S. decision to suspend the processing of immigrant visas, as President Donald Trump’s administration tightens restrictions on immigration over concerns that some newcomers could rely on public assistance.
A U.S. official confirmed the full list of countries will include Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Bosnia, Brazil, Burma, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Colombia, Cote d’Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Republic of the Congo, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Uruguay, Uzbekistan and Yemen.
The U.S. State Department said on Wednesday it would pause immigrant visa processing for citizens of 75 countries, starting Jan. 21, under rules aimed at preventing the entry of applicants deemed likely to become a “public charge.” The suspension does not apply to non-immigrant visas, including tourist, student or short-term business visas.
The move follows a broader order issued in November that instructed consular officers to apply stricter standards when assessing whether prospective immigrants could depend on U.S. welfare programs. The department, led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, said the pause would remain in place while immigration screening procedures are reassessed.
“The Trump administration is bringing an end to the abuse of America’s immigration system by those who would extract wealth from the American people,” the State Department said in a statement, adding that immigrant visa processing from the affected countries would be halted during the review.
Washington has not published the full list of countries subject to the suspension. However, a U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said it includes Afghanistan, Brazil, Egypt, Somalia, Russia and Iran, among others. Previous visa restrictions under the Trump administration have disproportionately affected countries in Africa and parts of the Middle East.
The decision marks an escalation of the administration’s broader immigration crackdown, which has included stepped-up deportations and freezes on certain visa categories. State Department officials said the policy relies on long-standing U.S. authority to deny visas to applicants considered likely to rely on public benefits.
Most legal immigrants already face limits on access to U.S. welfare programs, including a five-year waiting period for benefits such as food stamps and non-emergency Medicaid.
The State Department said the suspension would stay in force until the United States can ensure that new immigrants “will not extract wealth from the American people.”