The United States has paused all visa processing for Nigeria and 74 other countries as part of a move to tighten immigration screening and prevent applicants considered likely to become a public charge from entering the country.
According to a U.S. State Department memo first obtained by Fox News Digital, consular officers have been directed to refuse visas under existing law while the department reviews and reassesses its screening and vetting procedures.
The affected countries include Somalia, Russia, Afghanistan, Brazil, Iran, Iraq, Egypt, Nigeria, Thailand, Yemen, and several others.
The pause, which takes effect from Jan. 21, will remain in place indefinitely until the reassessment of visa processing is completed.
Somalia has come under increased scrutiny following a major fraud scandal in Minnesota, where prosecutors uncovered large-scale abuse of taxpayer-funded benefit programmes. Federal officials noted that many of those implicated were Somali nationals or Somali-Americans.
In November 2025, a State Department cable sent to diplomatic posts worldwide instructed consular officers to apply expanded screening rules under the “public charge” provision of immigration law.
Under the guidance, officers are required to deny visas to applicants deemed likely to depend on public benefits, taking into account factors such as health status, age, English proficiency, financial situation, and possible need for long-term medical care.
The rules also allow for the denial of visas to older or overweight applicants, as well as individuals with any previous use of government cash assistance or a history of institutionalisation.
“The State Department will use its long-standing authority to deem ineligible potential immigrants who would become a public charge in the United States and exploit the generosity of the American people,” State Department spokesperson Tommy Piggott said in a statement.
“Immigration from these 75 countries will be paused while the State Department reassess immigration processing procedures to prevent the entry of foreign nationals who would take welfare and public benefits.”
Although the public charge provision has existed for decades, its enforcement has differed across administrations, with consular officers traditionally exercising wide discretion in its application.
The State Department said exemptions to the visa pause will be “very limited” and will only be granted after applicants have cleared public charge considerations.
(FOX News)
