The United States has announced an indefinite suspension of immigrant visa processing for citizens of 75 countries, marking one of the most far-reaching immigration actions in recent years. The decision, confirmed in an internal State Department memo obtained by U.S. media, will take effect January 21, 2026, and applies to applicants from countries including Somalia, Russia, Iran, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Afghanistan, Brazil, Nigeria, Thailand, Egypt, Iraq, and Yemen.

According to the memo, U.S. consular officers worldwide have been instructed to pause visa issuance and refuse applications under existing law while the government conducts a comprehensive reassessment of screening and vetting procedures.

The move is part of a broader immigration enforcement push by the U.S. Department of State, aligned with the Trump administration’s renewed emphasis on the “public charge” provision of U.S. immigration law.

Public Charge at the Center of the Freeze

U.S. officials say the pause is intended to prevent the admission of immigrants deemed likely to rely on public assistance programs after entering the country.

In a statement, State Department spokesperson Tommy Piggott said the department would use its “long-standing authority” to deny visas to applicants who could become a financial burden on American taxpayers.

Under updated guidance first circulated to U.S. embassies in November 2025, consular officers are now required to apply much stricter screening criteria, evaluating factors such as:

• Health conditions and potential long-term medical costs
• Age and employment prospects
• English language proficiency
• Financial resources and income stability
• Past or potential use of government benefits

Applicants who are elderly, chronically ill, or previously received cash assistance or institutional care may face a significantly higher risk of denial. Officials also indicated that exceptions to the pause will be extremely limited and granted only after an applicant clears public-charge concerns.

Fraud Concerns and Heightened Scrutiny

Somalia, one of the most affected countries, has come under intense scrutiny following a major Minnesota-based welfare fraud investigation involving taxpayer-funded benefit programs. Federal prosecutors allege large-scale abuse tied to childcare and nutrition assistance schemes, some involving Somali nationals or Somali-Americans.

U.S. officials say cases like this have accelerated the decision to halt visa processing while enforcement standards are reassessed globally.

Trump Administration Escalates Immigration Enforcement

The freeze comes amid a broader immigration crackdown by President Donald Trump, whose administration has already revoked more than 100,000 visas during its first year back in office, according to U.S. officials.

While the public charge rule has existed for decades under the Immigration and Nationality Act, its enforcement has varied by administration. President Trump previously expanded the rule in 2019 to include a wider range of public benefits. That expansion was later rolled back under the Biden administration in 2022, which narrowed the definition and excluded programs such as SNAP, WIC, Medicaid, and housing vouchers.

The current action signals a return to a far stricter interpretation, restoring broad discretion to consular officers overseas.

Full List Includes Azerbaijan and Armenia

Notably, the freeze applies to both Azerbaijan and Armenia, along with dozens of countries across Africa, the Middle East, Eastern Europe, Central Asia, the Caribbean, and Latin America. Several Caribbean nations — including Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica — were also cited separately over concerns tied to “golden visa” and citizenship-by-investment programs.

The State Department emphasized that the suspension is indefinite, with no timeline provided for when visa processing might resume.

What Happens Next

For thousands of families, students, workers, and investors worldwide, the announcement brings sudden uncertainty. Immigration attorneys warn that pending cases may remain frozen for months, while new applications from affected countries are unlikely to be accepted until further notice.

U.S. officials say the reassessment is ongoing and necessary to “protect the integrity of the immigration system,” but critics argue the move could strain diplomatic relations and disrupt legitimate travel and family reunification.

For now, immigration from 75 countries to the United States has effectively been put on hold — a decision that could reshape global mobility well into 2026.

🌍 Countries Affected by the U.S. Visa Processing Freeze (75 Countries)

🇾🇪 Yemen

🇦🇫 Afghanistan

🇦🇱 Albania

🇩🇿 Algeria

🇦🇬 Antigua and Barbuda

🇦🇲 Armenia

🇦🇿 Azerbaijan

🇧🇸 Bahamas

🇧🇩 Bangladesh

🇧🇧 Barbados

🇧🇾 Belarus

🇧🇿 Belize

🇧🇹 Bhutan

🇧🇦 Bosnia and Herzegovina

🇧🇷 Brazil

🇲🇲 Burma (Myanmar)

🇰🇭 Cambodia

🇨🇲 Cameroon

🇨🇻 Cape Verde

🇨🇴 Colombia

🇨🇮 Côte 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

🇲🇰 North 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

Washington, D.C. — January 14, 2026 | AzeriTimes

In a dramatic and contentious meeting at the White House on February 28, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy engaged in a heated exchange that has sparked international backlash and raised serious concerns about America’s commitment to supporting democratically elected allies. The confrontation, widely criticized as an embarrassing diplomatic failure, threatens to undermine U.S. credibility on the global stage and diminish its reputation as a defender of democracy.

The meeting, initially intended to finalize a mineral resources agreement and discuss pathways to ceasefire in the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian conflict, quickly devolved into hostility. President Trump accused Zelenskyy of “gambling with World War Three” and suggested that U.S. military aid could be withdrawn if Ukraine did not pursue negotiations with Russia on his terms. The remarks were seen as a stark departure from the long-standing U.S. policy of unwavering support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Tensions escalated further when President Zelenskyy proposed that Vice President JD Vance visit Ukraine to witness firsthand the devastation caused by the Russian invasion. The suggestion was met with resistance from the U.S. delegation, leading to a heated argument. Trump went on to criticize Zelenskyy for not being “ready for peace” and hinted that the U.S. might reconsider its commitments to Kyiv if the Ukrainian government did not align with his administration’s views.

The abrupt and hostile nature of the exchange resulted in the cancellation of a planned joint press conference and the signing ceremony for the mineral agreement, fueling further speculation about the state of U.S.-Ukraine relations. Global leaders, including European Union officials and NATO allies, have expressed concerns over Trump’s stance, warning that such rhetoric weakens international unity against Russian aggression and emboldens authoritarian regimes.

This incident carries severe implications for the United States’ global standing. By publicly chastising a democratically elected leader who is actively defending his nation against foreign aggression, the U.S. sends a troubling message of inconsistency and retreat from its historical role as a beacon of democracy. The move not only damages relations with Ukraine but also risks alienating allies who have long relied on American leadership to uphold democratic values and deter authoritarian threats.

The perception of the U.S. stepping back from its support for Ukraine may have ripple effects beyond Eastern Europe. Pro-democracy movements worldwide could feel discouraged, while authoritarian leaders, including Russia’s Vladimir Putin and China’s Xi Jinping, might see this as an opportunity to expand their influence unchecked.

Domestically, the backlash has been swift. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer condemned Trump’s approach, stating that it “undermines the United States’ credibility and sends a dangerous signal to dictators around the world.” Even some Republican lawmakers have privately expressed concern that the administration’s handling of Ukraine could erode bipartisan support for maintaining a strong U.S. presence in global democracy initiatives.

The fallout from this confrontation is expected to shape U.S. foreign policy moving forward. If allies perceive the United States as unreliable or willing to sacrifice democratic principles for political expediency, its global influence could rapidly decline. With China and Russia eager to fill the vacuum left by wavering U.S. commitments, this latest diplomatic misstep may mark a significant shift in international power dynamics—one that the United States may struggle to recover from in the years ahead.

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