TL;DR
The US State Department will halt visa processing for applicants from 75 countries starting Jan. 21 as it reassesses screening to block those judged likely to become a 'public charge.' Consular officers are being given expanded discretion to deny visas based on factors such as health, age, English ability, education, financial resources and prior benefit use.
What happened
An internal State Department memo instructs diplomatic posts to suspend visa processing for nationals of 75 jurisdictions while the agency conducts a comprehensive review of its screening and vetting rules. The pause, first reported by Fox News, is set to begin on Jan. 21 and targets applicants the department deems at risk of becoming a 'public charge' — that is, likely to rely primarily on government assistance. The directive builds on a November 2025 cable from Secretary of State Marco Rubio that ordered tougher screening worldwide. Under the new guidance consular officers are authorized to refuse visas using a ‘totality of circumstances’ approach, factoring in applicants' age and chronic health conditions, obesity if projected to cause high medical costs, English proficiency, education, immediate financial resources and any past receipt of cash assistance or institutional care. The State Department says exceptions will be very limited and granted only to those who can demonstrably clear the public charge threshold.
Why it matters
- It narrows who may obtain US visas by expanding the range of criteria used to judge future public dependency.
- Millions of prospective migrants from the listed countries could face long or indefinite delays while consular posts reassess cases.
- The change reverses a narrower 2022 approach that limited the public charge test mostly to cash assistance and long-term care.
- Broader discretion for consular officers increases variability in visa outcomes across posts and applicants.
Key facts
- Effective date of the suspension: Jan. 21 (first reported by Fox News).
- Number of jurisdictions affected: 75 countries listed in the internal memo.
- Sample countries included: Somalia, Russia, Iran, Afghanistan, Brazil, Iraq, Egypt, Nigeria, Thailand and Yemen.
- Consular officers directed to use existing legal authorities to refuse visas while screening protocols are reassessed.
- Expanded refusal criteria include health, age, physical condition (including obesity), English proficiency, education, immediate financial resources and prior receipt of government cash assistance or institutionalisation.
- Directive follows a November 2025 cable from Secretary of State Marco Rubio calling for tougher screening.
- State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said the agency will deem ineligible immigrants likely to become a public charge.
- The 2022 Biden-era rules had limited the public charge test mainly to cash assistance and long-term care; the new guidance seeks a broader application.
- Exceptions to the pause are described as 'very limited' and require demonstrable clearance of the public charge threshold.
- The department's focus on Somalia is noted in the memo, linked in the source to a separate taxpayer-funded benefit fraud scandal in Minnesota.
What to watch next
- How consular posts implement the new 'totality of circumstances' standard beginning Jan. 21, and whether processing timelines extend indefinitely.
- Which specific cases receive the described "very limited" exceptions and how those exceptions are documented.
- Potential legal challenges or diplomatic responses: not confirmed in the source.
Quick glossary
- Public charge: A legal standard used to assess whether a non-citizen is likely to primarily depend on government assistance for subsistence.
- Consular officer: A diplomat at an overseas US post who evaluates visa applications and determines eligibility under US immigration law.
- Totality of circumstances: An evaluative approach that considers multiple factors together rather than a single determinant when making a decision.
- SNAP: The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, a US federal food aid program; its inclusion in public charge considerations varied under prior rules.
Reader FAQ
Does the pause affect India?
India is not listed among the 75 countries named in the source.
When does the suspension take effect?
The pause is scheduled to begin on Jan. 21, according to the memo reported in the source.
What criteria will officers use to deny visas?
Officers may consider health, age, physical condition (including obesity), English proficiency, education, immediate financial resources and past receipt of government cash assistance or institutionalisation.
Will exceptions be available?
The State Department says exceptions will be very limited and require demonstrable evidence that an applicant does not meet the public charge threshold.
Will there be court challenges to this policy?
Not confirmed in the source.
US freezes visas for 75 nations; check whether India is affected News Desk Last Updated: 14 January 2026, 10:10 PM IST 3 min Share Consular officers will now have broader…
Sources
- US freezes visas for 75 nations
- State Department pauses visas for 75 countries over public …
- US pauses immigrant visas from 75 countries
- US Pauses Visa Processing for 75 Countries Starting …
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