By Trendsetter Tribune 
The U.S. government is suspending all visa processing for visitors from 75 countries beginning January 21, 2026, as part of a broader immigration crackdown by President Donald Trump’s administration.
The Trump administration has instructed U.S. embassies and consulates to refuse visa applications from citizens of 75 nations under existing law while the State Department reassesses its screening and vetting procedures. The pause is set to take effect January 21, 2026, and no timeline has been provided for when processing might resume.
Countries Affected
The list includes a wide range of nations across Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Latin America. Some of the countries explicitly named in reporting include:
- Somalia
- Russia
- Iran
- Afghanistan
- Brazil
- Nigeria
- Thailand
…among many others.
Why This Is Happening
Officials say the decision comes amid the Trump administration’s ongoing immigration enforcement agenda, which has tightened entry policies since Trump returned to office. The visa pause follows earlier threats in November 2025 to “permanently pause” migration from what the administration called “Third World Countries” after a violent incident near the White House involving an Afghan national.
Official Responses
- State Department: Has not yet publicly clarified details about the memo or timelines for resuming visa processing.
- Administration stance: Officials describe the pause as part of broader efforts to reassess screening measures, though the move has raised concerns among immigration advocates and foreign governments.
Context & Impact
This visa processing pause is considered one of the most sweeping measures of its kind in recent years — affecting nationals from a significant portion of the world’s countries. It fits within a broader framework of immigration restrictions and enforcement actions taken during Trump’s administration.
Affected individuals may find it significantly harder or temporarily impossible to obtain U.S. visas for visits, work, studies, or immigration, pending the reassessment of consular procedures.