The United States has suspended visa processing for citizens of Nigeria and 74 other countries as part of a move to tighten enforcement of public charge rules aimed at preventing migrants who may depend on public benefits from entering the country. A State Department memo obtained by Fox News said the pause would begin on January 21 and remain in place indefinitely while screening and vetting procedures for visa applicants are reviewed. During this period, US consular officers have been directed to refuse visas under existing immigration laws.
The suspension affects nationals of 75 countries, including Nigeria, Somalia, Russia, Afghanistan, Brazil, Iran, Iraq, Egypt, Thailand and Yemen, although the full list has not yet been officially released by the State Department. Under the new guidance, consular officers are required to assess applicants based on their likelihood of becoming a public charge. Factors such as age, health condition, English proficiency, financial capacity and the potential need for long-term medical care will be considered.
A State Department spokesperson said the pause is intended to prevent the entry of individuals who may rely heavily on welfare and public benefits in the United States. The public charge rule, which has existed in US immigration law for decades, allows officials to deny visas or entry to people considered likely to depend mainly on government assistance. Its enforcement has varied across different administrations, with wide discretion given to consular officers. Officials said exemptions would be very limited and granted only to applicants who clearly meet public charge requirements after further review.
The development comes shortly after a presidential proclamation that took effect on January 1, suspending visa issuance for nationals of 39 countries over national security and vetting concerns. Unlike that earlier measure, the current pause focuses specifically on public charge risks. As of Wednesday afternoon, the State Department had not published an official statement confirming the list of affected countries or the January 21 start date. Applicants from impacted nations have been advised to monitor travel.state.gov for updates on visa services.
Source: https://www.vanguardngr.com/
