Complete suspension of US visa issuance for dozens of countries, including Afghanistan and Pakistan
The US State Department has confirmed that the visa process has been completely suspended for citizens of 75 countries as of January 21.
The list includes Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, Syria, Libya, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Somalia, Yemen, Lebanon, Egypt, Kuwait, Jordan, Brazil, Albania, Bangladesh, Uruguay and other countries.
According to international media reports, this decision is part of the strict immigration policies of the Donald Trump administration and is a continuation of the implementation of the revised version of the immigration law known as the “Public Financial Burden”.
According to this law, if it is determined that the applicant may need government assistance in the future, his visa application will be denied. Also, factors such as English language proficiency, health status, age and financial ability of individuals play a key role in the process of reviewing applications.
According to official announcements, more than 100,000 visas have been canceled so far within the framework of these regulations. The move has sparked widespread concerns among immigrants and visa applicants, especially in Asian, Middle Eastern and African countries.
The decision comes as the US State Department is reviewing and re-evaluating its visa screening and review processes.
Sources say the move is part of new US security and immigration policies aimed at strengthening mechanisms for reviewing and controlling visa applications.
However, US officials have not yet announced a specific time for the suspension to end or the exact details of possible changes after the review.
Experts say the decision could have far-reaching consequences for students, business, family and humanitarian visa applicants from the countries on the list, and could be a cause for serious concern for applicants.
Overall, the indefinite suspension of visa issuance for citizens of 75 countries represents a significant change in United States consular and immigration policies, a change whose final results and implications will depend on subsequent decisions by the US State Department and the conclusion of the review process.
by meena habib
