The United States has announced a suspension of immigrant visa processing for Nigeria, Russia and 73 other countries as part of a review of applicants considered likely to become a public charge.
The US State Department said the pause, which takes effect from January 21, would remain in place indefinitely while consular officers reassess screening and vetting procedures.
Countries affected by the decision cut across Africa, Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Latin America, including Nigeria, Somalia, Afghanistan, Brazil, Iran, Iraq, Egypt, Thailand and Yemen.
The move follows heightened scrutiny of Somali nationals after a major fraud case in Minnesota involving misuse of taxpayer-funded welfare programmes, which reportedly implicated several individuals of Somali origin.
In November 2025, the State Department had directed diplomatic missions worldwide to apply stricter standards under the long-standing “public charge” provision of US immigration law.
Under the rule, visa applications may be denied based on factors such as age, health status, English language ability, financial capacity and the likelihood of requiring long-term public assistance.
A State Department spokesperson, Tommy Piggott, said the measure was aimed at preventing the entry of foreign nationals who could exploit public benefits, noting that immigration processing for the affected countries would remain paused until the review is concluded.
