Borders are becoming stricter as the US implements a visa freeze for 75 countries. The Trump administration’s new policy, starting January 21, indefinitely suspends immigrant visa processing for these nations. The move is justified by the desire to prevent immigrants from becoming public charges.
The freeze is enacted by stopping the printing of visas. Consular officers must refuse pending cases, effectively clearing the queue by denial. This approach ensures an immediate reduction in immigration numbers from the targeted regions.
The list of countries is vast, covering many developing nations. It includes countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, as well as parts of Europe. The policy reinforces a trend towards more restrictive immigration controls.
Exceptions are limited to dual nationals of exempt countries and those whose entry is in the national interest. For the majority, the freeze is a definitive barrier.
The countries facing these stricter borders are: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Myanmar, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Colombia, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, The Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, North Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Republic of the Congo, Russia, Rwanda, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, and Yemen.
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