The United States has announced a suspension of immigrant visa processing for citizens of 75 countries, including Bangladesh. The decision, confirmed by US authorities, will take effect from January 21. However, the restriction will not apply to tourist visas or other short-term, non-immigrant visas.

The suspension will affect several South Asian countries alongside Bangladesh, including Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bhutan, and Nepal. In addition, citizens from numerous countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, the Balkans, Africa, and the Middle East will also be impacted.

The new measure applies only to individuals seeking permanent residence in the United States. Those planning short visits for tourism, business, or other temporary purposes will not be subject to the restriction.

With the United States set to co-host the FIFA World Cup with Canada and Mexico in five months, questions have emerged over the Trump administration’s stance toward foreign visitors, as a series of strict measures targeting immigrants, refugees, international students, and visa applicants continue to be introduced.

US administration’s position

The US Department of State has instructed American consulates to halt the processing of immigrant visa applications for nationals of the listed countries. Officials say the move follows an executive order issued last November that called for stricter screening of prospective immigrants who could potentially become a financial burden on the US government.

In a statement, the State Department said the Trump administration aims to prevent what it described as abuse of the immigration system by individuals who rely heavily on public resources funded by American taxpayers.

The department added that immigrant visa processing for citizens of the 75 countries will remain suspended while the government reviews existing immigration procedures. The review is intended to ensure that no foreign nationals enter the country who may depend on public welfare programs. No timeline has been given for when the suspension may be lifted.

How the suspension will work

According to the State Department, applicants from the affected countries may still submit immigrant visa applications. However, during the suspension period, no applications will be approved or issued. An exception has been made for dual nationals: applicants holding a valid passport from a country not on the restricted list may apply using that passport and will not be subject to the ban.

The suspension does not apply to non-immigrant visas, including tourist, temporary work, business, or short-term travel visas.

Countries affected

The list of countries includes Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Bosnia, Brazil, Myanmar, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Colombia, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Dominica, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, 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, the Republic of Congo, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, and Yemen.

Broader immigration restrictions under Trump

In recent months, the Trump administration has tightened immigration laws further, particularly targeting countries with weaker vetting systems or those considered national security risks. The State Department has expanded efforts to curb immigration from such countries.

In a White House statement issued in January last year, officials said the US could not accept large numbers of immigrants—especially refugees—due to concerns over pressure on public resources, security risks, and challenges related to integration.

In June, the administration widened these restrictions by imposing a full travel ban on citizens of 12 countries: Afghanistan, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Myanmar, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. Later, six more countries—Palestine, Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan, and Syria—were added to the list.

By October, the White House set the refugee admission ceiling for the 2026 fiscal year at just 7,500, the lowest level in US history. This quota is reportedly intended primarily for white Afrikaners from South Africa, following claims by Trump of a genocide conspiracy against white citizens—claims widely disputed, despite South Africa’s high crime rate affecting people of all races.

At the same time, the administration reduced foreign aid programs that support refugees living outside the United States.

Measures were also taken to limit skilled migration, with officials citing job protection for American workers. In September, the application fee for H-1B visas—used by US companies to hire foreign professionals—was sharply increased to $100,000.

Following the arrest of an Afghan national accused of shooting two National Guard members in Washington, DC, in November, additional travel restrictions were imposed. Immigration authorities also suspended asylum applications and halted citizenship and green card processing for nationals of countries initially affected by the bans.

These developments mark one of the most restrictive phases of US immigration policy in recent history, significantly narrowing pathways for permanent migration.