The United States has suspended the processing of immigrant visa applications from Nigeria, Ghana and at least 73 other countries as Washington moves to tighten immigration screening amid concerns over potential welfare dependence.
According to a directive issued by the US Department of State, American embassies and consulates in the affected countries have been instructed to pause immigrant visa processing from January 21, pending a comprehensive reassessment of screening and vetting procedures.
Under the directive, consular officers are to refuse applications using existing provisions of US immigration law while the review is ongoing. The pause applies across multiple immigrant visa categories and will remain in effect indefinitely until the reassessment is completed.
The policy shift is tied to the “public charge” rule, a long-standing element of US immigration law that allows authorities to deny visas to individuals considered likely to become dependent on public benefits.
In November 2025, the State Department issued fresh guidance to US missions worldwide, directing stricter enforcement of the rule. The guidance broadened the criteria visa officers must evaluate when assessing applicants.
These factors now include an applicant’s age, health condition, English language proficiency, financial resources, employment prospects and the likelihood of requiring long-term medical care. Applicants deemed at risk of relying on public assistance may be denied entry to the United States.
The State Department has not indicated when the reassessment will be completed, nor has it clarified whether humanitarian exemptions or special considerations will apply during the pause.
The move is expected to heighten uncertainty for prospective travellers, students and families, particularly in developing countries. Analysts warn it could also strain diplomatic relations and disrupt long-standing people-to-people ties between the United States and affected nations.
With no clear timeline for the resumption of visa processing, thousands of applicants remain in limbo as Washington presses ahead with its expanded immigration screening measures.