Nepal is also on the List
Nepal has also been affected by the US State Department’s Wednesday announcement that it will suspend the processing of immigrant visas for citizens of 75 countries from globe- Africa, Asia, Europe, & Mideast
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said consular officers have been instructed to halt immigrant visa applications from the affected countries in line with a broader November order. That order tightened rules around immigrants who may become “public charges” while living in the US.
“Immigrant visa processing from these 75 countries will be paused while the State Department reassesses immigration procedures to prevent the entry of foreign nationals who would take welfare and public benefits,” the department said in a statement.
The suspension will take effect on 21 January 2026 and covers applicants from countries across Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Burma, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Colombia, Cote 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, Kyrgyz Republic, Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Pakistan, Republic of the 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.
The move comes as part of the Trump administration’s effort to ensure immigrants are financially self-sufficient and do not rely on public assistance in the United States.
President Trump has repeatedly emphasised that immigrants must be financially independent and should not become a burden on American taxpayers. The State Department said it is reviewing all policies, regulations, and guidance to ensure immigrants from the designated countries do not use welfare or other public support.
