Konstantin, 26 years old from Russia, holds his passport February 1, 2024. AFP
According to the report, the US State Department issued an internal memo instructing American consulates worldwide to halt visa issuance for applicants from the affected countries under existing legal authorities, pending a broad review of vetting and screening procedures. The suspension will remain in place indefinitely until the review is completed.
Countries listed in the memo reportedly include Somalia, Russia, Afghanistan, Brazil, Iran, Iraq, Egypt, Nigeria, Thailand, and Yemen, among others.
Fox News said the decision follows heightened scrutiny of visa applicants from certain countries, particularly Somalia, after a large fraud case in Minnesota involving the misuse of taxpayer-funded assistance programmes. Several individuals of Somali origin were implicated in the case, according to the report.
In November 2025, the State Department circulated updated guidance to US diplomatic missions calling for stricter enforcement of the “public charge” provision under US immigration law, which allows officials to deny visas to applicants considered likely to rely on government assistance.
Under the revised criteria, consular officers are instructed to assess factors including applicants’ health, age, English-language proficiency, financial resources and the likelihood of requiring long-term medical care.
US State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said in a statement that the department “will use its long-standing legal authorities to deem certain applicants ineligible for immigration if they are likely to become a burden on the United States or exploit the generosity of the American people.”
He said visa processing for nationals of the affected countries would be temporarily suspended while the review is underway, to prevent the entry of applicants who may depend on public assistance programmes.
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