Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan are among the countries that will be affected by the pause, which will begin on January 21.
The United States on Wednesday said that it is suspending the processing of immigrant visas for applicants from 75 countries “whose migrants take welfare from the American people at unacceptable rates”.
The pause, which will impact applicants from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Russia, Brazil, Colombia, Uruguay and Nigeria, among others countries, will begin on January 21, Reuters quoted Tommy Pigott, principal deputy spokesperson at the US Department of State, as saying.
“The State Department will use its long-standing authority to deem ineligible potential immigrants who would become a public charge on the United States and exploit the generosity of the American people,” Pigott added.
The Department of State said on social media that the “freeze will remain active until the US can ensure that new immigrants will not extract wealth from” its citizens.
