The United States has taken action against 75 countries. The country has halted visa processing for applicants from several countries, including Pakistan and Afghanistan. Pakistan has issued a statement following this. Pakistan has expressed hope that the process will resume soon.
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The US recently took a major step against 75 countries. Visa processing for applicants from 75 countries, including Pakistan, Russia, Iran, and Afghanistan, has been halted. Now that the US has halted visa processing for applicants from Pakistan, Pakistan has begun pleading.
Pakistan has now expressed hope that normal visa processing will resume soon. Pakistan says it considers this decision part of the US’s internal review and is monitoring the situation. According to a US official, the countries affected by this suspension include Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Iran, Iraq, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Russia, Syria, Sudan, Somalia, and Yemen, a total of 75 countries.
What did Pakistan say?
Pakistan on Thursday expressed hope that the US will soon resume immigrant visa processing. Pakistan’s Foreign Office (FO) stated that the recent visa suspension is being considered part of the US’s internal review process.
Pakistan Foreign Office spokesman Tahir Hussain Andrabi said this is part of an internal US review and that Pakistan is contacting the US to obtain further information on the process. “We understand that this is a review of US immigration policies and systems and it is hoped that regular processing of immigration visas will resume soon,” he said.
When will the process resume?
This suspension could delay the plans of thousands of Pakistanis who apply for travel, study, or work plan visas to the United States each year. This suspension is related to the public-charge rule, which examines whether immigrants rely on government assistance in the United States. While no timeline has been given for the resumption of visa services, the State Department has assured that all countries will be notified once the review is complete.
Why was the suspension?
The United States announced the suspension of immigrant visa processing from these countries effective January 21st. The reason cited is that many immigrants from these countries often rely on government welfare programs. The State Department stated that the suspension would remain in place until it was ensured that new immigrants would not take advantage of the American public.
According to data from the Pew Research Center, Pakistani Americans constitute the seventh-largest Asian American population in the United States. They constitute approximately three percent of the total Asian American population.
According to US State Department data, the US issued more than 600,000 immigrant visas in 2024. Most of these visas went to close relatives of US citizens or current green card holders. Officials say this move will affect dozens of countries whose citizens often become dependent on government assistance after arriving in the US.
