US freeze Visa processing for Ghana and 74 other Countries

The U.S. State Department has temporarily halted immigrant visa processing for applicants from 75 countries as part of a broader crackdown on individuals considered likely to become a public charge.

According to an internal State Department memo obtained by Fox News Digital, consular officers have been instructed to refuse visas under existing laws while authorities review and strengthen screening and vetting procedures.

Affected countries include Somalia, Russia, Afghanistan, Brazil, Iran, Iraq, Egypt, Nigeria, Thailand, Yemen, among others.

The U.S. State Department will begin an indefinite pause on immigrant visa processing from January 21 as it undertakes a comprehensive reassessment of its screening procedures.

The move places 75 countries under heightened scrutiny, with Somalia drawing particular attention following a major fraud scandal in Minnesota involving the abuse of taxpayer-funded benefit programs. Federal prosecutors revealed that many of those implicated were Somali nationals or Somali-Americans.

A State Department cable issued in November 2025 directed consular officers worldwide to strictly enforce expanded screening rules under the long-standing “public charge” provision of U.S. immigration law. The guidance mandates visa denials for applicants deemed likely to rely on public benefits, based on factors such as health, age, English proficiency, financial stability, and potential need for long-term medical care. Applicants who are older, overweight, or who have previously used government cash assistance or been institutionalized could face refusal.

“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,” said spokesperson Tommy Piggott. He added that immigration from the affected countries will remain paused while processing procedures are reviewed to prevent abuse of welfare and public benefits.

Officials say exceptions will be extremely limited and only considered after applicants clear public charge assessments.

While the public charge rule has existed for decades, its enforcement has varied across administrations. A 2022 revision under the Biden administration narrowed the benefits considered, excluding programs such as SNAP, WIC, Medicaid, and housing vouchers. Earlier, in 2019, former President Donald Trump expanded the rule to cover a broader range of public benefits, though parts of that policy were later blocked in court and rescinded.

The affected countries include Ghana, Nigeria, Somalia, Senegal, Egypt, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Russia, Brazil, Haiti, Pakistan, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Uganda, Yemen, and many others across Africa, Asia, Europe, the Caribbean, and Latin America.

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