US freezes visa procedures for 75 countries including russia and Iran - Fox News
The United States is freezing visa procedures for 75 countries, including the aggressor country russia, Somalia, Iran, Somalia, Afghanistan, Brazil, Nigeria, and Thailand, starting January 21. It was reported by Fox News on Wednesday, January 14.
The US State Department has announced that it is suspending immigrant visa processing for 75 countries to tighten control over applicants. A State Department memorandum instructs consular officers to deny visas in accordance with applicable law while the department reviews its screening and verification procedures.
"Immigration from these 75 countries will be paused while the State Department reassess immigration processing procedures to prevent the entry of foreign nationals who would take welfare and public benefits," explained State Department spokesman Tommy Piggott.
The countries include Somalia, russia, Afghanistan, Brazil, Iran, Iraq, Egypt, Nigeria, Thailand, Yemen, and others. The pause will begin on January 21 and will last indefinitely until the department reassesses visa processing.
The full list of countries comprises of Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Bosnia, Brazil, Burma, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Colombia, Cote d’Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, 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.
As the Ukrainian News agency earlier reported, on January 13, the United States accused the aggressor state russia of a "dangerous and inexplicable escalation" of the war in Ukraine, which came amid the Trump administration's efforts to push forward peace talks.