The US has indefinitely paused immigrant visa processing for citizens of 75 countries, citing the financial burden on Americans. The inclusion of countries like Bhutan, Brazil, Kuwait and Thailand has surprised many, and sparked confusion over the criteria used to devise the list.
In a bid to intensify the crackdown on legal immigrants, the US has announced an indefinite suspension of immigrant visa processing in 75 countries, beginning January 21, the State Department announced on Wednesday (US time). However, some countries on the list of 75 nations have surprised people and led to questions regarding the criteria used to devise it.
While the inclusion of nations like Pakistan, Bangladesh, Libya, Iran, Myanmar, Sudan, and others embroiled in conflicts, or known for sending problematic migrants to the US seems logical, what has puzzled many is the presence of relatively prosperous countries such as Kuwait, or those with positive global reputations, like Thailand and Bhutan, along with some Balkan states. Even Brazil came as a surprise entry on the list to many.
This latest list by the US State Department has sparked confusion and debate among both experts and immigrants.
For instance, author-journalist Sadanand Dhume, said he was “surprised to see Kuwait, Thailand, Brazil, and Uruguay on the State Department’s (temporary) visa ban list”.
“These are relatively well off countries. Not surprised to see Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal on it. Bhutan is an interesting case. Many Bhutanese refugees in the US are ethnic Nepalis who were driven out of Bhutan in 1990-92,” Dhume posted on X.
Explaining why India was not on the list, Dhume said, “Migrants from India have extremely low welfare dependency rates, both in the US, and in Europe. It would be bonkers to include India in the list if the point is to crack down on groups who place a burden on the welfare net.”
Several affected countries have expressed surprise at the decision. For instance, Thailand, seemingly taken aback by the inclusion on the list, summoned the US Charge d’affaires in Bangkok on Thursday to seek urgent clarification on the decision, reported Thai media outlet Thaiger. It must be noted that Thailand is a hugely popular destination for American tourists, and consistently portrayed in US media as a welcoming, vibrant country.
Notably, despite Pakistan’s coterie with the US and Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir meeting US President Donald Trump multiple times after Operation Sindoor, it has been included on the list and its citizens are now facing an indefinite pause in immigrant visa processing.
Brazil, which has the largest economy in South America, was also a surprise name on the US visa-ban list. It’s true that the diaspora in the US is Brazil’s largest, but it’s not that Brazilians have a history of large-scale immigration to the US. In fact, Brazilians form a miniscule part of the overall immigrants, representing around 1% of the total foreign-born population in the US.
The inclusion of Kuwait on the US immigrant visa pause list is also surprising, as this oil-rich Gulf nation boasts one of the world’s highest GDP per capita — $30,000–$32,000. The decision seemingly hinges on data showing its US immigrants historically more likely to access public benefits. However, data suggests that there are less than 40,000 Kuwaities in the US, of which 1/3rd are students.
Vivian Nereim, Gulf bureau chief of the New York Times said on X, “I am so curious to understand how Kuwait — an oil-rich country where the average citizen income exceeds $60k a year — ended up on this list.”
A media professional quipped, “(Because) It didn’t donate a big enough jet plane?”
WHY US SUSPENDED IMMIGRATION VISAS FROM 75 NATIONS?
The US State Department said that the suspension stems from efforts to ramp up immigration restrictions, and will be affecting countries from Latin America (like Colombia and Uruguay) to the Balkans (such as Bosnia and Albania), South Asia (Pakistan and Bangladesh), and numerous African, Middle Eastern, and Caribbean countries, reported news agency Reuters.
An internal cable, viewed by Reuters, detailed a comprehensive review of policies, regulations, and guidelines to guarantee rigorous screening and vetting for visa seekers.
The document flagged that citizens from these countries have shown tendencies to apply for public benefits in the US, labelling them as high-risk of becoming “public charges” and tapping into local, state, and federal resources. Public charge refers to a US immigration rule under which a visa or Green Card applicant can be denied if they are deemed likely to become primarily dependent on government assistance for basic living needs.
First reported by Fox News, this action spares visitor visas.
The latest move follows a November order directing diplomats to prioritise financial independence for visa applicants, avoiding reliance on government aid, reported Reuters.
“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,” Tommy Pigott, the State Department’s Principal Deputy Spokesperson, was quoted as saying by Reuters.
He added that processing would stay on hold during a reassessment to block entries of those likely to claim welfare.
The cable also instructed consular staff to deny approvals for any “print-authorised” but unissued visas or those printed but not yet dispatched.
Officials haven’t detailed per-country rationales, but experts suggest exclusions for nations like India stem from robust documentation, adherence to US standards, strong economic links, and lower public charge risks. India excels in skilled visas like H-1B with cooperative consular ties.
