Pakistan & Bangladesh In New US Visa Freeze List; India Stands Apart | Exclusive Details

Last Updated:January 14, 2026, 22:53 IST

The freeze targets countries deemed high-risk for fraud or whose applicants are considered likely to become a financial burden on the US government

In stark contrast, India’s absence from the 75-nation list strengthens its position as a 'trusted partner' in the eyes of the Trump administration. Representational image/Getty

The United States Department of State has announced an indefinite suspension of immigrant visa processing for 75 countries, including Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Russia, effective from January 21. According to high-level government sources and a departmental memo first reported by CNN-News18 on Wednesday, the move is part of a sweeping reassessment of screening and vetting procedures under the “public charge" provision of American immigration law. While the pause affects a wide swathe of nations across Asia, Africa, and South America, India has been notably excluded from the list—a move seen by analysts as an institutional signal of Washington’s trust in Indian applicants.

The freeze targets countries deemed high-risk for fraud or whose applicants are considered likely to become a financial burden on the US government. Consular officers have been directed to refuse immigrant visas while the department conducts an extensive review of identity-management and information-sharing standards. State Department spokesperson Tommy Piggott stated that the authorities will use their long-standing mandate to disqualify potential immigrants who might “exploit the generosity of the American people." The criteria for refusal are expected to be stringent, with officers instructed to weigh factors such as health, age, English proficiency, and financial stability.

For Pakistan, being formally grouped with nations like Somalia, Afghanistan, and Yemen in a “visa freeze" list represents a significant blow to its international standing. Top government sources suggest that the inclusion reinforces long-standing American concerns regarding the integrity of Pakistani documentation and the reliability of its criminal records. The specific mention of Somalia in the context of a massive taxpayer-funded benefit fraud scandal in Minnesota has further heightened scrutiny on countries with similar “high-risk" profiles. While the pause is currently restricted to immigrant visas, the memo hints that all visa processing for these 75 nations will remain under intense reassessment for the foreseeable future.

In stark contrast, India’s absence from the 75-nation list strengthens its position as a “trusted partner" in the eyes of the Trump administration. Indian officials believe this exclusion will facilitate a smoother flow for skilled migration, higher education, and technology partnerships, particularly in the healthcare and IT sectors. While countries like Brazil, Thailand, and Kuwait find themselves abruptly caught in this “indefinite pause," India’s established vetting protocols appear to have shielded its citizens from the latest crackdown. The State Department has clarified that the freeze will not revoke existing valid visas but will halt all new immigrant appointments starting next Tuesday.

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