The U.S. State Department is indefinitely freezing immigrant visa processing for 75 countries.
The State Department has not released the full list of 75 countries, but the names reportedly include Somalia, Russia, Afghanistan, Brazil, Iran, Iraq, Egypt, Nigeria, Thailand, Yemen and others.
The freeze will only impact immigrant visas, which are for those who wish to live in the United States. It will not apply to short-term visas, which means that visitors for the 2026 World Cup won’t be impacted by the move.
‘The pause impacts dozens of countries – including Somalia, Haiti, Iran, and Eritrea – whose immigrants often become public charges on the United States upon arrival. We are working to ensure the generosity of the American people will no longer be abused.’
In November, FIFA and the White House introduced ‘FIFA PASS,’ an expedited visa interview process for World Cup ticket-holders visiting the United States.
The move came amid growing concerns that the Trump administration’s immigration crackdowns could reduce the amount of foreign visitors for the World Cup.
The U.S. will serve as co-host of the World Cup along with Mexico and Canada. The tournament will take place from June 11 to July 19.
According to the State Department, the freeze is targeted toward those who could become a ‘public charge’ – or someone who relies on government benefits for their basic needs.
‘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,’ State Department spokesperson Tommy Piggott said in a statement.
‘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.’