Albania unites Belarus, Kosovo, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Bosnia and 68 more countries (75 countries in total) including European nations face visa clampdown as US pauses immigrant visa processing. The United States has moved to indefinitely suspend immigrant visa processing for applicants from 75 countries, marking one of the most expansive efforts yet by the Donald Trump administration to restrict legal immigration pathways. The suspension is scheduled to take effect on 21 January and applies to immigrant visa applicants who are assessed under stricter public charge standards. The decision is a big one sends shockwaves across Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Belarus, Kosovo, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro and 68 other countries as the US tightens immigrant visa processing.
European Countries Affected by the Visa Processing Suspension
Among the 75 countries impacted by the immigrant visa processing pause are several located in Europe and nearby regions. These European countries affected include:
Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Belarus, Kosovo, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro.
Applicants from these countries seeking immigrant visas to the United States will be subject to the suspension until further notice. Processing will remain paused unless applicants qualify for one of the limited exceptions after clearing public charge assessments.
US Immigrant Visa Applications Paused Under Public Charge Standards
Under the policy, immigrant visa processing will be paused for affected countries while applications undergo additional scrutiny. Officials have indicated that exceptions will be extremely limited and will only be considered once public charge evaluations have been completed.
According to U.S. officials, the pause targets applicants considered likely to rely on government assistance for basic needs, placing their visa processing on hold until further review.
The public charge provision has existed within U.S. immigration law for decades, though its enforcement has historically varied across administrations. Consular officers have traditionally been granted broad discretion when applying the standard, but the current approach signals a stricter and more uniform application.
The suspension follows a series of recent immigration actions, including the December expansion of travel bans to 39 countries, the suspension of asylum processing, and the halting of citizenship and green card applications for nationals of countries already under restriction. Together, these measures have narrowed multiple legal routes into the United States.
The development was first reported by Fox News, bringing early attention to the scope and scale of the visa processing pause.
Travel Uncertainty for Prospective Immigrants and Long-Term Travelers
For travelers planning long-term relocation, the pause introduces a period of uncertainty. Immigration-related travel often depends on predictable timelines, clearly defined administrative steps, and consistent processing standards. An indefinite suspension can disrupt expectations for individuals preparing for permanent settlement or family-based migration.
While the policy does not directly address short-term travel, changes to immigration systems often influence how travelers perceive accessibility and mobility. Shifts in visa processing frameworks can reshape planning decisions, timelines, and overall confidence in future travel arrangements tied to immigration outcomes.
How Immigration Policy Shifts Influence Travel Decisions
Periods of regulatory change tend to alter broader travel considerations, particularly for individuals evaluating extended stays or permanent relocation. Even without the introduction of new eligibility requirements, processing delays alone can significantly affect travel planning.
During such transitions, travelers often monitor official guidance closely while reassessing expectations around mobility and access. Immigration-related travel decisions are frequently shaped by administrative clarity, which becomes harder to predict during large-scale policy pauses and reviews.
Immigration Enforcement Expands Alongside Legal Pathway Restrictions
The visa suspension comes amid a broader intensification of immigration enforcement. The U.S. State Department has reported revoking more than 100,000 visas since Donald Trump returned to office. At the same time, the Department of Homeland Security reported last month that over 605,000 people have been deported, while an additional 2.5 million individuals left the country voluntarily.
Since January, the administration has prioritized enforcement operations across major U.S. cities, deploying federal agents and escalating immigration actions. While the administration has emphasized efforts to stop illegal immigration, legal immigration has also become more restrictive.
This includes the introduction of new and higher fees for H-1B visa applicants, affecting highly skilled workers seeking employment in the United States. These measures collectively reflect a broader tightening of both enforcement and legal immigration channels.
Full List of 75 Countries Affected by the US Immigrant Visa Processing Pause
According to the US State Department, the immigrant visa processing suspension applies to applicants from the following 75 countries:
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.
U.S. officials have stated that the suspension will remain in effect until authorities determine that new immigrants will not place financial demands on public resources.
Image Source: AI
The post Albania Unites Belarus, Kosovo, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Bosnia and More 68 Countries Face Visa Clampdown as US Pauses Immigrant Visa Processing: All You Need To Know appeared first on Travel And Tour World.
