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The news was reported by Fox News on Wednesday (January 14).
Initially, Fox News published the names of a few countries. Later, it reported that Bangladesh was also included. The suspension will take effect from January 21.
According to an internal State Department document obtained by Fox News, visas will not be issued to citizens of the listed countries until a reassessment of visa screening and security procedures is completed. Consular officers have been instructed to refuse visas under existing laws. The list includes Somalia, Russia, Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, the Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Bosnia, Brazil, Myanmar, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Colombia, Ivory Coast, Cuba, Congo, Dominica, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Iran, Iraq, and many other countries.
The State Department said the suspension will come into effect on January 21 and will remain in place until the reassessment is completed.
The report noted that Somalia is under heightened scrutiny. The country came into focus after major fraud cases were uncovered in taxpayer-funded assistance programs in the U.S. state of Minnesota. Federal officials said many of those involved in the scandal were Somali nationals or Somali-Americans.
In a message sent to U.S. embassies around the world in November 2025, the State Department instructed the implementation of new and stricter screening under the so-called “public charge” rule. Under this rule, applicants who are considered likely to depend on government benefits or assistance in the future will be denied visas.
The new guidelines state that factors such as the applicant’s age, health, weight, English language proficiency, financial condition, and the possibility of requiring long-term medical treatment will be taken into account. A history of receiving government cash assistance or long-term institutional care in the past may also increase the risk of visa denial.
U.S. State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said the United States has long had the legal authority to deem ineligible those who may come to the country and misuse public benefits and services.
He added that the immigration process for citizens of these 75 countries is being temporarily suspended, and that the measure has been taken to prevent the entry of foreign nationals who may become dependent on welfare programs.
