The Donald Trump administration has announced an indefinite suspension of immigrant visas from 75 countries, marking one of the broadest efforts yet to limit legal pathways for people to live and work in the United States. The freeze is set to begin on January 21 and targets applicants based on nationality, covering countries across Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe. Countries affected include Pakistan, Bangladesh, Somalia, Russia, Iran, Afghanistan, Brazil, Nigeria, and Thailand. This restriction applies only to permanent residency visas, not to tourists or temporary workers, according to reports. Over the past year, the Trump administration has already added stricter vetting rules for foreign nationals, layering these new limits onto a visa-screening system considered among the strictest in the world.

Is India on the List? Pakistan and Bangladesh Are There

While Pakistan and Bangladesh are included in the visa freeze, India is not affected by this new restriction. People from India can still apply for permanent residency visas in the US, subject to the usual screening process.

Who Will Not Be Affected by the Visa Freeze?

The new rules do not apply to tourist or business visas, including fans traveling for events such as this year’s World Cup, although the administration has said it will continue to vet applicants’ social media histories. Exceptions are also in place for: People with dual nationality and a valid passport from a country not on the banned list. Applicants who can show that their travel serves an “America First” national interest. If a visa has already been approved but not printed, consular officers have been instructed to refuse the case, according to a cable from the US State Department. The freeze is expected to hit family-based immigration the hardest, affecting spouses, children, and other close relatives of US citizens who would otherwise be eligible for permanent residency.

Full List of Countries Affected by the Visa Freeze

Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Myanmar, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Colombia, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, The Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, North Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Republic of the Congo, Russia, Rwanda, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Yemen.

Trump’s Immigration Crackdown

President Trump has been clear about his goal to reduce immigration from non-European countries. He has described Somalis as "garbage" who should "go back to where they came from" while saying he would welcome Scandinavians to move to the US. The State Department reported on Monday that it has revoked over 100,000 visas since Trump returned to office, setting a one-year record. The Department of Homeland Security said last month that the Trump administration has deported more than 605,000 people, and that 2.5 million others left the country voluntarily.