The US State Department’s suspension of immigration visas for citizens of 75 countries will come into effect on January 21 and will not apply to applicants seeking non-immigrant visas, a category that includes temporary tourist or business visas and makes up the vast majority of applicants.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he has instructed consular officials to halt immigration visa applications from affected countries — including Brazil, Afghanistan, Iran, Russia and Somalia. The guidance follows a broader order, issued in November 2025, that tightened rules around potential immigrants who could become “public charges” in the US.
The department will suspend the processing of immigrant visas from 75 countries whose migrants turn to social assistance programs paid for by the American people at “unacceptable rates,” the US embassy in Brazil said on Network X. “The freeze must remain in effect until the US can guarantee that new immigrants will not extract wealth from the American people,” it added.
Take advantage of the stock market rise!
The embassy also noted that Washington is working to ensure that the generosity of the American people “is no longer abused” and that the Trump administration will always put the “USA first”.
