WASHINGTON: According to the US media , the UN government has suspended the immigration visa processing for 75 countries. However, Pakistan’s name is not included in that list.
The immigrants of these countries utilized the taxes of the American People.
The decision will be implemented from 21st January.
The countries include Brazil, Thailand, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Russia, Lybia, Morroco, Algeria, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania and others.
Howebver , the new American move does not include Pakistan’s name.
United States immigration visa processing policies exhibit significant variations across different countries, primarily due to factors such as bilateral agreements, historical overstay rates, economic conditions, security considerations, and statutory per-country limits on immigrant visas.
For nonimmigrant visas, like temporary visitor (B-1/B-2), student (F-1), or work visas, citizens of Visa Waiver Program (VWP) countries, currently around 42 nations including many in Europe, plus Australia, Japan, and South Korea can enter the United States for short stays without a visa but must obtain an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) in advance, benefiting from streamlined and generally faster processing with very low refusal rates, often under 3%.
In contrast, applicants from non-VWP countries must apply for a full visa through a U.S. embassy or consulate, facing longer interview wait times that can range from days in low-volume posts to several months or even over a year in high-demand locations, along with much higher refusal rates under Section 214(b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, which presumes immigrant intent unless strong ties to the home country are demonstrated; refusal rates for visitor visas frequently exceed 40-70% for applicants from certain African, Asian, and Middle Eastern nations with elevated historical overstay risks or economic migration pressures, while they remain far lower for nationals of economically stable or allied countries.
For immigrant visas leading to permanent residency (green cards), processing involves per-country numerical caps that create substantial backlogs for high-demand nationalities such as those from India, China, Mexico, and the Philippines, where wait times for family-sponsored or employment-based categories can extend to many years or even decades depending on the priority date tracked monthly in the Visa Bulletin, whereas applicants from most other countries experience “current” status with minimal or no additional delays beyond standard administrative processing. Reciprocity policies also impose additional issuance fees on citizens of certain countries mirroring fees charged to U.S. citizens abroad, and recent developments, including a reported suspension or pause in visa processing for nationals of numerous countries (potentially up to 75, including places like Afghanistan, Iran, Somalia, Nigeria, and others) as of early 2026 due to public charge assessments and other policy shifts, further complicate access for affected nationalities while routine operations continue for others, highlighting how U.S. policies adapt to security, diplomatic, and workload priorities rather than applying uniform rules worldwide.
