The United States has suspended visa processing for applicants from Nigeria, Russia and several other countries following a broad review of its immigration screening procedures.
An internal directive from the US Department of State instructed American embassies and consulates to pause visa processing for nationals of at least 73 countries from January 21, pending a reassessment of vetting standards.
The memo, first reported by Fox News, directed consular officers to rely on existing legal provisions to deny applications while the review is ongoing.
The suspension affects multiple visa categories and does not specify an end date, as officials are yet to indicate when the evaluation will be completed.
Countries listed under the measure span Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Europe and Latin America, including Nigeria, Somalia, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Yemen, Afghanistan, Russia, Brazil and Thailand.
US officials linked the action to stricter enforcement of the “public charge” rule, which allows visa refusals for applicants considered likely to depend on government support.