Allies and Adversaries: 75 Nations on US Visa Blacklist

Both allies and adversaries find themselves on a new US visa blacklist of 75 nations. The Trump administration has indefinitely suspended immigrant visa processing for these countries starting January 21. The policy, based on “public charge” concerns, applies a uniform economic test to all.
The suspension is enforced by stopping the printing of visas. Consular officers must refuse pending cases, regardless of the applicant’s nationality’s diplomatic status with the US. This broad-brush approach surprises many who expected preferential treatment for allied nations.
The list includes strategic partners like Colombia and Jordan alongside countries like Iran and Syria. The policy demonstrates that economic considerations now trump traditional diplomatic alliances in immigration matters.
Exceptions are limited to dual nationals of non-listed countries and those serving a national interest. For most applicants, their country’s relationship with the US offers no protection from the ban.
The countries on the blacklist are: 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, and Yemen.