DASH: US suspends visa processing for 75 countries, including Albania, Kosovo and RMV
The Trump administration is suspending all visa processing for applicants from 75 countries, a State Department spokesman said Wednesday. The spokesman did not provide details on the plan, which was first reported by Fox News, which cited a State Department memo. The suspension will begin on Jan. 21, Fox News said.
In our region, the countries affected by visa processing are Albania, Kosovo, and North Macedonia. But Serbia is missing from the announced list.
Meanwhile, at a global level, among the major countries affected are Russia, Iran, Afghanistan, Brazil, Nigeria, Thailand, Somalia and many other countries.
The visa categories affected are family reunification, employment, adoption, special immigrant and US lottery. Student and tourist visas remain unaffected.
The memorandum directs U.S. embassies to refuse visas under existing law while the department reevaluates its procedures. No timeline was given.
The reported pause comes amid sweeping anti-immigration measures pursued by Republican US President Donald Trump since taking office last January.
In November, Trump vowed to "permanently stop" immigration from all "Third World countries" after a shooting near the White House by an Afghan national who killed a National Guard member.
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