US Halts Immigrant Visa Processing for 75 Nations Over Public Charge Concerns

• The US Department of State will pause immigrant visa processing for nationals of up to 75 countries starting January 21.
• The move, under the Trump administration, aims to curb the perceived abuse of public benefit systems by new arrivals.
• The freeze is open-ended, with no timeline for when processing may resume, affecting legal immigration pathways.
• The State Department is tightening enforcement of the existing 'public charge' provision, not creating new laws.
• Factors like age, health, financial resources, English proficiency, and prior use of government assistance will be weighed.

Why It Matters: The US is pausing immigrant visa processing for 75 countries, citing public charge concerns and tightening existing immigration laws.