US Visa Freeze: Pakistan, Bangladesh on List; India Excluded, Signals Trust

• The US Department of State has indefinitely suspended immigrant visa processing for 75 countries, including Pakistan and Bangladesh, effective January 21.
• The freeze is part of a reassessment of screening and vetting procedures under the 'public charge' provision of American immigration law.
• India has been notably excluded from the list, which analysts see as a signal of Washington’s trust in Indian applicants.
• The freeze targets countries deemed high-risk for fraud or whose applicants might become a financial burden on the US government.
• For Pakistan, inclusion on the list is a blow to its international standing, reinforcing US concerns about documentation integrity.

Why It Matters: US freezes immigrant visas for 75 nations including Pakistan, Bangladesh; India's exclusion highlights its trusted partner status.