United States Suspends Visa Processing for Armenia and 74 Other Countries

The United States has announced a suspension of immigrant visa processing for citizens of Armenia and 74 other countries, according to a report by Fox News citing sources within the U.S. State Department. The measure is set to take effect on January 21 and will remain in place for an indefinite period.

The decision is based on an internal State Department memorandum instructing U.S. embassies and consulates to stop processing and issuing immigrant visas for applicants from the affected countries. Under the directive, applications will be refused under existing U.S. law while the department conducts a broad review of its immigration policies and security procedures. No timeline has been provided for when normal processing may resume.

Although the full list of the 75 affected countries has not been officially released, Armenia is confirmed to be included in the suspension. Other countries reportedly impacted include Azerbaijan, Russia, Iran, Georgia, Afghanistan, Nigeria, and Thailand. U.S. officials have not explained the criteria used to select the countries or clarified whether additional nations could be added later.

A State Department spokesperson confirmed the suspension but did not provide further details regarding its scope or implementation. As a result, citizens of Armenia and the other affected countries seeking to immigrate to the United States may face prolonged uncertainty.

The visa freeze comes amid a broader immigration crackdown under U.S. President Donald Trump since his return to office last January. His administration has adopted stricter policies aimed at limiting migration and tightening entry requirements to the United States.

In November, President Trump said he intended to “permanently pause” migration from what he described as “Third World countries.” The statement followed a shooting incident near the White House involving an Afghan national that resulted in the death of a National Guard member. The administration has cited security concerns as a key reason for reinforcing immigration controls.

For now, the State Department has not indicated when its review of immigrant visa procedures will be completed. Until further notice, immigrant visa applicants from Armenia and the other affected countries are expected to face refusals or processing suspensions, leaving many individuals and families waiting for clarity about their future.

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