America Moves to Stop Issuing Visas to Bangladeshi Citizens

The Trump administration is set to suspend the processing of all types of U.S. visas for citizens of 75 countries, including Bangladesh. The news was reported by the Reuters news agency on Wednesday (January 14), citing a spokesperson of the U.S. State Department.

Fox News first reported the matter, quoting an internal document of the State Department. However, the State Department spokesperson did not provide any detailed explanation regarding the issue.

Along with Bangladesh, the list of 75 countries includes Pakistan, Somalia, Russia, Afghanistan, Brazil, Iran, Iraq, Egypt, Nigeria, Thailand, and Yemen. However, India is not included in this list.

The document states that this decision has been taken to prevent applicants who may become dependent on U.S. government assistance in the future.

The suspension will take effect from January 21 and will remain in force indefinitely until further notice.

According to the internal document obtained by Fox News Digital, during this time the State Department will re-evaluate visa screening and security-related procedures.

Under existing laws, officials have been instructed to directly reject visa applications of individuals who may become dependent on government benefits in the future.

In this regard, the African country Somalia has been placed under increased scrutiny. The issue gained importance after a major fraud incident involving taxpayer-funded government assistance programs came to light in the U.S. state of Minnesota. According to prosecutors, a large portion of those involved were Somali nationals or Somali-Americans.

In November 2025, a letter sent to U.S. embassies worldwide instructed them to enforce stricter policies under the “public charge” provision during applicant screening.

The directive stated that factors such as the applicant’s age, health condition, proficiency in the English language, financial capability, and the possibility of requiring long-term medical care in the future would be considered.

Even elderly or overweight applicants, individuals who previously received government cash assistance, or those who were at any time dependent on state institutions may have their visas canceled.

In a statement, U.S. State Department spokesperson Tammy Pigott said, “The State Department has long exercised its authority to declare potential immigrants ineligible if they are likely to take advantage of the generosity of the American people.”

She further said, “The immigration processes of these 75 countries are being temporarily suspended to prevent the entry of foreign nationals who may become dependent on welfare or government benefits.”

Exceptions under this new suspension are very limited. Applications will only be considered if all “public charge”–related conditions are met. The “public charge” provision has long existed in U.S. immigration law, although its application has varied under different administrations.

In 2022, during the Biden administration, the scope of this provision was limited. At that time, only cash assistance and long-term institutional medical care costs were considered. Programs such as SNAP (food assistance), WIC, Medicaid, or housing vouchers were excluded from its scope.