US to suspend immigrant visa processing for 75 nations

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The US is suspending processing of immigrants visas for applicants from 75 countries, according to the State Department.

This is seen as part of Washington's intensification of its immigration crackdown. 

The pause, which will impact applicants from countries like Brazil, Columbia, Uruguay, Bosnia, Albania, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and many nations in Africa, the Middle East and the Carribbean will start on January 21. 

The State Department stated that the immigrant visa processing from these 75 countries will be paused while the Department reassesses immigration processing procedures to prevent the entry of foreign nationals who would take welfare and public benefits. 

The move does not impact visitor visa. 

While US President Donald Trump's administration has taken a strong stance on stopping illegal immigration, it has also made legal immigration more difficult, for example, by imposing new and expensive fees on the applicants of H-1B visas for highly skilled workers. 

In November, Trump had vowed to "permanently pause" migration from all "Third World Countries" following a shooting near the White House by an Afghan national that killed a National Guard member.