The US has suspended immigrant visas for 75 countries

The US government has adopted a new decision to tighten immigration policy. This was reported by Zamin.uz.

Starting from January 21, 2026, under the Trump administration, immigrant visas to 75 countries around the world, including citizens of Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, have been temporarily suspended. It is currently unknown when this decision will be revoked.

Along with Central Asian countries, this restriction also applies to countries such as Pakistan, Bangladesh, Russia, Belarus, Georgia, and Armenia. Additionally, several African and Latin American countries are also on the list.

The US State Department explained this decision with several factors: the risk of immigrants relying on financial assistance, the need for more thorough scrutiny of visa applications, and ensuring national security. According to Reuters news agency, the restrictions even apply to individuals whose visas have been prepared but have not yet been issued by the consulate.

State Department employees have been instructed to deny such visas as well. However, these restrictions do not apply to tourist and temporary visit visas.

The main reason for this is related to the US hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Olympic Games. The government aims to maintain the flow of guests and tourists coming to these events.

Experts believe that this decision will limit the entry of nearly 315,000 legal immigrants into the US within the next year. During the Trump administration, over 100,000 visas were canceled, and additional barriers were introduced for visas intended for highly skilled specialists such as H-1B.

The question arises: do such strict US restrictions reduce illegal migration or, on the contrary, force people to choose illegal and dangerous routes? There are various opinions on this matter.

At the moment, it is clear that the new regulations will seriously affect the lives of immigrants.