Media: US to halt visa processing for citizens of 75 countries

The Trump administration is suspending all visa processing for applicants from 75 countries, a State Department spokesperson said.

The spokesperson did not elaborate on the plan, which cited a State Department memo. The pause will begin on January 21, Reuters reports.

Somalia, Russia, Iran, Afghanistan, Brazil, Nigeria, Thailand are among the affected countries, according to the report.

The memo directs US embassies to refuse visas under existing law while the department reassesses its procedures. No time frame was provided.

The reported pause comes amid the sweeping immigration crackdown pursued by Republican US President Donald Trump since taking office last January.

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.

By Vafa Guliyeva