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The United States government has announced an indefinite freeze on immigrant visa processing for Ghana and 74 other countries as part of a broader effort to tighten immigration controls and prevent applicants deemed likely to become a public charge from entering the country.
According to a US State Department memo seen by Fox News Digital, consular officers have been directed to suspend immigrant visa processing for affected countries starting January 21, while the Department conducts a comprehensive reassessment of its screening and vetting procedures. During this period, applications are to be refused under existing immigration law where applicable.
The directive affects a wide range of countries across Africa, Asia, Europe, the Caribbean and Latin America. The list includes Ghana, Nigeria, Somalia, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Egypt, Brazil, Russia, Thailand and Yemen, bringing the total number of affected countries to 75.
The policy is anchored in the enforcement of the “public charge” provision of US immigration law, which allows authorities to deny visas to applicants considered likely to depend on government welfare or public benefits. In November 2025, the State Department issued a global cable instructing consular officers to apply stricter screening rules under this provision.
Under the updated guidance, visa officers are required to assess a broad range of factors, including an applicant’s health, age, financial status, English language proficiency and potential need for long-term medical care. Applicants who have previously relied on government cash assistance or experienced institutionalisation may also face heightened scrutiny. Reports indicate that older or overweight applicants could be denied visas if deemed at risk of becoming a public charge.
Explaining the policy, State Department spokesperson Tommy Piggott said the US would use its long-standing legal authority to prevent the entry of immigrants who could “exploit the generosity of the American people.”
“Immigration from these 75 countries will be paused while the State Department reassesses immigration processing procedures to prevent the entry of foreign nationals who would take welfare and public benefits,” he said.
Somalia has reportedly drawn particular attention following a major fraud scandal in Minnesota involving the abuse of taxpayer-funded benefit programmes, with prosecutors linking several cases to Somali nationals or Somali-Americans.
Although the public charge provision has existed for decades, its enforcement has varied across different US administrations. The State Department says exceptions to the current pause will be very limited and granted only after applicants have fully cleared public charge considerations.
The freeze is expected to have significant implications for prospective immigrants from Ghana and other affected countries, with no clear timeline yet announced for the resumption of normal visa processing.
