The United States State Department is set to suspend visa processing for citizens of 75 countries beginning January 21, 2026, according to numerous news reports emerging on January 14, 2026. This significant policy shift is attributed to the Trump administration's efforts to tighten immigration controls and will remain in effect indefinitely while the department reassesses its screening and vetting procedures. The move is primarily driven by a stricter enforcement of the "public charge" provision within US immigration law, which allows authorities to deny visas to individuals deemed likely to rely on public benefits. Consular officers have been instructed to apply existing legal authorities to refuse applications under this provision during the review period. The list of affected nations, though not fully released by the State Department, reportedly includes major countries such as Russia, Iran, Afghanistan, Brazil, Somalia, Iraq, Egypt, Nigeria, Thailand, and Yemen. The directive, which originated from an internal State Department memo first reported by Fox News, has been corroborated by other credible outlets including Reuters, Bloomberg.com, India Today, TheCable, and Mint. State Department spokesperson Tommy Piggott has been quoted stating that the department will use its long-standing authority to deem ineligible potential immigrants who would become a public charge. This broad suspension affects various visa categories and is expected to have substantial implications for international travel, diplomatic relations, and individuals planning to enter the United States from the 75 impacted countries.