News articles published on January 14, 2026, including one by the Times of India, claim the United States is freezing visa processing for 75 countries, with nations like Iran, Russia, and Thailand listed among those affected. These reports indicate the suspension, described as one of the Trump administration's most far-reaching immigration enforcement measures, is scheduled to begin on January 21. The policy directs consular officers to apply a stricter interpretation of the 'public charge' provision of US immigration law, aiming to deny entry to applicants deemed likely to rely on public welfare benefits. Specific countries mentioned in these recent articles include Somalia, Russia, Afghanistan, Brazil, Iran, Iraq, Egypt, Nigeria, Thailand, and Yemen. However, a thorough fact-check reveals that this 'visa freeze' is an outdated policy from the **Trump administration**, which concluded its term in January 2021. The current US administration, under President Joe Biden, has actively worked to reverse many of the immigration restrictions implemented by his predecessor. Upon taking office in January 2021, President Biden issued proclamations that reversed various Trump-era travel bans and immigration policies, including those that limited legal immigration and the controversial 'Muslim ban'. The Biden administration has also taken steps to restore and streamline visa processing, lifting many restrictions that had drastically reduced visa issuances. The 'public charge' rule, expanded by Trump in 2019, was later narrowed by the Biden administration in 2022, focusing primarily on cash assistance and long-term institutional care while excluding other public programs. Therefore, presenting this visa freeze as a current or impending event in January 2026 is misleading, as the policy it describes is from a previous administration and has since been rescinded or significantly modified.