The United States has announced a suspension of immigrant visa processing for 75 countries, including Nigeria and Ghana, in a move officials say is aimed at strengthening national security and improving vetting procedures.
A State Department spokesperson confirmed that consular officers have been instructed to pause the issuance of immigrant visas while the review is ongoing.
The suspension will take effect on January 21 and will remain in place indefinitely.
According to a memo seen by Fox News Digital, the pause affects 27 African countries, 22 in Asia, eight in Europe, 13 in North America and the Caribbean, three in South America, and one in Oceania.
The African countries affected include Algeria, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Cote d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Libya, Morocco, Nigeria, Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, and Yemen.
The suspension impacts thousands of prospective immigrants and comes amid ongoing debates over U.S. immigration policies and national security measures.
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