The US is suspending all visa processing for candidates from 75 international locations, together with Nigeria, Egypt, Ghana, Algeria, and Somalia, Fox Information reported on Wednesday, citing a State Division memo.
Fox Information reported that the Trump administration has directed consular officers from 75 international locations to reject visa functions underneath present legal guidelines whereas the State Division reconsiders its screening and vetting processes. The pause will start on January 21.
“The State Division will use its long-standing authority to deem ineligible potential immigrants who would turn out to be a public cost on the USA and exploit the generosity of the American individuals,” State Division spokesperson Tommy Piggott advised Fox Information.
“Immigration from these 75 international locations will likely be paused whereas the State Division reassess immigration processing procedures to forestall the entry of overseas nationals who would take welfare and public advantages.”
Different African international locations on the checklist embrace Cameroon, Cape Verde, Cote d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Libya, Morocco, Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, and Uganda.
The suspension may have knock-on results past immigration coverage, notably for startup founders from affected international locations. African founders, notably these from Nigeria and Egypt, might face disruptions to journey to the US for investor conferences, accelerators, conferences, and fundraising roadshows, at a time when entry to world capital is already turning into more difficult.
The suspension comes every week after the US introduced a visa bond programme that might require candidates from greater than 20 African international locations, together with Nigeria, to publish refundable monetary bonds of as much as $15,000 as a situation for short-term enterprise and vacationer visas.
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