HIBAPRESS – Rabat
The United States has decided to suspend the processing of immigration visas for citizens of 75 countries around the world, including Morocco and Algeria, and a number of Arab and Islamic countries, in addition to Russia, Cuba, and other countries from Africa, Asia, and Latin America and Eastern Europe.
This measure, which will come into effect starting January 21, 2026, comes within the framework of activating a broad order issued last November, and aims to tighten immigration conditions for the categories that the American administration considers may constitute a "public burden" on the American economy. According to what the US State Department announced, immediate instructions were issued to officials of embassies and consulates to stop receiving immigration visa applications from the countries covered by the decision, pending a re-evaluation of the adopted processing and screening mechanisms. The administration of President Donald Trump justified this approach by considering that the citizens of these countries are classified among categories that are likely to rely on government assistance after settling inside the United States, stressing its determination to put an end to what it described as "exploitation of the American immigration system". The US State Department said, in a strongly worded statement, that the processing of immigration visas from these countries will be temporarily suspended until it is ensured that the entry of foreign nationals who may rely on welfare programs and public benefits is prevented, stressing that the decision does not include non-immigrant visas, such as temporary tourist or business visas. The ministry explained that this exception concerns the vast majority of visa applicants, expecting in return an increase in demand for this type of visa in the coming years, especially with the United States preparing to host the 2026 World Cup in partnership with other countries, and the Olympic Games for the year 2028. The decision is based on new guidelines that require embassy and consulate officials to conduct a thorough and comprehensive examination of applicants, to prove their ability to support themselves without resorting to government assistance at any later stage. Although federal law already requires permanent residence applicants to prove that they are not a public burden, the new guidelines have expanded the scope of the adopted criteria, to include proficiency in the English language, by allowing interviews to be conducted in it and evaluating the efficiency of the applicants, in addition to examining the financial and professional situation, including the level of education and job skills and financial assets. The new standards also included the assessment of age and health status, by subjecting applicants to a more thorough medical examination, which goes beyond routine tests related to infectious diseases. Immigration experts believe that these measures will significantly reduce the opportunities for low-income groups or non-English speakers to obtain immigration visas, in the context of continuous tightening of restrictions by the Republican administration. The announced list included, in addition to Morocco and Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Syria, Yemen, Sudan, Somalia, Libya, Tunisia, Lebanon, Kuwait, Afghanistan, Iran, and Pakistan, in addition to Russia, Brazil, Colombia, and Cuba.
