The United States is suspending the issuance of immigrant visas for citizens of 75 countries, including Bangladesh, effective January 21.
US-based media outlet Fox News reported the decision on Wednesday, citing a document from the US State Department.
A spokesperson for the State Department confirmed to Reuters that the immigrant visa application process for 75 nations is set to be suspended, though specific details of the plan were not disclosed.
Addressing the move on X (formerly Twitter), the State Department posted:
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"The State Department will suspend immigrant visa processing for 75 countries whose immigrants consume welfare benefits at unacceptable rates from the American people. This suspension will remain in place until the United States can ensure that new immigrants will not drain resources from the American people."
According to the Fox News report, the State Department intends to re-evaluate the screening process for applicants to prevent individuals likely to rely on government assistance from entering the country.
Immigrant visa processing will remain halted until this review is completed.
The document instructs US consular officers to withhold visas under existing laws. However, it does not specify how long the suspension will last.
Context and Background
Diplomatic sources in Washington indicate that Bangladesh has not yet been formally notified of the decision.
However, signs of a crackdown by the Trump administration emerged earlier this month after a list was published detailing which nationalities receive the highest rates of government assistance in the US.
On January 4, President Donald Trump shared a list on his social media platform, Truth Social, titled "Immigrant Welfare Recipient Rates by Country of Origin."
Out of 120 countries and regions, Bangladesh ranked 19th.
The data suggested that 54.8% of Bangladeshi immigrant households in the US receive government benefits.
While other South Asian nations—including Bhutan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Nepal—were on the list, India and Sri Lanka were notably absent.
The Affected Countries
Although US authorities have not yet officially released the full list of 75 countries, Fox News published the names based on the State Department document.
Along with Bangladesh, the list includes:
Rapid Growth of the Bangladeshi Diaspora
According to a 2025 report by the Pew Research Center, the Bangladeshi population in the US has seen unprecedented growth over the last two decades.
The population surged from just 40,000 in 2000 to 270,000 in 2023—a 569% increase.
