The United States has suspended immigrant visa issuance for nationals of 75 countries, including Bangladesh

The US Department of State has suspended the issuance of immigrant visas for citizens of 75 countries, including Bangladesh, the US Embassy in Dhaka announced.

In a statement shared on its verified Facebook page on Saturday, the embassy said the measure targets countries whose immigrants have relatively higher rates of relying on US taxpayer-funded assistance.

The restriction does not apply to non-immigrant visas, such as those for tourism or education.

Official documents indicate that the move is part of an ongoing review of visa vetting procedures, aimed at limiting entry for individuals likely to depend on public support. The suspension, in effect since 21 January, will remain in place until the review is completed.

The affected countries include Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, the Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Myanmar, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Colombia, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, the Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kuwait, the Kyrgyz Republic, Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Pakistan, the Republic of the Congo, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Uruguay, Uzbekistan and Yemen.