Washington DC, Jan. 15 -- The United States on Wednesday (local time) officially announced a pause in the issuance of immigrant visas to nationals of 75 countries, including Pakistan, citing concerns about the potential misuse of public welfare benefits.

According to a statement issued by the US Department of State, the decision is part of a broader policy review ordered by President Donald Trump, who has reiterated that immigrants to the United States must be financially self-sufficient and should not become a burden on American taxpayers.

The policy update, titled "Immigrant Visa Processing Updates for Nationalities at High Risk of Public Benefits Usage", was last updated on January 14 and will take effect from January 21, 2026.

"Pre...