There is a bad news for millions of people who are dreaming of going to America and settling there. Making a major change in the immigration policy, America has announced a ban on granting immigrant visas to citizens of 75 countries with immediate effect. Pakistan and Bangladesh, which consider themselves America’s biggest well-wishers, are also included in this list. Apart from these, this ban will also be applicable on big countries like Russia, Iran and Brazil. America believes that these are such people who, if they come and settle in America, will become a burden on the taxpayers. This decision will be effective from January 21 and will remain in force indefinitely.

What is immigrant visa?

It is there to shift forever. There is no time limit for returning in this. One can buy a house there, work in any company and apply for US citizenship after a few years. What does it mean? When someone gets an immigrant visa, he becomes a ‘permanent resident’ of America. After landing at the airport and completing the process, the card he gets is commonly called ‘Green Card’. Whereas non-immigrant visa is for a short period of time. Like- tourist visa, student visa or H-1B visa. In this the person has to return to his country after completing his work.

Why was such a tough decision taken?

A big scam in the American state of Minnesota is believed to be the reason behind this decision. According to the report, federal officials had uncovered large-scale fraud in benefit plans funded by taxpayer money in Minnesota. The investigation found that most of the people involved in this scam were Somalian citizens or Somalian-Americans. After this incident, the US administration has become alert and wants to ensure that people coming from poor or developing countries do not misuse America’s social security schemes.

Now you will have to give these exams to get a visa

1. In a cable (message) sent to US embassies around the world in November 2025, consular officers were instructed to implement new and extremely strict screening rules. Now before granting visa the officials will scrutinize the entire horoscope of the applicant. The following factors will be the basis for refusing to grant a visa.
2. If the applicant has any disease that requires long-term treatment, he will not get the visa. The report even states that overweight applicants may also be rejected on health grounds. Very old people, who cannot work and will be dependent on the government, will find it difficult to get visas.
3. If the applicant cannot speak English, it will be assumed that he will have difficulty in getting a job there and he can become a burden on the government. The applicant must have enough money to support himself. If someone has ever used any government cash assistance in the past, he or she may also be disqualified.

These 75 countries are banned, see the complete list
Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Bosnia, Brazil, Burma (Myanmar), Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Colombia, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Egypt (Egypt), Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Republic of Congo, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Uruguay, Uzbekistan and Yemen.