Embassy in Pakistan says vetting process ensures immigrants won’t rely on public assistance
The U.S. Embassy in Islamabad said Friday that the Trump administration’s pause in processing and issuing immigrant visas would remain in effect until authorities ensure new immigrants are “maximally vetted” to determine their eligibility to enter the country.
In an article on
“Effective January 21, the Department of State is suspending the issuance of visas to all immigrant visa applicants from selected countries, including Pakistan. Secretary [Marco] Rubio has instituted this pause until we can ensure that new immigrants have been vetted to the maximum extent to ensure their eligibility for a U.S. visa, including that they will not rely on public assistance,” the embassy said.
The Trump Administration is working to protect the American people by upholding the highest standards in screening and vetting visa applicants. Effective January 21, the Department of State is suspending the issuance of all immigrant visa applicants from selected countries,… pic.twitter.com/T7VwxwjVOL
– US Embassy Islamabad (@usembislamabad) January 16, 2026
The embassy clarified, however, that the measure only applies to immigrant visas and does not affect non-immigrant categories, such as tourists, students, athletes, skilled workers and their families.
The statement follows the Trump administration’s announcement Wednesday to suspend immigrant visa processing for applicants from 75 countries, including Pakistan.
Fox Newswhich initially reported the development, said the pause would take effect Jan. 21, citing a memo directing U.S. embassies to deny visas under current law while the State Department reevaluates its procedures. No timeline for the review was provided.
Read: Pakistan among 75 countries hit by US immigration visa processing freeze
“The State Department will use its long-standing authority to deem ineligible potential immigrants who would become a public charge to the United States and exploit the generosity of the American people,” State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said in a statement.
Following this announcement, US analyst Michael Kugelman wrote in an article on
The U.S. freeze on immigration visa processing for 75 countries appears based on a chart Trump posted on Truth Social that lists immigrant groups with the highest percentage of households receiving U.S. public assistance. Most (not all) of the nations on the map are on the list of 75.
But…– Michael Kugelman (@MichaelKugelman) January 15, 2026
Kugelman specifically referenced Pakistan, saying that according to the chart — which he said was lacking in supply — 40 percent of Pakistani immigrant households receive public assistance.
However, he said available data indicates that the Pakistani-American community is generally known to be very wealthy, questioning the narrative and suggesting that greater transparency about how the data was compiled would be helpful.
