‘Hope it resumes soon’: Pakistan reacts after US pauses visa processing

As department of State made the announcement on Wednesday, it said the Trump Administration will always put America first.

Updated on: Jan 15, 2026, 18:58:36 IST

By HT News Desk

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

As the US on Wednesday paused visa processing for Pakistan , Bangladesh and over 70 other countries, Islamabad hoped that the US would "soon" resume immigrant visa processing for its citizens and said it viewed the recent suspension as part of an internal review. Track updates on Iran unrest

The pause on visa processing is the latest in Trump’s immigration crackdown as the Trump administration said it was pausing the immigrant visa processing for countries whose migrants “take welfare from the American people at unacceptable rates”.

What Pakistan said

Pakistan's foreign office Spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said he hoped the the routine processing of immigrant visas would resume soon.

Also read: SC raps Bengal govt over ED I-PAC raid drama, issues notice, stays FIRs against agency officials

"We are in touch with the US authorities to ascertain further details. This is evolving news that we are following," he was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.

“We understand that this is an internal ongoing process of review of US immigration policies and system, and hope that the routine processing of immigrant visas will resume soon,” he added.

US pauses visa processing for 75 countries

The Trump administration announced the freeze on Wednesday for 75 countries, including Bangladesh, Pakistan, Iran, Russia and Nepal, Afghanistan, Egypt, Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Sudan, Thailand, and Yemen. See full list of countries facing visa pause here.

Also read: Air India plane first hit by Iran airspace closure, then its engine sucks object, gets damaged

"The freeze will remain active until the US can ensure that new immigrants will not extract wealth from the American people," the Trump administration said in a statement shared on X. “The Trump Administration will always put America First,” it said.

The suspension will begin January 21 and will not apply to applicants seeking non-immigrant visas or temporary tourist or business visas.

Also read: BMC polls: Major drama over 'erasable ink', SEC issues clarification as action sought

The state department said the pause would impact “dozens of countries – including Somalia, Haiti, Iran, and Eritrea – whose immigrants often become public charges on the United States upon arrival.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
HT News Desk
Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

Get the latest headlines from US news and global updates from Pakistan, Nepal, UK, Bangladesh, Russia and US Iran war Live, get all the latest headlines in one place on Hindustan Times.