Washington, Jan. 15 -- The US State Department said on Wednesday it will suspend the processing of immigrant visas for citizens of 75 countries whose nationals are deemed likely to require public assistance while living in the United States. These countries include Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Thailand, and Brazil, among others. The State Department, led by Secretary Marco Rubio, said it had instructed consular officers to halt immigrant visa applications from the countries affected in accordance with a broader November 2025 order that tightened rules around potential immigrants who might become "public charges" in the US. The suspension, which will begin January 21, will not apply to applicants seeking non-immigrant visas, or temporary tourist or business visas. "The Trump administration is bringing an end to the abuse of America's immigration system by those who would extract wealth from the American people," the department said. "Immigrant visa processing from these 75 countries will be paused...to prevent the entry of foreign nationals who would take welfare and public benefits," it added.P11...