New Delhi, Jan. 14 -- The US State Department announced Wednesday that it is pausing all visa processing for 75 countries in an effort to prevent applicants deemed likely to become a public charge from entering the United States, as per a report.

A State Department memo instructed consular officers to temporarily refuse visas under existing law while the department reassessed screening and vetting procedures, Fox News Digital reported, citing the memo. The pause, set to begin 21 January, will continue indefinitely until the reassessment is complete, the report said.

The list includes Pakistan, Bangladesh, Somalia, Russia, Iran, Afghanistan, Brazil, Nigeria, and Thailand.

Additionally, other countries reportedly affected include:

Europ...