The U.S. State Department is pausing all visa processing for 75 countries, including Somalia, Russia, and Iran, starting January 21, to reassess screening procedures. The move is based on the "public charge" rule, which allows the U.S. to deny visas to applicants likely to rely on public benefits.
Factors considered include health, age, finances, and prior use of government
assistance. Somalia’s inclusion follows a fraud scandal involving its mmigrant community in Minnesota.