The President Donald Trump administration in the United States (U.S.) has halted all visa processing for applicants from Nigeria, Somalia, Iran, Brazil and Thailand.
Also affected are Afghanistan, Russia and 66 other countries.
A State Department spokesperson who disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, did not elaborate on the plan, as reported by Fox News, which cited a State Department memo, adding that the suspension of the visa processing will begin on January 21.
The memo directed embassies to refuse visa applications from the affected countries under existing law while the department reassesses its procedures.
While no time frame was provided, the reported halt came amid the sweeping immigration crackdown pursued by Trump since taking office last January.
Trump had, last November, vowed to “permanently pause” migration from all “Third World Countries”, following a shooting near the White House by an Afghan national that killed a National Guard member.
