Washington, March 15, 2025: Pakistan is among 26 countries that could face partial suspension of US visa issuance if its government fails to address certain “deficiencies” within 60 days, according to a new policy under President Donald Trump’s administration.
A classified memo, reviewed by Reuters and sources familiar with the matter, outlines sweeping new travel restrictions affecting dozens of countries. The policy, if approved, would mark a significant escalation in Trump’s immigration crackdown, echoing his controversial travel bans from his first term.
The memo categorizes 41 countries into three groups with varying levels of visa restrictions:
- Full visa suspension: The first group, comprising 10 countries—including Afghanistan, Iran, Syria, Cuba, and North Korea—would face a complete halt on US visa issuance.
- Partial visa suspension: The second group, which includes Eritrea, Haiti, Laos, Myanmar, and South Sudan, would see restrictions primarily on tourist, student, and certain immigrant visas, with limited exceptions.
- Conditional suspension: The third group, consisting of 26 nations—including Pakistan, Belarus, and Turkmenistan—could face partial visa restrictions unless their governments take corrective actions within 60 days.
A senior US official, speaking anonymously, cautioned that the list is still under review and may change before final approval by the administration, including US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
This move aligns with Trump’s broader immigration policy, which he reinforced through an executive order on January 20, mandating intensified security vetting for foreign nationals. The directive requires a list of non-compliant countries to be submitted by March 21, based on concerns over inadequate screening and vetting procedures.
Trump had previously hinted at such measures during an October 2023 speech, where he pledged to block entry from regions he deemed security risks, including Gaza, Libya, Somalia, Syria, and Yemen.
The New York Times was the first to report on the latest list of targeted countries, while the US State Department has yet to comment on the matter.
If the policy is enforced, Pakistan could face significant diplomatic and economic repercussions, particularly in sectors reliant on US travel and migration. The Pakistani government has not yet issued an official response.
