The United States has cleared the way for immigrant visa processing for citizens of Bangladesh and 74 other countries after a federal court ruling ended a temporary suspension that had been in place since January.
The U.S. Department of State confirmed the change on its website in an update published on August 28. The suspension officially ended on August 21, allowing immigrant visa applications from the affected countries to move forward again.
Immigrant visas provide a route to permanent residence in the United States and can eventually lead to eligibility for a green card.
Why Were the Visas Suspended?
The U.S. government had temporarily halted the issuance of immigrant visas for applicants from the 75 countries while it conducted additional reviews.
Officials had argued that some applicants could potentially become dependent on public assistance after moving to the United States. The temporary policy was introduced as part of a broader review of such cases.
The policy was challenged in federal court by the Catholic Legal Immigration Network (CLINIC) in a case against U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
U.S. District Judge Jeanette Vargas ruled in the case, finding that withholding immigrant visas solely on the basis of an applicant’s nationality exceeded the authority granted to the secretary under the Immigration and Nationality Act.
What Changes After August 21?
Following the court decision, the suspension no longer applies to immigrant visa issuance.
Applicants from Bangladesh and the other affected countries can therefore proceed through the normal immigrant visa process, provided they meet all applicable U.S. immigration and visa requirements.
Visas that had already been issued before the suspension were not cancelled. Applicants were also able to submit applications and attend interviews during the suspension. The restriction primarily affected the final issuance of immigrant visas.
Countries Covered by the Policy
The 75 countries covered by the policy include Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Burma (Myanmar), Cambodia, Cameroon, Cabo Verde, Colombia, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, The Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyz Republic, Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Pakistan, Republic of the Congo, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Uruguay, Uzbekistan and Yemen.
The court ruling means applicants from these countries can once again have their immigrant visa cases processed under the standard U.S. immigration framework, subject to individual eligibility and other legal requirements.
