US suspends processing of immigration visas for Cape Verde and 74 other countries
As of January 21, the United States will suspend the processing of immigration visas for citizens of Cape Verde and 74 other countries, citing the risk of dependency on public assistance. The measure does not affect tourist or business visas and is presented as temporary, while migration rules are re-evaluated.
The United States government announced on Wednesday that it will suspend the processing of immigration visas for citizens of 75 countries, including Cape Verde, in a measure that comes into effect from January 21. The decision was communicated by the US State Department, led by Secretary Marco Rubio, and is based on more restrictive rules related to the risk of immigrants becoming dependent on public assistance in the US.
According to the State Department, consulates have been instructed to temporarily stop analyzing applications for immigration visas from the countries covered, as part of a broader order issued in November, which reinforces the concept of "public charge" (public charge). The aim, according to President Donald Trump's administration, is to prevent the entry of foreigners who might resort to social benefits funded by US taxpayers.
The measure does not affect non-immigrant visas, such as tourist, business or temporary stay visas, which means that short-term trips to the United States are still allowed for Cape Verdean citizens who meet the usual requirements.
While the official statement did not initially disclose the full list of countries affected, US government sources confirmed that Cape Verde is among the nations included, alongside several African, Latin American, Asian and Eastern European countries. The list includes, among others, Brazil, Senegal, Ghana, Nigeria, Haiti, Egypt, Afghanistan, Russia and Iran.
For Cape Verde, the suspension represents a direct impact on citizens who intended to emigrate permanently to the United States, whether through family reunification or other legal immigration mechanisms. However, the US authorities stress that the measure is temporary and that visa processing will be reassessed while the State Department reviews its migration procedures.
So far, there has been no official reaction from the Cape Verdean government on the decision. The Cape Verdean community in the United States, one of the oldest and most organized in the diaspora, is following the situation closely, awaiting further clarification on the duration of the suspension and its practical effects.
