The US has stopped immigrant visas for 76 countries amid concerns over welfare misuse. The visa freeze targets permanent residency applicants, not tourists, students, or workers. India, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives are not affected. But neighbours such as Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, and Afghanistan are included. Immigration attorney Steven Brown said India is unlikely to face a visa freeze as it uses fewer US government resources. However, the Trump administration has broad powers to restrict entry under section 212(f). The visa pause will stay until the US ensures new immigrants do not drain American welfare funds. The freeze follows a welfare scam probe in Minnesota involving Somali immigrants. This new list expands on December 2025’s travel ban of 39 countries, most of which overlap with the 76 countries now frozen. The travel bans impact whole or partial bans on nationals from countries like Afghanistan, Iran, Syria, and others. The visa freeze affects only immigrant visas, putting green card hopefuls from these nations on hold.