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The United States has lifted its temporary suspension on issuing immigrant visas to citizens of 75 countries, including Bangladesh. As a result, immigrant visa processing for nationals of these countries can resume.
In January, the US State Department had temporarily suspended the issuance of immigrant visas to citizens of 75 countries. These visas allow eligible applicants to move to the United States for permanent residence and can eventually lead to obtaining a Green Card.
Countries That Will Benefit
In addition to Bangladesh, the list includes Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Myanmar, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cabo Verde, Colombia, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Pakistan, the 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.
At the time, the US government said the suspension was intended to allow additional screening of applicants who were considered more likely to become dependent on public assistance after moving to the United States.
However, the policy was challenged in court by the Catholic Legal Immigration Network in a case against US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Federal Judge Jeannette Vargas of the Southern District of New York later ruled on the matter.
The court found that withholding immigrant visas solely because an applicant was a national of a particular country exceeded the Secretary of State’s authority under the Immigration and Nationality Act.
Suspension Ended on August 21
Following the court’s ruling, the suspension has no longer been in effect since August 21. The US State Department’s website, updated on August 28, also confirmed the change.
This means citizens of Bangladesh and the other 74 countries can once again be issued immigrant visas, provided they meet all the standard requirements.
Immigrant visas that had already been issued during the suspension were not cancelled. Applicants were also able to submit new applications and attend interviews during the suspension. The restriction primarily applied to the final issuance of immigrant visas.
The lifting of the suspension therefore creates a renewed opportunity for Bangladeshis and nationals of the other affected countries who are waiting for immigrant visas to move forward with their plans for permanent residence in the United States.
