How will the US visa pause affect Middle East countries?

The US visa pause, initiated by the Trump administration amid an ongoing immigration crackdown, is affecting immigrant applicants worldwide, including those from Middle Eastern countries. The delay, expected to last several weeks, allows consular officers to undergo training to prevent visa applicants from becoming public charges or claiming benefits reserved for US citizens. However, tourist and business visas, such as B1 and B2, remain unaffected.

The State Department's delay impacts immigrant visa applications, which are often made by US citizens sponsoring family members or partners seeking to live in America. Other categories include employment-based immigrant visas for individuals with extraordinary abilities. Recipients of immigrant visas become lawful permanent residents, granting them most rights of citizens, except the right to vote in federal elections.

Middle Eastern countries affected by the visa pause, as per the State Department's list, include Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Syria, and Yemen. While Gulf countries like the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar were initially not on the list, a federal judge recently ruled their inclusion as "contrary to law and in excess of statutory authority." The timing of the visa pause has raised questions about whether it is an attempt to bypass the court's ruling.

Since Trump took office, more than 175,000 visas have been revoked, including immigrant and non-immigrant visas, due to visa violations, criminal activities, or national-security concerns. The State Department is also reportedly planning to revoke up to 200,000 business and tourist visas for individuals who have claimed asylum in the US.

In fiscal year 2024, the US issued 36,204 immigrant visas to people from Middle Eastern and Gulf countries, with Yemen and Iran receiving the most – 6,499 and 6,261 respectively, followed by Egypt with 6,190, the UAE with 755, Qatar with 292, and Oman with 41.