The U.S. State Department is pausing immigrant visa processing for citizens of 75 countries, including Albania and Kosova, as part of a new crackdown aimed at applicants deemed likely to become a “public charge.”

According to a State Department memo obtained by Fox News Digital, consular officers have been instructed to refuse immigrant visas under existing law while the department reassesses its screening and vetting procedures. The pause will begin January 21 and will continue indefinitely.

Albania and Kosova are both included in the list of affected countries, meaning immigrant visa applications from their citizens will face an effective freeze, even for applicants who have already been waiting for months or years.

The move follows a November 2025 directive sent to U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide ordering stricter enforcement of the “public charge” provision of immigration law. Under the guidance, consular officers are instructed to deny visas to applicants who are considered likely to rely on public benefits in the United States.

A wide range of factors may be considered, including an applicant’s health, age, English language ability, financial situation, past use of government assistance, and even the potential need for long-term medical care. Older or overweight applicants, as well as those with any history of cash assistance or institutionalization, could be denied.

The decision comes amid heightened scrutiny of benefit fraud, particularly following a major scandal in Minnesota involving abuse of taxpayer-funded programs. Federal officials have cited such cases as justification for stricter immigration controls.

A State Department spokesperson said the department will use its authority to block immigrants who could become a public charge and take advantage of public benefits. Exceptions to the visa pause will be very limited and granted only after applicants clear public charge considerations.

While the public charge rule has existed for decades, enforcement has varied across administrations. A narrower version of the rule under the Biden administration limited which benefits could be considered, but the current pause signals a return to broader enforcement similar to policies introduced under President Donald Trump in 2019.

For many families from Albania and Kosova seeking to immigrate or reunite with relatives in the United States, the pause creates uncertainty, delays, and the possibility of outright visa refusals with no clear timeline for when processing will resume.