Immigration attorney Steven Brown stated that India is unlikely to face a visa freeze in the United States. He pointed out that India ranks low in using US government resources, which is a key factor in the current policy. However, Brown emphasized that this situation could change in the future. He referenced the Trump administration's sudden visa freeze on 75 countries as an example of how quickly immigration rules can shift.
South Asian Countries on the List
Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, and Pakistan are included in the list of 75 countries facing the visa freeze. Afghanistan already had a travel ban in place, but the others are new additions. This leaves India, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives as the only South Asian nations excluded from the freeze.
Presidential Discretion and Past Actions
Brown explained that the US president has broad discretion under Section 212(f) to deny entry to any group of nationals. He noted that the first Trump administration implemented a Muslim ban, showing how executive power can be used in immigration matters. While there is no certainty about future actions, the current freeze is based on countries that heavily utilize government resources, according to the attorney.
US State Department's Rationale
The US State Department announced that the visa pause for 75 countries will remain active until the US can ensure new immigrants will not extract wealth from American citizens. This decision follows a major welfare scam allegedly uncovered in Minnesota involving Somali immigrants, highlighting concerns about resource misuse.
Difference Between Travel Ban and Visa Freeze
In December 2025, the administration published a list of 39 countries under a travel ban, restricting entry fully or partially. Most of these countries also appear on the new list of 76 countries facing a visa freeze. It is important to note that the immigrant visa ban does not affect tourists, students, or employment-based visitors. Instead, it targets individuals seeking permanent residency or Green Cards in the US.
Countries Under Travel Ban
Full travel ban: Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Myanmar (Burma), Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Laos, Libya, Mali, Niger, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Yemen, and Palestinian Authority travel document holders.
Partial ban: Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Burundi, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Dominica, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Turkmenistan, Venezuela, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Countries Under Visa Freeze
The 76 countries facing the visa freeze include Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Myanmar, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Colombia, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, The Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, North Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Republic of the Congo, Russia, Rwanda, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, and Yemen.
