US lifts immigrant visa pause on BD

The United States has lifted its January pause on issuing immigrant visas to nationals of 75 countries, including Bangladesh, following a court order, The Economic Times reports.

The US Department of State says the pause is no longer in effect as of Aug 21.

The pause took effect on Jan 21 and covered immigrant visa applicants from countries including Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal and Pakistan, the Indian daily reported.

The Department of State said the measure was introduced while it reviewed screening and vetting policies, with a focus on ensuring immigrants would be financially self-sufficient and would not become a public charge or unlawfully use welfare in the US.

During the pause, applicants from the affected countries could still submit visa applications and attend interviews.

The department also continued to schedule immigrant visa interviews.

With the pause lifted, applicants can proceed with the immigrant visa process under the applicable rules.

The list of countries covered by the January pause included Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, the Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Burma, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Colombia, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, the 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, the Kyrgyz Republic, 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.�"bdnews24