Lebanon is among 75 countries whose nationals will face a pause in U.S. immigrant visa processing under a new State Department move aimed at tightening enforcement of long-standing “public charge” rules, according to a department memo seen by Fox News Digital.

The measure, set to take effect on January 21, will suspend immigrant visa processing for applicants from the listed countries while Washington conducts a broad reassessment of its screening and vetting procedures. The pause will remain in place indefinitely until the review is completed, the memo said.

Under the directive, consular officers are instructed to deny visas under existing immigration law to applicants deemed likely to become a financial burden on the United States. The review focuses on the application of the “public charge” provision, which allows U.S. authorities to block immigration by individuals expected to rely on government-funded benefits.

Lebanon appears on a list that spans Africa, the Middle East, Eastern Europe, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean. The full list of affected countries includes  Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Bosnia, Brazil, Burma, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Colombia, Cote d’Ivoire, Cuba, 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, Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, 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. 

A State Department spokesperson said the move reflects Washington’s intent to more rigorously apply its authority under U.S. immigration law.

“The State Department will use its long-standing authority to deem ineligible potential immigrants who would become a public charge on the United States and exploit the generosity of the American people,” spokesperson Tommy Piggott said in a statement.

He added that immigrant visa processing from the 75 countries would be halted while procedures are reassessed to prevent entry by applicants likely to depend on welfare or public assistance.

The guidance builds on instructions sent to U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide in November 2025, which called for stricter enforcement of public charge standards. Those rules direct consular officers to assess a wide range of factors, including an applicant’s age, health, financial resources, English-language ability and potential need for long-term medical care.

Applicants who are older, overweight, or who have previously received government cash assistance or been institutionalized could face denial under the revised approach, according to the memo.

While the public charge provision has existed for decades, its enforcement has shifted significantly between administrations. Consular officers have historically been granted broad discretion in applying the rule, leading to uneven implementation.

Under the Biden administration, a 2022 revision narrowed the definition of public benefits to primarily include cash assistance and long-term institutional care, excluding programs such as food assistance, Medicaid, housing vouchers and nutritional support for women and children. That approach rolled back a broader definition introduced during President Donald Trump’s first term, which had expanded the range of benefits considered and was later challenged in court.

The current pause signals a renewed push to apply the provision more aggressively. Exceptions to the suspension are expected to be rare and would only be considered after applicants have cleared public charge concerns, according to the memo.

Some countries on the list, including Somalia, have already been under heightened scrutiny. U.S. officials have linked the stricter approach to concerns over fraud involving public benefit programs, citing recent high-profile cases uncovered by prosecutors.

U.S. officials said further guidance would be issued once the review of immigrant visa procedures is complete.