PHNOM PENH: Cambodia and Thailand are among 75 countries on a new list of nations which the US Department of State has paused the processing of all immigrant visa applications.
The department claimed that migrants from each of the 75 countries “take welfare from the American people at unacceptable rates”.
“The freeze will remain active until the US can ensure that new immigrants will not extract wealth from the American people,” said the state department on Jan 14, via social media.
It added that the pause impacts dozens of countries – including Somalia, Haiti, Iran and Eritrea – whose immigrants often become public charges of the US upon arrival.
“We are working to ensure the generosity of the American people will no longer be abused. The Trump Administration will always put America First,” it added.
The full list of the countries include: 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.
While the US has been active in holding Cambodia and Thailand to the Kuala Lumpur Peace Accord that aimed to end the recent border clashes, in is unclear if the two nations’ addition to the list of visa restrictions is related. - The Phnom Penh Post/ANN
