It becomes clear who the US has stopped issuing visas to

Earlier reports said that the United States had suspended visa issuance for citizens of 75 countries, including Uzbekistan, for an indefinite period. It has now emerged that the pause applies only to immigrant visas.

For reference, a US immigrant visa is a type of visa that grants foreign nationals the right to reside permanently in the United States. After entering the country, the visa holder obtains permanent resident status. This visa allows individuals to live, work, study, and conduct business legally in the US and provides the right to apply for US citizenship in the future. Immigrant visas are divided into several main categories:

• Visas intended for immediate relatives of US citizens or permanent residents;
• Employment-based visas issued to skilled specialists, investors, and other professionals based on a job offer from a US employer;
• The Diversity Visa Program (Green Card Lottery), which is designed for citizens of countries with low levels of immigration to the US, including Uzbekistan;
• Special immigrant visas for certain categories, including religious workers, refugees, asylum seekers, and individuals who have served US interests.

Immigrant visas differ from non-immigrant visas in that they are intended for permanent residence in the United States rather than temporary stays.

The pause introduced by the US does not apply to non-immigrant visas, which are issued for temporary purposes such as tourism, education, business travel, medical treatment, and similar activities.

Visa application processing for immigrant visas will be suspended starting January 21. The pause will remain in effect for an indefinite period while the State Department reviews visa issuance procedures.

It is worth noting that earlier reports also said the US had suspended visa issuance under the Diversity Visa (DV) program.