US lifts immigrant visa suspension for citizens of 75 countries, including Bangladesh

The United States has lifted the suspension on issuing immigrant visas to citizens of 75 countries, including Bangladesh.

The decision was implemented by the US Department of State following a landmark ruling by a federal court.

As a result, citizens of Bangladesh and the other countries on the list can once again pursue permanent residency in the United States and, eventually, obtain a green card.

However, applicants must still meet all the requirements for an immigrant visa to be approved.

The suspension was lifted effective August 21, in accordance with the court's ruling. The US Department of State subsequently formally confirmed the change on its website in an update published on August 28.

In January this year, the Department of State temporarily halted the issuance of immigrant visas to citizens of 75 countries, citing additional vetting over concerns that applicants could become dependent on government assistance.

During the suspension, however, previously issued visas were not revoked, and applicants were still allowed to submit new applications and attend interviews.

The suspension essentially applied to the final stage of the process—the issuance of visas.

US District Judge Janet Vargas of the Southern District of New York ruled against the government's action.

The ruling came in a lawsuit filed by the Catholic Legal Immigration Network. The court said that withholding immigrant visas solely because applicants are citizens of certain countries was contrary to the authority granted to the Secretary of State under the Immigration and Nationality Act.

In addition to Bangladesh, the countries covered by the order are Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Burma (Myanmar), Cambodia, Cameroon, Cabo Verde, Colombia, Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast), 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, 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.