Shehbaz Sharif's 'Bootlicking' And Nobel Push For Trump Failed? US Shuts Door For Pakistani Immigrants

In a major blow to Pakistan, the United States on Wednesday (local time) officially announced a pause in the issuance of immigrant visas to nationals of 75 countries, including Pakistan, citing concerns about the potential misuse of public welfare benefits. The major blow to Pakistan came despite its Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s continuous effort to please US President Donald Trump ever since he came into power last year.

According to a statement issued by the US Department of State, the decision is part of a broader policy review ordered by President Donald Trump, who has reiterated that immigrants to the United States must be financially self-sufficient and should not become a burden on American taxpayers.

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Countries on the list of US immigrat visa restrictions

Under the new directive, immigrant visa applicants from the listed countries--including Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, Russia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen, among others-- may continue to submit applications and attend scheduled visa interviews.

The policy update, titled "Immigrant Visa Processing Updates for Nationalities at High Risk of Public Benefits Usage", was last updated on January 14 and will take effect from January 21, 2026.

"President Trump has made clear that immigrants must be financially self-sufficient and not be a financial burden to Americans," the State Department said, adding that a full review of existing policies, regulations, and guidance is underway.

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"The Department of State is undergoing a full review of all policies, regulations, and guidance to ensure that immigrants from these high-risk countries do not utilize welfare in the United States or become a public charge," the statement added.

Did Shehbaz Sharif's bootlicking fail?

This move against Pakistan came amid warming US-Pakistan ties. Earlier last year, Sharif and Pakistan Army chief Asim Munir met Trump in Washington, where Islamabad literally offered the US President to explore mining opportunities in Pakistan. Although the chances of mineral exploration in Pakistan still remain low.

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Moreover, Shehbaz Sharif’s last appearance with Trump during the Gaza peace plan was also seen as an effort to please the US President. On social media, Sharif faced massive trolling for “bootlicking” Trump.

During Operation Sindoor, Shehbabaz was quick to give credit to Trump for the ceasefire with India. In fact, Pakistan nominated Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize for negotiating the ceasefire- a claim New Delhi firmly rejected on multiple occasions.

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Earlier on Wednesday, Pakistan signed an MoU with SC Financial Technologies, an affiliate of World Liberty Financial, a firm linked to Trump's family, to explore stablecoin use for cross-border payments. This move was widely reported as an effort to please Trump. A formal announcement from the regulator's side is yet to be made.

(With inputs from agencies)