Pakistan in contact with US over immigrant visa processing matter: FO

Foreign Office Spokesperson Tahir Andrabi on Thursday said Pakistan is in contact with the United States authorities regarding immigrant visa processing issue as the South Asian country has been named among 75 countries whose immigrant visa processing has been frozen.

In response to a question regarding immigration, the spokesperson shared that Pakistan is in touch with the US regarding immigrant policies.

READ MORE: Students and exchange visitors: No scheduled US visa appointments cancelled: Embassy

“Basically it was a brief statement by the US State Department on social media account on the internal review of processing immigrant visas that they are in a process of that. We are in touch with the US authorities to ascertain further details. This is evolving news that we are following,” he said, during a weekly press briefing in Islamabad.

Andrabi said as per his understanding it is an internal ongoing process of review of US immigration policy and system.

“We hope that the routine processing of immigrant visa will resume soon,” he said.

The development comes a day after the US State Department in a statement said it will pause immigrant visa processing from 75 countries whose migrants 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,” it said.

“We are working to ensure the generosity of the American people will no longer be abused.”

READ MORE: US freezes immigrant visa processing for 75 countries, including Pakistan: report

Fox News earlier reported that a State Department memo obtained by it has directed the consular officers worldwide to refuse immigrant visas under existing legal authorities while the department conducts a comprehensive review aimed at preventing the entry of applicants deemed likely to rely on public welfare programs.

To another query during the today’s presser, Andrabi stated that Pakistan is monitoring the situation in Iran and seeks a peaceful resolution to the issue.

The FO spokesperson clarified Pakistan’s stance regarding the current situation in Iran, US immigration policies, and regional diplomatic ties. He said that Pakistan is keeping a close watch on the developments in Iran and hopes for a peaceful settlement. He expressed hope that Iran would soon overcome its internal issues and that the situation would return to normalcy.

The spokesperson also termed the attack on Somalia’s sovereignty as unacceptable. He stated that the violation of any country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity is against international law and that Pakistan condemns such actions.

READ MORE: Iran says ‘prepared for war’ as alarm grows over protest toll