Egyptian experts and tourism workers expressed satisfaction on Friday after the administration of President Donald Trump said its decision to place new restrictions on visa applicants does not impact US visitor visas but only immigrant visas.
On Wednesday, Fox News reported that the State Department is pausing all visa processing for 75 countries, including Egypt.
But later, the US State Department clarified that the move does not impact US visitor visas, which have been in the spotlight given the United States is hosting the 2026 World Cup and 2028 Olympics.
The clarification from Washington came after widespread reactions. The Russian Union of Travel Industry (RST) said Wednesday the flow of Russian tourists to the United States will effectively cease for an indefinite period due to Washington's visa service suspension.
The State Department said it will suspend the processing of immigrant visas for citizens of 75 countries, including Brazil, Columbia, Egypt, Yemen, Algeria, Haiti, Iran, Russia and Somalia, whose nationals the Trump administration has deemed likely to require public assistance while living in the United States.
The pause will begin on January 21, according to CNN.
Magdi Sadiq, a member of Egypt’s Chamber of Tourism Companies said the visa suspension does not apply to visitor or tourist visas and therefore, will not affect the tourism activity between the US and Egypt or Egyptians studying in the US.
Rather, he said, the new move impacts individuals seeking to immigrate permanently to the United States due to the strict measures already applied by Washington for the issuance of visitor visas to Egyptians.
He told Asharq Al-Awsat that Egyptian students and tourists who already have a visitor visa can renew it.
State Department spokesperson Tommy Piggott said in a statement that, “The State Department will use its long-standing authority to deem ineligible potential immigrants who would become a public charge on the United States and exploit the generosity of the American people.”
He added, “Immigration from these 75 countries will be paused while the State Department reassess immigration processing procedures to prevent the entry of foreign nationals who would take welfare and public benefits.”
The State Department said exceptions to the new pause will be “very limited” and only allowed after an applicant has cleared public charge considerations.
Amari Abdul-Aziz, former head of Egypt’s tourism and aviation division of the Chamber of Commerce said the recent US decisions will not have an impact on tourism between Egypt and the US.
“Limiting the decision to immigration has surely comforted tourism applicants and businessmen, who need a US visa for temporary visits,” he said, adding that permanent residence visas for Egyptian investors would also not be affected.
But Abdul-Aziz told Asharq Al-Awsat that Egyptians applying for US tourist visas already face difficulties.
He explained that tourism companies liaise with foreign embassies and consulates and place pre-visit programs to facilitate the granting of such visas.
The case is different for Egyptians studying in the US. They rather coordinate with the educational institutions to receive a short-term entry visa, Abdul-Aziz said.
Bassel Halaqa, head of the Egyptian Independent General Tourism Workers Syndicate, said Egyptians face hurdles entering to the US often due to fears the applicants intent to stay “illegally” in the US and then seek asylum.
In November 2025, a State Department cable sent to posts around the globe instructed consular officers to deny visas to applicants deemed likely to rely on public benefits, weighing a wide range of factors including health, age, English proficiency, finances and even potential need for long-term medical care.
