WASHINGTON — The United States has temporarily stopped issuing visas to travellers holding Afghan passports, following a deadly shooting incident near the White House that involved an Afghan national, according to government sources.
The decision was announced by the US State Department and applies to both immigrant and non-immigrant visas for Afghan travellers. Officials said the move is being taken as a national security precaution while authorities review the incident and assess current screening and vetting processes.
The suspension followed a shooting on November 26, 2025, near the Farragut West metro station in Washington, D.C. Two West Virginia National Guard members were shot and one later died. The suspect, a 29-year-old Afghan national named Rahmanullah Lakanwal, was injured and taken into police custody.
In response to the incident, the U.S. has halted the processing of visa applications for all Afghan passport holders. The pause affects both new visa issuance and ongoing immigration applications for Afghans, with no clear timeline yet for when operations will resume.
The move is part of broader changes within U.S. immigration policy after the shooting, including a suspension of other immigration benefits and asylum decisions connected to nationals from Afghanistan and other countries.
U.S. officials said the decision is intended to allow a fuller review of security and identity verification procedures for Afghan applicants, emphasising that ensuring national safety remains a priority. The State Department noted that existing visa appointments may be reviewed and previously authorised visas could be reversed if not yet issued.
The halt affects Afghan nationals worldwide seeking to travel to the United States for work, study, tourism or relocation. Many Afghans had been in various stages of visa and immigration processing, including special programmes for those who assisted U.S. forces in Afghanistan. These cases are now on hold as part of the new policy.
The decision has drawn attention from immigration advocates and affected communities. They are concerned about the long-term impact of broad visa restrictions on Afghan families and applicants waiting for decisions for years
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