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US visa suspension/ Spiropali responds to the opposition: The decision does not target Albania

2026-01-15 11:59:00, Aktualitet CNA

US visa suspension/ Spiropali responds to the opposition: The decision does not

Foreign Minister Elisa Spiropali has reacted to the opposition's speculation regarding the United States' decision to suspend visas. In her response, Spiropali states that the opposition's "fabula" goes so far as to declare that the US has blacklisted Albania.

The minister emphasizes that the Trump administration's decision has not blocked the movement and travel of Albanian citizens to the U.S. She also adds that visas for tourist purposes, students, business, family visits or work-related events have not been blocked either.

Spiropali explains that the decision does not target Albania, but is a review regarding the processing of visas for immigration purposes in the US for 75 countries, including 5 Western Balkan countries.

Full reaction:

Good morning from a long trip to Kiev, where I will be on an official visit to reaffirm Albania's support for Ukraine, in the face of massive attacks targeting critical infrastructure and the civilian population in the middle of a brutal winter.

I followed closely throughout yesterday evening the torrent of political speculation on the issue of visas to the US.

While Albania is today respected and appreciated everywhere and is more active than ever, some insiders in Tirana have pointed out that the US, according to them, has frozen and blocked visas for Albanians.

Their twisted fable goes so far as to declare that our historical and strategic partners have put Albania on the blacklist. Unimaginable!

In fact, both of these are political fabrications. The truth is that the latest US decision has not blocked the movement and travel of Albanian citizens to the US. Not at all! Neither have visas for tourist purposes, students, business, family visits or work-related events been blocked.

No one is prohibited from traveling and visiting as a tourist, student, citizen, or even official, but the rules of Stay in the US will change in line with their immigration policy.

So this is not a decision targeting Albania, but a review regarding the processing of visas for immigration purposes in the US for 75 countries, including 5 Western Balkan countries.

The US State Department announced that it will suspend the processing of immigrant visas pending an official review, and this decision comes as part of the US administration's measures to limit abuses of the advantages offered by the US migration system.

So, in short and simple, the decision has nothing to do with the strangest fabrications of imaginary non-fiction about Albania and Albanians.

Beyond all this smoke, one great truth is as clear as sunlight: Albania has been and remains the ally and strategic partner of the United States of America, a friendly country with which we are united by a long and inseparable path of values ??and goals. / CNA