The Philippines is not included in the supposed list of countries where the United States of America will be suspending the issuance of visas, Manila's envoy to Washington said Thursday, Jan. 15.

"We are not included," Ambassador Jose Manuel "Babe" Romualdez said in a text message.

Romualdez' clarification came after the US State Department announced pausing immigrant visa processing from 75 countries, nearly half of the world, "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," the department said.

It said the pause would impact dozens of countries, including Somalia, Haiti, Iran, and Eritrea. Their "immigrants often become public charges on the United States upon arrival," it said.

"We are working to ensure the generosity of the American people will no longer be abused," the department said.

President Donald Trump's administration started last year tightening Washington's policy in issuing visas to foreign nationals.

In December, it ordered the suspension of immigrant visa issuance to nationals of a total of 39 countries, mainly from the Middle East and Africa.

Trump, in his proclamation in doing so, said that as early as during his first administration, he already restricted the entry of certain foreign nationals into the US "to prevent national security and public safety threats from reaching our borders."