US Suspends Immigrant Visa Interviews Worldwide Amid Trump Crackdown
The United States has temporarily suspended immigrant visa interviews at its embassies and consulates worldwide as President Donald Trump’s administration tightens immigration controls.
A State Department spokesperson said Tuesday that consular officers had begun a worldwide training programme, requiring adjustments to scheduled visa appointments.
Applicants who had already secured interview dates were reportedly notified by email that their appointments would be moved.
The department said affected applicants would receive new interview dates, but did not provide a timeline for the changes.
It also did not say how long the suspension would remain in place.
According to the State Department, the training is designed to help consular officers evaluate visa applicants more thoroughly and consistently.
The assessment will include determining whether applicants could become reliant on government-funded public benefits after entering the country.
The development comes as the Trump administration steps up immigration enforcement across the United States.
Authorities have increased scrutiny of visa applications while pursuing measures involving visa and green-card revocations.
The administration’s immigration policies have also faced challenges in court.
On Friday, a US judge overturned a policy that had halted immigrant visa issuance for people from 75 countries.
The judge ruled that Secretary of State Marco Rubio had gone beyond his legal authority in implementing the policy.
The latest worldwide pause in immigrant visa interviews was first reported by the Financial Times.
