The United States has suspended immigrant visa processing at its embassies and consulates worldwide as President Donald Trump’s administration intensifies its immigration crackdown.
A State Department official confirmed the development, saying the initiative began in early August and has affected visa operations across US diplomatic missions globally.
According to the official, visa appointments were adjusted to allow for “in-depth training” aimed at strengthening consular officers’ ability to assess applicants.
The State Department said the measures were introduced “to ensure all consular officers are fully equipped to evaluate every visa applicant comprehensively and consistently.”
Applicants whose interviews had already been scheduled were reportedly notified by email that their appointments had been cancelled, and told they would receive new interview dates, although no timeline has been given for rescheduling.
Officials said the suspension is linked to efforts to prevent immigrants from becoming dependent on US public assistance, part of a wider immigration policy drive targeting both lawful and undocumented immigration.
Asylum Seekers Who Entered On Tourist Visas Face Revocation
The suspension came a day after the administration announced plans to revoke the visas of asylum seekers who initially entered the US on tourist or business visas before applying for asylum.
The State Department said it is working with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to identify individuals who entered as temporary visitors before later seeking asylum.
State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott described obtaining a visa with the intention of later seeking asylum as “fraud,” saying such conduct could constitute grounds for revocation.
The White House alleged that as many as 200,000 visas could be affected, describing the initiative as the “largest mass visa revocation in history,” though the State Department did not confirm the figure, saying the number of revocations remained dynamic and would be carried out on a rolling basis.
Earlier “Public Charge” Rule Was Struck Down In Court
The latest suspension follows an earlier Trump administration attempt to impose similar “public charge” restrictions on visa applicants from 75 countries, a policy that was recently overturned by a federal judge, setting up the current measures as the administration’s next attempt to tighten immigration controls.
Immigration advocates and lawyers have criticised the latest move, warning it could cause serious disruption for applicants who have already paid substantial fees, made travel arrangements and prepared for scheduled interviews.
Brian Simmons, an immigration attorney with Fragomen in Washington, said many affected applicants had likely spent thousands of dollars and disrupted their lives in preparation for interviews cancelled at short notice.
It remains unclear when the cancelled appointments will be rescheduled.
The administration has also introduced additional scrutiny of visa applicants, including reviews of their social media activity and increased processing costs, as part of its wider effort to tighten US immigration controls.
