The United States has temporarily paused visa appointments for applicants worldwide as the Donald Trump administration begins a global training programme for consular officers as part of its broader immigration crackdown.
A US State Department spokesperson said on Tuesday that the department had launched a training initiative across American embassies and consulates worldwide. Visa appointment schedules will be adjusted to accommodate the programme, the spokesperson said, according to Reuters.
The State Department did not disclose details about the training or say how long the scheduling changes would remain in effect.
According to the department, the initiative is intended to help consular officers identify applicants who could potentially become dependent on US public benefits and ensure that visa applications are reviewed “comprehensively and consistently”.
The Financial Times reported that some immigrant visa applicants with interviews already scheduled at US embassies and consulates had received emails informing them that their appointments were being rescheduled. Applicants were told they would be notified of new interview dates.
The development comes as the Trump administration continues its wide-ranging immigration crackdown, which has included visa and green-card revocations and the rejection of applications on several grounds, including applicants’ political views and participation in pro-Palestinian protests.
Trump has said the measures are intended to strengthen domestic security.
Immigration policies face legal challenges
The administration’s immigration policies have also encountered legal challenges. On Friday, a US judge struck down a policy that had suspended the issuance of immigrant visas to applicants from 75 countries, ruling that the measure went beyond Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s statutory authority.
The administration has also taken steps to make legal immigration more restrictive.
The US Department of Homeland Security has proposed making permanent a $103,265 fee for new cap-subject H-1B visa petitions. The proposal follows a previous $100,000 fee imposed by Trump that was blocked by a court.
If implemented, the proposed fee would substantially increase the cost for US employers seeking to hire foreign workers in specialised occupations.
The H-1B programme allows US companies to employ foreign workers with specialised skills or training. It currently provides 65,000 visas each year, along with an additional 20,000 visas for workers with advanced degrees.
The Trump administration has also ordered enhanced screening of H-1B applicants and proposed changes to the visa selection system that would give greater preference to higher-skilled and higher-paid workers.
Visa revocations increase pressure on applicants
Separately, the administration is preparing to revoke the business and tourism visas of as many as 200,000 foreign nationals who have applied for or are currently seeking asylum in the US.
The proposed action would affect B1 and B2 visas issued between 2016 and 2026 to holders who have sought or are seeking asylum. The State Department is expected to announce the move in the coming weeks, according to the Associated Press.
B1 visas are generally issued for business travel, while B2 visas are typically used for tourism, family visits and medical treatment.
The administration has also tightened visa screening procedures, including requests for additional information about applicants’ social media activity and, in some cases, the requirement of costly visa bonds.
The latest pause in visa appointments comes as the Trump administration continues to review and tighten multiple aspects of the US immigration and visa system.
