The United States has temporarily paused immigrant visa applications worldwide as the administration of President Donald Trump tightens immigration policies.
A US State Department official confirmed that the pause began at American embassies and consulates in early August. Visa appointments have reportedly been adjusted to allow consular officers to undergo additional training.
Applicants who already had interviews scheduled were informed that their appointments had been cancelled and that new dates would be provided later. The State Department said the training is intended to ensure consular officers can assess visa applicants comprehensively and consistently.
The administration says the move is aimed at preventing immigrants from becoming dependent on US public assistance. It forms part of a wider immigration crackdown targeting both legal and undocumented immigration.
The development follows another announcement that the administration plans to revoke the visas of some asylum seekers who initially entered the US as tourists or business visitors before applying for asylum.
The State Department said it was working with the Department of Homeland Security to identify such individuals. State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott described obtaining a visa and subsequently seeking asylum as “fraud,” which he said could justify visa revocation.
The White House has claimed that as many as 200,000 visas could eventually be affected, calling it the largest mass visa revocation in US history. The State Department has not confirmed that figure, saying the number remains subject to change.
Immigration lawyers and advocacy groups have expressed concern that the pause could create serious difficulties for applicants who have already spent significant amounts of money preparing for their interviews.
It remains unclear when the cancelled visa appointments will be rescheduled.
The Trump administration has also introduced other measures affecting visa applicants, including scrutiny of applicants’ social media histories and additional processing requirements.
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