The United States has suspended the processing of immigrant visas at embassies and consulates worldwide as the Trump administration tightens immigration rules and increases scrutiny of applicants deemed likely to rely on government assistance.
The US State Department confirmed that the suspension began at diplomatic missions in early August, saying the pause would allow for “in-depth training” to help visa officers assess applications more thoroughly and consistently.
Applicants with scheduled visa interviews have reportedly received emails cancelling their appointments, with new dates yet to be announced.
The administration says the move is aimed at preventing immigrants from becoming dependent on US public benefits and forms part of its broader immigration enforcement agenda.
The suspension follows a recent announcement that the administration would seek to revoke the visas of asylum applicants who initially entered the United States on tourist or business visas before seeking asylum.
According to the State Department, obtaining a visa under false pretences with the intention of later seeking asylum could constitute fraud and serve as grounds for visa cancellation.
The White House has claimed that as many as 200,000 visas could ultimately be affected, describing the move as the largest mass visa revocation in US history. However, the State Department has not confirmed the figure, saying the exact number remains unclear and that any cancellations would be carried out gradually.
The latest suspension comes after an earlier Trump administration effort to impose public-charge restrictions on visa applicants from 75 countries was recently overturned by a federal judge.
Immigration lawyers have criticised the suspension, warning that it could cause significant financial and emotional hardship for applicants who have spent thousands of dollars preparing for and travelling to visa interviews, only to have their appointments cancelled.
The State Department has not provided a timeline for when the affected interviews will be rescheduled.
The administration has also introduced additional immigration restrictions, including expanded reviews of applicants’ social media activity and higher visa processing fees.
