The United States has temporarily suspended visa appointment scheduling across the globe, as American embassies and consulates roll out a new training programme for consular officers.
The State Department confirmed the pause on Tuesday, noting that existing appointments would be adjusted to allow diplomatic missions to participate in the exercise. Officials said the training is designed to strengthen the visa screening process and reinforce national security, helping consular officers assess applicants more thoroughly and consistently.
No timeline was given for how long the training would last or when normal appointment schedules would resume.
The pause was first reported by the Financial Times, which said some immigrant visa applicants with interviews already scheduled had received emails notifying them that their appointments were being rescheduled. Affected applicants were told they would be contacted again once new interview dates were set.
Defending the move, a State Department spokesperson said the government wants to ensure visa applicants are unlikely to become reliant on public benefits meant for American citizens, describing it as part of building “a more prosperous America.”
The pause comes as the Trump administration’s immigration policies continue to face legal pushback. A federal judge on Friday struck down a rule that had suspended immigrant visa issuance to applicants from 75 countries, ruling that Secretary of State Marco Rubio had exceeded his statutory authority in imposing it.
Despite that setback, the administration has pressed ahead with tighter visa and immigration screening measures, citing national security concerns and the risk of applicants becoming dependent on government assistance.
The broader immigration crackdown has drawn criticism from human rights groups, who accuse the administration of discriminatory practices and violations of free speech and due process rights. Some groups have also raised concerns over the policies’ impact on ethnic minorities in the US, warning of potential racial profiling.
The training exercise is expected to affect visa applicants across multiple countries as US missions adjust their appointment schedules accordingly.
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